Lock Trouble: When to call a locksmith, when to DIY
Lock Trouble:
Not all lock trouble requires a locksmith. There are issues out there you can fix yourself for next to nothing! There are also times you absolutely should not try to do the work yourself, and hours of flim flam videos out there with "fixes" that sometimes do more harm than good and cost you more in the long run. We hope to save you time, money and a headache by helping sort it out.
Key Sticking or Difficult to Turn:
This. Has. Everything. Well, of course it does, it's the most common problem anyone has with their locks! This one situation can have a DIY solution, a 'call a locksmith' solution and carries more flavors of flim flam than Baskin Robbins had flavors of ice cream. Lets lay it out simply.
First, try turning the key with the door open. If it doesn't stick, it's not the key or cylinder, but your alignment. This happens when the latch is no longer aligned between the door and frame, and that pressure can make it difficult to turn. Letting this problem continue will reduce the life of your hardware, so call the locksmith and get it straightened out. If it is still sticking when you turn the key with the door open, it can often be fixed by spraying a silicon lubricant in the keyhole and working it around with the key.
Flim Flam PSA: Please do not spray or inject anything but silicon based lubricant in your locks! Nearly every experienced locksmith would like to hire a skywriter to blast this plea into the air in one million pt font. Every third person has a different go-to folk remedy that will range from being an inferior solution that silicon later replaced, to being outright harmful or dangerous to use, bringing unintended consequences. We can clear this up by letting you know that professionals locksmiths use silicon lubricants. If you are looking for a recommendation, we use Houdini in our shop.
If the lubrication does not fix the problem, that's where we come in. Locks have pins and springs, and these wear out. Pins and keys are made from different metals. This means they wear at different rates, and over time this makes it hard for them to work together. We can set you up with shiny new pins and solve your problem. This is a service we can perform right on site with the equipment in our trucks. If you are comfortable removing the lock yourself, bring it into the shop and we can do the work here. Bringing your locks to us will save you the cost of a service call, and most days it can be done while you wait or run another errand or two! We love having visitors!
Have to push or pull on the door to lock:
There is a little crossover between this problem and the sticking keys. This is usually an alignment issue. If you have to push or pull the door just right to get that latch to throw, we got you. Over time between use and settling, the latch no longer lines up with its home through the strike plate in the frame. When you are pushing, pulling or lifting the door, this is what you're shifting. This will break your hardware in time. DIY solutions often lead to damage to the frame or improper strike repair resulting in decreased security and more. We can safely adjust the opening to allow for healthy operation once again.
Batteries:
Many people have been surprised by this, but you don't need a locksmith to replace your batteries if you follow some very simple guidelines. First, choose wisely. You want to use either Duracell or Energizer batteries in both your electronic locks and digital lock safes. Be sure they have at least 4 years in them before they expire. We also recommend avoiding both lithium and rechargeable batteries as both of these battery types are known to reach end of life without warning. While regular batteries slowly run down, giving you the opportunity to replace them before it's too late, lithium and rechargeable batteries drop dead without gradual decline. If this happens, you are locked out. If this happens to your safe, this is especially costly, as it needs to be drilled open.
Common Mistakes:
In addition to the quick fixes, we want to use our experience to help you avoid common pitfalls that can be expensive or aggravating. Here are a few highlights:
Keyless Deadbolts: If you have a keyless deadbolt, we recommend changing the accompanying knob from one that is keyed to a passage knob that does not lock. Too often we get calls from folks locked out because someone happened to lock the knob on a door that is typically opened with a code. This is truly a situation where an ounce of prevention saves you a pound of emergency service fees.
Kids: As with so many things, your lock needs are informed by the age of your kids. We have had many calls due to toddlers unexpectedly locking doors in various rooms, which is inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst. Once they are out of their toddler years and into their teens, keypad entry solves the problem of kids losing their keys. Not only does this avoid a situation where the kids are locked out after school or work, but also avoids a misplaced key leading to a break-in if found by the wrong person.
When to change the batteries: If we all have to endure daylight savings, at least we can put it to good use. Every time you have to change the clocks, add a few key items to that change list. Change the batteries in your digital locks, safe keypads, and battery powered smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
If You're Not Sure:
If you find you have an issue and you're not sure if it requires professional help, don't be afraid to give us a call! We are living in the same world you are, so if we can save you money, we will. We may be able to walk you through a solution that does not require a pro, and we are proud to to share our time and expertise with our neighbors. There is more misinformation than good information on the internet. When it comes to tasks that involve your personal safety and security, don't be afraid to check in with people who have provable credentials. We have been here since 1988, and will continue to be here to support you whenever you need us.
