As an essential component in a property\u2019s security setup, it is important to ensure that your locks are functioning effectively. You should take the time to properly maintain them and solve any potential problems quickly in order to prevent them becoming a larger issue further down the line.<\/p>\n
By carrying out a few simple checks you can determine whether any faults are down to your lock\u2019s original installation, or simply from general wear and tear that they have experienced over time.<\/p>\n
These inspections could save you money in the long term, as carrying them out will determine whether you require a professional’s assistance or if they are minor issues that can be resolved quickly and economically by yourself.<\/p>\n
Initial installation issues\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n When hiring a locksmith or ironmonger to install a lock, you should always ensure that the service they offer is a professional one that won\u2019t leave an incorrectly installed lock that doesn\u2019t work as it should.<\/p>\n To ensure that a lock installer is a reliable professional\u00a0 look for accreditations from bodies such as The Master Locksmiths Association and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, as these will allow you to verify the reliability and quality of a locksmith.<\/p>\n If your lock is not operating as it should, the following should be checked in order to ensure that the lock was correctly installed.<\/p>\n Does the bolt fully extend<\/span><\/p>\n If a lock is not working as required, you should first check if the door\u2019s bolt fully extends into the mortise beneath the strike plate. The mortise should be at least 1 inch deep so that the bolt can fully extend into it and create a strong and secure fastening. If the bolt cannot extend over an inch into the door\u2019s mortise then the lock\u2019s security levels may be reduced.<\/p>\n You can test this by keeping the door open, taking a hard tape measure or ruler and inserting it into the mortise. If the depth of the mortise is not an inch deep a professional locksmith\u2019s assistance should be sought to deepen the mortise.<\/p>\n Misaligned frames<\/span><\/p>\n If a lock was installed incorrectly an issue that can be exacerbated over time is a misaligned frame. This can result in the alignment of the bolt lock and strike plate being out of position, meaning that the lock may become very stiff and hard to open over time, and in some cases lose the ability to close at all. If these issues are occurring and you believe that the frame is out of alignment, either the sides of the lock and strike plate may need to be adjusted in order to allow them to function correctly, or the strike plate may be removed and realigned in order to allow them to match up once again. In this situation it is advisable to seek an accredited locksmith to carry out repairs.<\/p>\n Issues further down the line<\/strong><\/p>\n If a lock has been functioning correctly for an extended period of time prior to any issues being presented, it is probable that it is simply suffering from some form of general wear and tear; the most common of which are outlined below.<\/p>\n Worn keys<\/span><\/p>\n If a lock is not functioning correctly, the first thing that should be inspected is the key in use. The ridges on a key can get worn down over years of use, reducing the size of the ridges and preventing them from activating the unique locking mechanism which opens the door\u2019s lock. If you cannot find any other issues regarding the functionality of the lock, and the key looks fairly worn, this can often be the cause of the problem. In this situation it is advisable to contact a locksmith who can offer professional advice on the best course of action, whether that be to cut a new key using both the lock and worn key as a guide, or to seek a new replacement product.<\/p>\n Sticking issues<\/span><\/p>\n Another common problem with locks is that they can stick in place and prove difficult to open. If a lock has become very stiff to lock and unlock over time this suggests that this is the problem. To solve the issue of sticking, spray an appropriate lubricant, such as WD-40, into the keyhole and onto the locking mechanism on the side of the door. Then lock and unlock the door several times to distribute the lubricant throughout the locking mechanism. If the door is still stiff to operate repeat the process until the lock functions as it should.<\/p>\n When carrying out this process it is important to note that viscous oil should not be used since it may cause some cylinder locks to fail.<\/p>\n If a lock is not installed correctly by a professional locksmith, you may well have to pay for costly corrections and adjustments further down the line. If you are looking to have a lock installed, mended or adjusted contact us on:\u00a0 0121 418 3415<\/span><\/strong><\/span> for a professional and reliable service.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As an essential component in a property\u2019s security setup, it is important to ensure that your locks are functioning effectively. You should take the time to properly maintain them and solve any potential problems quickly in order to prevent them becoming a larger issue further down the line. By carrying out a few simple checks you can determine whether any faults are down to your lock\u2019s original installation, or simply from general wear and tear that they have experienced over time. These inspections could save…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-locks-security"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n