A front door is vital to any property, not only does it provide protection for the elements it also provides protection from unwanted intruders. With this in maintaining it really is shocking just how many people don’t pay any attention to door maintaining their front. This is why our team at Dr Locks Ltd have put together a few of our top tips to help you keep your front door in tip top condition and as secure as it can be.
Ensure Door Is Hung properly
Locks are designed to work alongside a frame and a handle that are fitted correctly. If a door is not hung properly or is misaligned, then this can put pressure on the lock eventually causing it to fail. You can tell if a door is incorrectly hung by observing the gap between the door and the frame, a properly hung door will have a uniform gap around all sides.
If this is not the case for your door then it is worth calling out your local locksmith to come and adjust your door and inspect your lock to make sure it hasn’t been subject to any damage. Here is the Emergency Locksmiths York you can check now.
Clean Door Locks
Believe it or not keeping door locks clean and free from dirt and grime is just as important as cleaning your home. Door locks can easily be cleaned with warm soapy water. You shouldn’t just chemical cleaners on door locks as this will more often than not cause more harm than good.
Lubrication
You should lubricate your locks every 6 months; this will ensure they continue to work as they should and help prevent unnecessary wear and damage. When lubricating a lock, you should never use oil based lubricants such as WD-40 as this will cause more harm than good leading the clogging of the locks.
Take Care Of Keys
If you misuse a key it can not only cause damage to the key but it can also damage the lock. Things such as pulling the key to close the door behind you, forcing a key to turn in the lock and forcefully pulling a key from a lock are all things you should avoid.
It is always a good idea to keep an eye on your keys and replace them at the first signs of damage or wear to prevent future more serious problems. If possible, it is always worth keeping an unused original key to one side that can be used to make copies of the keys as and when needed, this will help the accuracy of the new keys that are cut.
Door Handle Maintenance
Excessive wear and tear on handles can cause a multitude of issues, the handle breaking or becoming loose as examples. Much like when using your keys, the use of a handle should be gentle and smooth to allow for the latch to have time to disengage from the catch before pushing the door to open. Rough use, excessive weight and forceful entry are all elements that will damage your door handles whether an internal door, front door, or back door.
Know When To Call Out A Locksmith
Doors should always be easy to operate, you should never be met with resistance or have to use force when opening, closing, locking or unlocking them. If you are experiencing issues with your door or locks, then you should call out a professional locksmith to come and diagnose and resolve the issue before it turns into a much more serious issue that may even leave your property unsecure and vulnerable.
If your experiencing problems with your external doors or need help improving your external door security, then contact Dr Locks Ltd today – 01904 295 465
