Service Lock: How To Maintain The Door Locks Of Your Home

By Author: Ronald Ferguson
Total Articles: 43
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As with anything mechanical, dirt and grime will build up in a door lock. Learn how to easily maintain your service lock cylinders in your normal monthly home maintenance schedule.

Though it really should be, maintaining a lock isn’t always part of a normal family maintenance ‘to do’ schedule. Regular lock maintenance not only helps the lock function optimally, but it also may prevent you from having to shell out a lot of cash to hire a locksmith for repairs later on. As with anything mechanical, dirt and grime will build up in a door lock making it much harder to operate, or even break eventually. Even if locks are used virtually by anyone every single day, most people don’t think about how they are maintained. Handle sets and deadbolts are very easy to clean, which will usually take you a few minutes. The best way to maintain a service lock is to give it a bit of lubrication to keep all of the parts moving smoothly.

Contrary to what many people suggest, never use powder graphite on the insides of your service lock since it can clog it like sand. ...
... Instead, purchase WD40 or anything similar from a locksmith shop, or hardware store. Be sure to shake the can really well before lubricating the locks. Lubricant sprays usually come with thin tube stems which can be placed into the lock cylinder. Spray liberally and be sure to have lots of paper towels as the dirt will be a lot. To let the lube work up on the components of your lock, turn the key a couple of times. If you still feel some friction, repeat the spraying process until the key turns smoothly. If your lock still has problems you may have to take it apart and clean its parts individually or call a locksmith. Farringdon-based renowned locksmiths suggest not over-lubricating locks since it can make it accumulate more dust. Flush the lock with the lubricant and continue to spray until you no longer see any dirt and debris draining from the service lock. The bolts and or latch on the side of the door should also be sprayed with lubricant. Since these are vital mechanisms that actually lock the door, they also need to be regularly maintained. If you think your lock, bolts or latch have been over lubricated then take the component apart and wipe it with cloth and an alcohol based electrical contact cleaner. Maintaining a lock prevents the need for a locksmith. N16 locksmiths, however, are always there to guide you if you have any problems.

A cheaper alternative to clean grime off from your door hardware is by using a mixture of some water, natural lemon juice and a dash of salt. Lemon juice is a proven natural degreaser and the salt is a mild abrasive. Scrub the mixture gently with the use of an old toothbrush. Then quickly rinse and dry everything you scrubbed. You can dry your door hardware faster with a compressed can of air.

About the Author:

Ronald Ferguson is a freelance writer who enjoys the challenges of creativity and attention to detail. His professional career covered 10-plus years in the public and private sectors, having created and edited numerous business documents, including operations manuals, job specifications, letters, and internal memos. He became also a writer of some company like Locksmith Sw5. For more info about locksmith, click here.