Cold Winter Weather Can Affect Your Lock and Key in Toledo, OH

For many of us, we only think about the locks in our home when they’re sticking or otherwise not working as we expect them to. While locks might get broken or come loose because of improper installation or usage, one of the most common causes of lock problems is changing temperatures and weather. As temperatures rise and fall, the locks may start to jam up and not work properly.

This is especially true during our harsh Midwestern winters. Lock problems often arise during the coldest months of the year, especially if you have older locks, doors and door frames in your house. As the temperatures dip below freezing, the door frame will contract, which results in a poor fit between the lock and key in Toledo, OH.

This is especially common if you have wooden exterior doors and/or door frames, which are going to be particularly affected by changes in humidity and temperature. In these situations, you might experience some difficulty in turning the key all the way in the deadbolt while locking or unlocking your exterior door.

There are some quick fixes to these issues—for example, you can try pulling on the door handle from the outside to re-center the lock in the door frame. But this isn’t a long-term solution. Your best bet is to seek the assistance of a professional locksmith before the winter hits, especially if you know you have older locks or old wooden doors and door frames, so you can prevent yourself from having to deal with these issues in the upcoming winter and for some years to come.

Tips for preventing lock problems

There are some steps you can take to prevent yourself from experiencing lock problems this winter. After all, the last thing you want is to be locked out of your home when the temperature is hovering right around zero degrees during the coldest part of the year!

Here’s a quick overview of some of those preventative measures you can take:

• Work with a professional locksmith: Any time you install locks, be sure to have a professional get the job done, especially for your exterior doors. A professional locksmith will properly fit the lock to the door frame, preventing problems that would arise as a result of the changing weather.
• Replace doors and frames: If possible, consider replacing your exterior wooden frames and doors with options that stand up better to extreme temperatures, such as fiberglass, aluminum, steel and certain composites.
• Oil: One of the best ways to maintain your locks and to keep them from sticking is to oil them regularly. This will make it easier to turn the locks, even when the weather gets very cold. You’ll have to take apart the lock to do this, but it’s worth it.
• Keep water and ice away: Make sure that your locks aren’t getting wet from snow and rain—this will prevent water from freezing inside and causing damage while expanding.

For more information about how to protect your lock and key in Toledo, OH from winter woes, reach out to Toledo Lock & Key LLC.

Categorised in: Lock and Key

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