Most lock problems arise due to poor maintenance. A reliable lock should serve you for many years before you need repairs or replacements. If you've been replacing locks sooner than expected, perhaps you should consider taking maintenance seriously. Locksmiths can inspect and maintain your locks to ensure they perform better and serve you for a long time. The following are interesting ways locksmiths can keep your locks in good shape.
1. Lubrication
Lubrication works well after cleaning the lock. Unfortunately, many homeowners lubricate a lock before cleaning debris, further damaging it. Therefore, you should call a locksmith immediately if your key has been jamming. The expert will disassemble the lock, clean the parts, lubricate the moving ones, and fix the lock.
2. Duplicating Keys
Keys tend to wear out faster than locks. Fortunately, most locks often come with a set of keys. When one gets damaged or misplaced, you replace it with a spare key. After depleting all your original keys, you could be forced to invest in a new lock. Sometimes this happens faster than you anticipated. However, the locksmith can duplicate the key to avoid replacing the lock. Duplicate keys ensure you make the most out of a single lock until it wears out completely.
3. Lock Cleaning
Like other household structures and fixtures, your door locks need cleaning too. Over time, locks get exposed to dirt, dust, and moisture. Therefore, inner components might rust, leading to problems. This may explain why your key gets stuck from time to time.
Locksmiths recommend cleaning the locks occasionally to remove dirt and rust. If you try to clean the lock, you might use inappropriate cleaning products that make the lock more vulnerable to rusting. Mostly, locksmiths disassemble locks, clean the moving parts, and sometimes replace worn-out components. This should extend the useful life of the lock.
4. Inspecting and Maintaining the Deadbolt
Deadbolts are supposed to reinforce security by locking the door automatically after it slams shut. You don't have to lift or push the door for the deadbolt to operate. If it falls into the strike plate, you need a locksmith to inspect and fix the problem. Failure to address the problem causes damage to the deadbolt and lock in general. You might have to replace the entire lock if it gets damaged beyond repair. Your locksmith should help you reposition the deadbolt, clean it, and ensure it operates as expected.
These are simple ways a locksmith can help you prevent lock problems and premature replacement of locks. Therefore, if you have never called a locksmith to inspect your locks, you should consider seeking their services to prevent permanent lock damage and replacement.
When my dad came to visit, his first comment was about how sticky the front door lock was. He mentioned that it could be a problem that needed to be resolved soon, so I started getting serious about replacing things. We began going through and evaluating different home security challenges I had, and it was really clear that we needed to replace our door locks quickly. We went through our entire home, replaced the locks with the help of a locksmith, and then enjoyed the peace of mind that came with knowing our home was secure. Check out this website for tips on identifying and resolving problem locks.