Maintain home locks through regular cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment. Proper maintenance extends lock life, prevents failures, and saves replacement costs while ensuring reliable home security across Brisbane’s climate.
Regular lock maintenance prevents premature failure, maintains smooth operation, and extends hardware life by years. Simple quarterly care protects your security investment and prevents inconvenient breakdowns.
1. Clean Locks Every Three Months
Use compressed air or a soft brush to remove dust, dirt, and debris from keyholes and mechanisms. Brisbane’s humidity and dust accelerate buildup. Avoid water or harsh cleaners that cause corrosion, dry cleaning methods work best.
2. Lubricate Moving Parts Correctly
Apply graphite powder or specialist lock lubricant, never WD-40 or oil, which attract dirt, every 3-6 months. Insert lubricant into keyhole, work key in and out several times, and wipe excess. Lubricate door hinges simultaneously for smooth operation.
3. Check and Tighten Hardware
Inspect lock screws, strike plates, and door handles quarterly for looseness. Tighten any loose components before they cause misalignment or complete failure. Check that deadbolts extend fully into strike plates without binding.
4. Address Issues Immediately
Sticking, grinding, or hard-turning keys signal problems. Worn keys should be replaced or bring best key to locksmith for copying. Keys breaking inside locks or requiring excessive force indicate internal wear requiring professional service before complete failure.
5. Protect Locks from Weather Exposure
External locks face sun, rain, and salt air, specially in coastal Brisbane suburbs. Consider lock covers for extreme exposure positions. Wipe moisture from keyholes after heavy rain to prevent internal rust.
Pro Tip:
Annual professional lock servicing by ABC Locksmiths identifies wear before failure occurs. We clean, lubricate, adjust, and test all locks, replacing worn pins or springs as needed. Preventive maintenance costs far less than emergency lockout callouts or complete lock replacements. Book your home lock service on 07 3205 4925.
