Cold Weather and Locks: How to Fix Weather-Induced Locks Issues

05/08/2015 Back To Blog

A good lock keeps the uninvited people out of your house and keeps you and your family safe. No wonder then that so many people are very happy to invest in locks, doors and alarms that genuinely make them feel protected under the roofs of their own houses.

It doesn’t matter how advanced or expensive a lock may be though: in most of the cases, it will be subjected to external conditions that may make it less easy to operate. For example, did you know that cold weather can make your lock impossible to use?

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Here are some of the most important things to know about weather and how it can influence your door lock:

* Cold weather can make the door lock freeze. This may sound odd, but it is actually true, especially in those regions of the world where temperatures get extremely low in the winter. If this happened to you and you simply cannot use your key and lock, warm up the key using a lighter or a match. Make sure you wear gloves so that you don’t burn yourself!

* Once you have done this, simply insert it into the keyhole. Do this slowly and don’t try to “force” your way in.  The heat from the key will melt down the entire lock and this will help you use it as well.

* Sometimes, the same “symptoms” are shown by doors that haven’t actually frozen too. So before you try to heat the key, make sure you try to use some powdered granite spray (or any other type of lubricant) on it. If this doesn’t work, try the method described above.

* Weather and humidity can have other effects on your door and locks too. For example, a wooden door may become “swollen” due to a high level of humidity – and this may make it difficult for you to lock and unlock the door as well. If you are not certain as to what you should do, make sure you call in a locksmith professional.