Tips For Troubleshooting A Commercial Lock During The Winter
Since the physical security of your business is crucial to the success of your business, the appropriate use of your door locks is vital. While replacing the locks on the doors at home is frequently very affordable, the locks used at commercial properties tend to be a more expensive investment. As a result, before you spend your hard-earned cash unnecessarily, it is a good idea to try the following tips before resorting to an emergency visit from a commercial locksmith.
Warm The Key If It Does Not Seem To Fit Into The Lock During Very Cold Weather
Just as you might not want to get out of bed on an especially cold day or your car may need to be warmed up later, you may notice that door locks may not function as well when the thermometer dips between freezing. Therefore, when the key that used to work can no longer be fully inserted into the lock on a bitterly cold day, you should consider heating the key to warm it and the lock.
Fortunately, heating the key can be as easy as using a hair dryer on a low setting until it is warm to touch. Alternatively, after donning gloves or a hot pad holder to protect your hands, you can light the key with a lighter. It may take numerous attempts to heat the key before it is warm enough to defrost both the lock and key, so don't get discouraged if immediate success doesn't happen.
Clean The Lock After Windstorms
If the winter in your area usually means high winds, it would not be difficult for the sand or dirt in the yard to lodge in the locks. Since that could result in a jammed or dirty lock, it is important to be aware of how the lock can be cleaned. One option that has been successful for brief periods of time and emergencies involves applying small amounts of liquid butter, cooking oil, or a lubricating spray to the key and lock.
Unfortunately, you should only try that option as one time or stop-gap measure, since eventually those items can solidify within the lock or attract more dust so the problems worsen in the future. Instead, you should use a few drops or flakes of graphite on the lock and insert the key in the lock once or twice. If the issue continues, it may be time to consult with a commercial locksmith.
In conclusion, the effective and consistent use of commercial locks on the doors of your business is a vital way to protect everyone and everything in the facility. Since doors are only able to provide the security that a good lock provides, it is best to attempt the advice listed above before spending money to replace impaired or non-functioning locks.