Joseph
Winter is just around the corner, and that means it will freeze at night. When you are ready to leave in the morning, you run into a lot of nasty things. The lock on your front door is frozen and will not open or close, then you can scratch the car window, and the doors of the car do not feel like it. But what should you do to prevent/remedy this?
Locks in winter
Just like us, ditches are also not fond of winter temperatures. They are more challenging to open, but turning the lock is also tricky. In short, everything you cannot use when you leave the house in a bit of a hurry. Not only the front door but also the back door and shed door are waiting to be opened. Lock problems are, therefore, more common when it is still early in the morning. When the sun starts to shine, the locks will thaw again, and you will no longer experience any problems.
Make your home burglar-proof
Most burglaries are committed in winter. And that is not surprising because it gets light later and dark earlier. To prevent your home from being broken into, it is wise to purchase good burglar protection. Choose a multi-point lock or an extra side lock; this makes your door more secure. The front door is then anchored to the frame in more than one place. There is a difference between a standard lock with a separate side lock and a multi-point lock. In the first variant, you have to perform two actions to open the door. You open the regular lock but also the side lock with a key. When you have a multi-point lock, you unlock all shots at once with one turn of the key. Placing security fittings on your outside door makes it much more difficult for burglars to force the lock. And that is what we want!
Preventing a frozen lock
During a cold winter, it may be that your locks freeze. You can prevent this by smearing a little petroleum jelly or oil in your lock the evening before it freezes. By putting the key in the keyhole a few more times and turning it, you spread it. Furthermore, you do not do much yourself to prevent a frozen lock. In most cases, it is more common on a car door than a front door. If the lock is already stiff by itself, you will probably suffer even more in the winter months. Therefore, make sure you replace your locks in time to not end up with a broken key or broken lock.
Defrost a lock
If it is the case that your lock freezes, you can take several actions. You can defrost your lock again with lock spray. There is often a handy straw so that you can spray it exactly in the right place. Second, there is an anti-freeze lighter. Could you put it in the lock, and the ice melts? Another home-garden-and-kitchen tip is to use a hairdryer. Point the hairdryer at the lock so that warm air gets on the lock. Due to the heat, the freezing disappears, and no molten water is released. You blow-dry it immediately so that it cannot freeze again. Then you use maintenance oil to make the lock smooth again. Your lock is entirely ready for use again.
Would you like to engage an expert ADP Locksmiths? Open locks, replace locks, install emergency locks, or advice on burglary prevention? Our recognized lock expert is at your service.
