How To Keep Your Door Locks In Top Condition – Maintenance Tips

You can invest in all the security features in the world; if your door locks fail to provide adequate protection, you are at risk. A criminal will always look to test the quality of your locks before they do anything else. So, if your door locks are not in good enough condition, you run the risk of allowing easy access to your property. How can you avoid that kind of scenario from playing out?

With the help of an local Bradford locksmith, we devised a simple list of tasks to carry out. These tips will help you to make sure that your door locks do not become a liability and continue to offer the level of protection that you deserve. Read on to get invaluable advice on how to improve your door locks and get the peace of mind you deserve!

The Simplest Ways To Keep Your Door Locks Working In Full

Use the following tips to make sure you can go to sleep at night knowing your door locks won’t let you down:

Make Maintenance A Habit

One of the first problems that locksmiths recommend you look into is the condition of your door locks. Many of us do not assume that our door locks could become a problem like this, but you would be shocked. 

Creating a schedule for cleaning out your door locks on a twice-per-year schedule helps to avoid any build-up of debris. To clean your doors, focus on:

• Cleaning the locks internally and externally using soap and warm water. 
• Avoid using door lock cleaning solutions; these often cause issues.
• Generally, we recommend avoiding using any kind of chemical cleaning reagents. 
• These can strip away protective layers on the lock, reducing its functionality.
• Lubricate the locks as well, using a silicone spray or graphite powder lubricant.
• Make sure that you lubricate the internal functions of your locks, not just the exterior. 

Do not use WD-40 or any oil-based lubricant on your locks, though. These have a nasty habit of making the locks stick due to encouraging more dirt buildup. WD40 has its place in home care, but it should not be put on your door locks. The combination of chemicals and the ability to dry out your locks can lead to more problems than solutions. 

Carry out cleaning at least once per year, but ideally twice, and you should avoid any build-up of debris or dirt. You would be shocked at how many times a lock replacement could be avoided just by giving your door locks a nice clean!

Keep An Eye Out For Wear & Tear

Just as a lack of cleanliness can cause problems with your door, so can a lack of focus on wear and tear. We often do not spot issues with wear and tear until it is too late, leaving you with more than a few issues to contend with. Who wants to deal with that issue? Keep a close eye out for:

• Any resistance to opening or closing your door, especially during hot/cold weather.
• Signs of struggle, such as door handles that stick when you open/close the door.
• Parts of the door that seem worn out or damaged, especially around locks.
• The feeling that your door is heavier than it used to be; it could be misaligned.
• Doors that seem to jam when being opened or closed. 

If you notice any of these signs, it could be a sign that a part or parts of your door need to be fixed. These problems can extend beyond your door locks, though, so it would be wise to contact a locksmith if you notice any of the above issues. They can then ensure the problem is resolved safely. 

Check For Alignment Issues

Another common problem with door locks is that they stop working due to misalignment. Yes, even an older building could become misaligned. Newly fitted doors can become out of line due to subsidence in the building. This is doubly true for newly built properties, too; locksmiths often receive callouts to new-build homes that have seen their doors become misaligned.

Your locks will only work properly if they line up with the door frame and the lock grooves. Alignment problems mean that your locks might not be clipping into the right areas, leading to faults. If a door is left out of alignment for too long, it can begin to sag and sink, causing extra pressure on the hinges, locks, latches and other mechanical parts of the door. 

Door alignment is not an easy issue to resolve on your own. We would highly recommend contacting a locksmith in your area to re-align your door; they make this complicated task much easier!

Your Keys Impact Your Locks, Too!

Finally, keeping your door locks in full working order goes beyond just the lock itself. It also includes your keys. Think about the interaction between your lock and key; there is an obvious overlap here. The most common issues related to your keys can include:

• Fragments or parts of your key breaking, leading the lock to not recognise your key.
• Brittle keys breaking within the lock itself, leaving you with a blocked keyhole.
• Excessive force when putting your key into the keyhole, including when turning.
• Dirty keys transfer dirt and debris into the lock, leading to dirt buildup.
• Key shards breaking off due to the teeth of the key getting stuck in the lock pins.

Generally, when placing your key into the lock, be as gentle as you can. Sure, modern locks are pretty robust, but it does not take much to damage your locks without meaning to. Always apply as little pressure as you can whilst making sure that the locks turn correctly and fully when opening/closing your doors. If you ever notice parts of your key feel brittle or are missing, contact a locksmith ASAP.

Continuing to use a broken key is an easy way to cause more severe lock damage that could result in requiring full-scale lock replacement. If your keys begin to get damaged or stop working, emergency locksmiths in your area can replace the keys with newer, sturdier alternatives.

Having Problems With Your Door Locks? Hire A Locksmith ASAP

While we applaud the desire to get your hands dirty and fix the problem yourself, door locks are not something to learn on the job about. Your door locks play a vital role in protecting your home; failing to properly address your door locks could make it easier for someone to break into your home in the future. Naturally, we want to avoid putting you in such a perilous situation!

So, make sure that you trust the professionals. There is precious little value to dealing with your door locks on your own. If you can diagnose the problem, great. Avoid tinkering too much, though, as you could make the problem worse and potentially leave yourself with an expensive repair bill.

If your door locks are not responding as they should, contact a locksmith. Their diagnosis and expert opinion will make sure that you get a solution put in place quickly and at a comparatively fair cost.