Practical Tips for Keeping your Locks in Good Condition

Although the best idea when maintaining a lock is to contact a professional locksmiths, it is still true that we can apply certain home techniques that are neither very complicated nor invasive, and can give good results.

The first aspect recommended by professional locksmiths is to avoid the use of lubricants. These, far from causing any benefit, are capable of making them work worse, due to the possibility that incrustations are created that are not easy to remove and that can cause their total loss.

However, graphite powder is a good technique to increase your level of smoothness around contact with the key. This means that when the keys get stuck frequently, this method can be quite useful to avoid creating a final jam that is more difficult to correct.

In case the lock has dust accumulated on the outside, it can be easily cleaned with a cotton cloth slightly dampened with water. No need for detergents, degreasers, bleaches or any other product of this type.

Tips to keep a lock functional

The function of the locks is to protect a certain place from the entrance of intruders. They have been used for a long time to protect belongings or to maintain privacy, as in a room.

However, many people may have doubts about what is right and what is not when using them. For them and for those who always seek to learn new things, we bring you the following tips.

Installation

There are a large number of models of locks from which you can choose the most functional for each need. Obviously, it will not be the same condition for the entrance door to the house as for that of a room.

In this sense, it is always to have a locksmith close to your residence available. There are professional locksmiths in Newcastle that provide services to all suburbs.

When installing the locks, they cannot be knocked into the hole in the door. This action can cause serious damage to your external presentation, but also to your internal mechanics.

Use of keys

The locks come from the factory a number of original keys, which are usually three or more. These keys should be in perfect condition, as well as copies that can be made later to complement distribution among family members.

Well, an act that should not be allowed is to use keys that have some damage, for example that are bent. Although they work like this, this can cause internal damage to the lock, reducing its useful life.

On the other hand, the key must always be inserted completely, until it reaches the correct point and then turn it. Failure to do so would be subjecting both the key and the lock to unnecessary forcing, which could cause the first to break and leave a piece embedded. If this happens, it is best to hire a professional locksmith service.

Likewise, avoid pressing the key to open the door. To exercise this function is the latch. When the key is subjected to high pressure it can cause the same problem mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Another element to mention regarding the keys is that they should not remain inside the lock for longer than necessary. There are people who close the door behind them, lock it and leave the key there to have it more quickly at hand the next day. This is a bad practice that can cause the internal mechanics of the product to wear out.

When should maintenance be done?

It is not a preventive or planned maintenance. It is not correct, although it is difficult to assume, to perform this procedure on a monthly basis, for example, because it can be counterproductive.

The right moment will be generated at the exact moment when the lock begins to fail. This is easy to notice because it is difficult to turn the key, it does not go in easily, it gets stuck when trying to remove it, etc.

The biggest problem with not acting quickly in this matter is that you can jam the door with the lock, and be temporarily disabled. If not, the following procedure can be applied, which is quite simple. An important piece of information is to keep the door open to have access to the lock from both sides.

• With a screwdriver all the screws that hold the lock are removed, taking care to have them on hand for when the process is finished.
• You have to remove the handle and the trim that is always attached, and with that you will have access to the internal mechanism of the lock.
• With the help of an old toothbrush, you proceed to remove all the dust. This process must be carried out gently so as not to cause any damage to the structure.
• It will be necessary, as mentioned above, to apply graphite to it. This is generally available in stores oriented to this type of products and includes an applicator, which will make the procedure easier.
• Finally, all the implements are replaced and the lock is left as it was at the beginning.

After this it should work normally again. If not, it is better to contact a professional locksmiths who gives an opinion on the need to replace it.