LOCK MAINTENANCE

Just what you wanted; a short read about lock maintenance! We are only half kidding – one great way to prolong the life of your locks is to maintain them properly. Locksmith technicians are big proponents of getting the best lock hardware and maintaining them to your best ability. It’s a good plan of action; in fact, well maintained locks work better and last longer, thereby saving you time and money in the process. When locks work as they should, it’s a great relief to all involved. After all, most locks are NOT there for decoration; far from it! We have and use our locks for one main purpose; to protect our valuables, cash and prized belongings.

But, I’m not a locksmith!

Yes, we sometimes hear that retort. People often are surprised when our Skokie, IL lock professionals mention that they should maintain their locks. You don’t have to be a locksmith in order to do some simple and very easy to follow maintenance. Keep reading and we’ll show you how. Notice that we didn’t say lock repair, or any other kind of specialized service; just your basic maintenance is all that is needed. Something as simple as wiping the outside of your lock with a soft cloth is usually all that you need to do. This action keeps dirt, spider webs and other debris from getting inside the lock and affecting the tumblers and springs. Avoid harsh cleansers; they are not needed and can damage the locks exterior finish. Petroleum based cleansers are fine as many insist on using something other than your basic, clean cloth.

Lubrication for your locks

Here’s another service that you can do yourself, without a locksmith. Locks need lubrication on average about once a year. This act can prolong their life cycle and it only takes a minimum of your time. For lubrication, try not to use petroleum based products as you are not cleaning, you are lubricating. You can use dry lubricants like Teflon or graphite and simply squirt the lubricant into the lock where the key goes. Insert the key and pull it out and clean it. Repeat a couple of times more. If you feel a little more ambitious, you can remove the entire lock and lubricate the latch and bolt, as well.

Door sagging check

This little known test is very important when doing your own lock maintenance. It’s easy to do and hardly takes any time. Here’s how you do it. Inspect your closed door by looking at the space between the frame and the door itself. It should be the same from top to bottom. What we are looking for is sagging. Sagging; even a little, can put stress and wear on your locks. Over time you will need to replace those locks and before that they won’t work as well, either. The normal range of space is about an eighth of an inch. Did you notice any sagging? If so, call a local Skokie, IL handyman or locksmith and get it fixed as soon as possible.

Strike plate check

Here’s another small check that is important to do. Check your door’s strike plate. Look for any damage to it or looseness. Your deadlatch should align with your strike plate evenly. If it doesn’t or if your strike plate is not attached properly, it can result in lock damage. While you are at it, check your deadbolt, if you have one. It should lock smoothly and easily. Make sure that you don’t have to lift the door in order to make it work or fit.

Spare keys

Spare keys can be useful and quite handy but we do offer one word of caution when having them made. Be sure to have duplicates made only from the original key, if possible. This is because people tend to use keys for purposes other than what they were made for. Keys can be used for slashing open boxes, popping open bottles, puncturing materials and other non-key uses. This is because the key blade is made of metal and has somewhat of a point as well as a jagged edge blade. It also has a convenient, easy to hold handle. Keys are not indestructible and even though these actions don’t necessarily break your key, they do over time, dull the key enough lessen its effectiveness. When duplicates are made from keys like this, the new keys that are cut are slightly damaged, and over time this can weaken and damage your locks.

Your key is not a knob!

One bad habit that is very rough on keys is to use them as door knobs. This action involves leaving the key in the lock and using it as a door knob to open or close the door after unlocking. The act of pushing and pulling on the key while still in the lock will damage and weaken the lock in the long run. Yes, keys and locks are made of metal but they can and do wear down with improper use. Another bad side effect of doing this is that it is so easy to forget that the key is there and walk off and leave it. Who knows who will find it and make ill use of it?

A good idea

It’s always a good idea to have periodic lock maintenance performed by a well-trained Skokie locksmith. Having this done allows your lock professional to make necessary adjustments and also to point out any potential problems or recommended upgrades that are needed. This lock maintenance can be done for both home and business locks. Your better locksmith shops will offer 24-hour emergency service so be sure that the one you work with does too. Think of lock maintenance and good locksmith service as an investment and not as an expense. Your locksmith of choice doesn’t have to be expensive but do consider using a full service shop that offers round the clock assistance for home, auto and business lock and key needs.