Temperature changes can have a distinct effect on the operation of metal-based locks, as metal often expands and contracts during periods of heating and cooling. In this blog entry, the lock repair experts here at Chicago Locksmith will detail exactly how temperature changes affect your locks.
Hot Weather Lock Affects
Hot weather can cause doors to expand, making it harder to turn locks – or even making locks fully stick. This is the most common with closed deadbolt locks that are compressed within the door as the doorframe swells up, or with wooden exterior doors or door frames, as wood swells and contracts more in temperature shifts.
Cold Weather Lock Affects
Cold weather causes doors and door frames to contract, most commonly with wooden exterior doors and doorframes. This might make it harder to turn a key within a deadbolt. This can be fixed by pulling on a door handle from outside to recenter the lock within the doorframe.
Car Locks and Temperature Shifts
Cold weather can affect car locks, especially when moisture inside car locks freeze as temperatures drop, making it impossible to turn the car lock or for a car remote to operate. Try heating up the car’s key with an open flame before inserting it in the lock. If your car has a remote start option, try heating up the car by letting the engine run for a few minutes in order to unfreeze the lock.
Presenting Temperature Change Related Lock Affects
Always work with a professional locksmith to install any of your locks. They can ensure that locks are perfectly fitted and matched to your door frame in order to lower any issues with changing weather. Replace wooden exterior doors and doorframes with more durable options that are temperature shift resistant, like fiberglass, steel, and aluminum. Always oil your locks to make them easier to turn in weather changes (this might require periodic lock disassembly.) Additionally, try to keep your locks as dry as possible. Make sure all eaves, gutters, and overhangs are properly working and clean in order to keep all rain, snow, or moisture as far away from the door as possible.
