From struggling with a flimsy lock or getting locked out, to having your property penetrated by burglars, neglecting locks maintenance may end up in a really unpleasant scenario. Luckily, following just a few simple tips might save you a lot of hassle.
Not only do your doors need to be solid, but they must be properly installed not to put too much strain on the locks. Especially your latch might fail instantly if the doors are misaligned. Flimsy locks, after a while, might make your door hard to open and leave you either locked out or unable to leave home.
Also, badly installed doors will get crooked after a while. Door replacement takes a lot of time and money. As soon as you move into the new property or decide to upgrade your security, call a professional locksmith to install and adjust your new locks and get them fitted into the door. Ask your locksmith to check if your door is properly aligned and in good shape: starting with its frame, and ending with the strike plates.
Humidity, dust, filth and debris may significantly impact the performance of your doors, windows and locks. This is why your locks need to be cleaned regularly just like anything else on your property. Otherwise, they will start gathering rust and eventually fail to work.
Remember to take good care of the screws, hinges and striking plates as well to maintain good performance of your locks. You can – or even should – treat your locks with a lubricant appropriate for the given material, to ensure their performance.
Once your lock becomes old and flimsy or frequently becomes stuck, call a locksmith in to fix or replace it. Never force your lock as you may end up breaking it. When it comes to new locks, using force or – worse – slamming the doors – is going to significantly weaken the mechanism over time.
