Lock Maintenance Tips for Your Property

The locks you use to secure your home need periodic maintenance. It can be easy to forget about our locks and neglect them without even realizing it. However, it is important to stay on top of cleaning, lubrication, and monitoring the overall condition of your locks. To make sure your locks help secure your home year-round, follow the lock maintenance tips below!

Regular Exterior Cleaning

As part of your regular house cleaning routine, make sure to wipe down your deadbolt locks and any hardware associated with them, such as the strike plates. Keeping the exterior clean will help prevent dirt or debris from getting inside of your locks. A damp rag or cloth will be enough to clean the exteriors. You should avoid any harsh chemicals, as they may ruin the finish on certain types of locks.

Tighten Any Screws

Periodically check the screws on your deadbolts. A loose strike plate may make it so that your locks do not fasten as tightly. Any loose screws may also make it easier for intruders to ‘pick’ or break your lock and enter your home. Tightening the screws only takes a few moments and is well worth the effort.

Check for Any Door Imbalances

An ill-fitting door can leave your home vulnerable to intruders. Check to make sure the door is closing properly in the frame and the lock aligns properly. If there is any sort of misalignment, you will want to address it as soon as possible.

Also, it is important to pay attention to how your door is fitting in the frame during weather extremes. Cold climates, in particular, can make it so that your door and the materials around it shrink. This can make locks seem looser or even cause gaps between the door itself and the frame. If you live in a colder climate, make sure to add or replace the weather stripping around certain areas of your door.

Pay Attention to an Ill-Fitting Deadbolt

If your deadbolt is misaligned for any reason, you will need to address this as quickly as possible. Deadbolts can become misaligned for a variety of reasons. If you are unsure why your deadbolt is suddenly not latching properly or won’t line up with the strike plate, you should consider calling a locksmith to address the situation as soon as possible.

Remember to Lubricate Your Locks

Proper lock lubrication is often neglected, but it is an important part of taking care of your home locks. Lock lubrication can be purchased at a hardware store and is generally easy to use on your own. Your locks may require more extensive lubrication, which will require removing the lock from the door.

To lubricate your locks on your own, you can simply add some lubrication to your key, and then insert it and remove it from the lock a few times. Make sure to wipe away any debris that comes out of the lock when doing this. If you are unsure whether or not your locks require more extensive lubrication, or you would rather have a professional take care of this procedure for you, contact a local locksmith for help.

Create a Duplicate Key

When it comes to lock maintenance, it is important not to neglect your keys. It is a good idea to replace your house keys every couple of years. Keys are not meant to last forever and using a worn key may cause problems. You might eventually break your key inside of the lock or experience other problems.

When you do replace your house keys, it is recommended that you go through a professional locksmith. Key cutting services as hardware stores or kiosks are generally not as accurate compared to going through a locksmithing service.

Replace Your Deadbolts Every Five to Seven Years

Deadbolts only have a lifespan of around 6 years or so. You should take care to replace them every five to seven years if you want to ensure your home is secure. Worn locks are easier to ‘pick’ and your security may be at risk if you continue to use aging locks. Deadbolts are fairly inexpensive to purchase and should be replaced by a professional.

Hire a Locksmith for Any Major Repairs or Replacements

Even though you have the option to replace your deadbolts or other high-security locks yourself, you should consider enlisting the help of a professional to do so for you. There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, a locksmith will know exactly how to properly replace any kind of deadbolt lock you may own with precision and expertise. Secondly, it is possible that if you attempt to change your locks yourself, you may end up dealing with a more complicated replacement than you originally anticipated. This may lead to frustration and even damage to your door or frame. You may end up having to call a locksmith anyway to ultimately help you complete the replacement.

Calling a locksmith right from the start will ensure that your replacement is done with ease and efficiency. Contact a local expert in your area to assist with lock changes around your property every five to seven years.