On this page we'll have tips and tricks to help you keep your locks working well.
If you have a question you can email The Lock Doc, and we'll see if we can help.
Emails will be answered as quickly as we can, taking into account weekends &
Holidays. If you need immediate help, please give us a call.
Because of the nature of our profession, we may not be able to answer specific
questions concerning how to open locks, safes or vehicles.
 
      Let's start with some basic suggestions.

Lubrication is not a trade secret. In our arid environment, with the heat and
dust storms, keeping your locks lubricated can go along way in maintaining their
longevity. We recommend a synthetic lubricant (teflon or silicone), instead of 
products like WD40. While WD40 is good for removing corrosion or rust it
remains wet inside the lock, attracting and combining with dirt and dust. So,
don't be afraid to lubricate as a first step when you have problems.

Be aware of how your locks are performing. We rarely see a problem that
manifests itself overnight. We constantly hear customers say: "Well, it's been
getting harder and harder to turn the key, and now it won't turn at all."
Had they come to us earlier we could have diagnosed the symptoms and 
provided a repair solution.

Get a spare key. Duplicate keys are cheap compared with the cost of making
a key from scratch. This especially applies to vehicle keys. With the complexity
of todays vehicles, replacing a lost key can cost HUNDREDS of dollars. But,
a copy is seldom more than $3.00 to $25.00. If you're wise enough to have a
spare key, it's a good idea to keep it on your person or at least outside the 
vehicle. A spare key locked inside your vehicle, home, or business doesn't
really help you.

Many times the cause of locks not working or working very badly, is an
alignment problem between the door and the jamb. To check this, simply open
the door and try the lock while the door is open. If it works freely there, 
but not when the door is closed, then it's an alignment problem. The most
common situation is where the door has sagged in the frame. You can check
this by looking at the top of the closed door from the inside. (Assuming the
door opens in - check from the outside if the door opens out). If the space
between the door and the jamb gets wider the further you go from the hinge
edge, the door has sagged. As locksmiths, we recommend a carpenter, door
service, or construction company to take care of the problem.

More to come...

BACK