How to Keep Door Locks From Freezing
As we all know, in wintery weather, metal expands when it is exposed to a drop in temperature. This can cause any door lock installed on your home with a metal component (such as pins or hinges) to freeze up and become unusable. This can be frustrating, as your lock may have been working perfectly fine the night before.
The best way to prevent this from happening is by ensuring that these components are insulated with caulk or other insulation products before the first frost of winter hits! If you have already noticed your lock beginning to stick, then there are some things you can try before calling a professional out. Here in this article, we will go through how to keep door locks from freezing. Keeping Door Locks from Freezing: Easy Steps to Unfreeze a Lock If you can’t prevent the problem, then the next best thing is knowing how to unfreeze a door lock.
5 Common Reasons Why Door Locks Freeze Up
1. Frost Heaves:
As we all know, when the weather gets cold, the ground freezes. As a result, the moisture in the ground expands, which can cause large cracks on your driveway and sidewalks. These cracks allow water to seep directly into your home’s foundation through frost heaves! Don’t forget to check for this during each winter season. Damaged Gutters and Downspouts This one is especially important if you live in an area with extreme winters or lots of rain. If your gutters are damaged, water will build up, which will cause the weight of the water to damage the gutters.
2. Moisture:
Moisture builds up when your home is not properly insulated. This moisture can seep through cracks in the walls and into your door lock, causing it to become frozen!
3. Condensation:
Condensation occurs when warm air comes into contact with a cold surface, such as a window or door. When this happens on your door, the moisture can freeze and cause condensation. When this happens to your door lock, you are in trouble! The moisture can freeze the door lock and cause it to become stuck.
4. Frozen Soil Around the Strike Plate:
This is usually found on door locks that have metal components. The soil around the strike plate can freeze, which will cause the lock to become frozen. This can be fixed by simply removing the strike plate and putting a small amount of lubricant on it.
5. Water in Lock Core:
Water can enter into your door lock through a malfunctioning deadbolt. When this happens, you will have to replace the strike plate and possibly repair or replace your lock altogether!
7 Ways on How to Keep Door Locks From Freezing
1. Use WD-40 to Lubricate Them
Spray a little lubricant on the door lock before you close it. It’s been said that spraying some lubricant such as WD-40 will help keep your door locks from freezing in cold weather. I’ve also heard that this works for car doors, too. Maybe with either of these, you can avoid having no door locks altogether! It certainly couldn’t hurt to try it out on yours.
2. Use Bag Balm to Lubricate
Bag balm is a product that originated in Switzerland and is used to moisturize sheepskin to keeps it warm and waterproof for protecting the feet of mountain climbers and skiers. Bag balm is available in different types and strengths, but I’ve heard that the “Extra Strength” is what does the trick when it comes to helping your door locks from freezing during cold weather.
3. Use a Hair Dryer
Of course, you don’t want to blow hot air on your door locks. It would be best if you instead held the hairdryer so that it’s right in front of the door lock and then blast it with cold air for several minutes. Then, try turning your key or handle as usual. I’ve heard that this trick helps prevent exterior doors from freezing shut.
4. Use a Candle
Apparently, you can heat your door locks with a candle before you leave, and it should keep them from freezing. Just put the candle in an old coffee can to protect it. Make sure that you light this candle at least 10 minutes before you plan on leaving so that it has enough time to help de-ice your door locks.
5. Use a Hand Warmer
If you don’t have any candles around and your front door lock freezes, there’s a way to thaw it out without having to wait for it to defrost on its own (which can take quite a while). Just put a hand warmer near the frozen part of the lock, and several minutes later, it should work.
6. Use a Drain Snake
One option is to use a drain snake or plumber’s auger. For example, if your door lock is frozen or partially blocked, you’ll need to use a drain snake to clear the obstruction.
7. Use Ice-Dwelling Algae
Another option is to freeze some ice-dwelling algae into a large mass. Then, chip away at this until you have the little “tubules” that can melt into your keyhole. This will not only de-ice, but also de-germ it. You can then simply use the key right away to get back inside once you’ve thawed everything out again with a hairdryer or by leaving your door open so that the heat from inside can slowly melt it.
Below Are Some Tips That Will Prevent Door Locks From Freezing
- If you notice any cracks in the ground around your home, make sure to patch them up using a sealant, such as caulk.
- If your door is drafty, install weather stripping to prevent any cold air from coming in contact with the door and lock.
- Make sure to insulate all components that have metal in them! This includes hinges, strike plates, and anything else that can cause freezing issues.
- Make sure to check your door lock for any signs of water in the core. If you find any, make sure to lubricate the pins and hinges until they can move freely.
- If your door has condensation on it or leaks moisture inside from a failure on your previous insulation methods, you will need to insulate the door frame and dry from within. Again, there are many products you can use, such as foam board insulation or spray foam insulation to stop any moisture leakage.
Conclusion:
A frozen lock can be a very frustrating experience. If you are in a region where the temperatures drop below freezing, it is important to keep your door locks from freezing. Fortunately, there are some easy steps that you can take to help prevent your locks from freezing in the first place and keep them functioning smoothly throughout winter. In this blog post, we have put together those steps on how to keep door locks from freezing so that you don’t have frozen locks during wintertime.
You may read also – How to Keep a Glass Shower Door Closed
Angela Ervin
Angela is the executive editor of DIY quickly. She began her career as an interior designer before applying her strategic and creative passion to lifestyle and home. She has close to 15 years of experience in creative writing and online content strategy for housekeeping, home decorations as well as other niche efforts. She loves her job and has the privilege of working with an extraordinary team. She lives with her husband, two sons, and daughter in Petersburg. When she's not busy working she spent time with her family.
