How Cold Weather Affects Your Locks
With the summer weather quickly coming to an end, it is only a matter of time before the nights get longer and the air gets cooler. Winter is on its way and if there is one thing your local Cardiff locksmith will assure you, it is that the last thing you want is to be stuck in the freezing cold outside of the comfort of your warm, cosy home.
The cold weather can result in a variety of challenges for both homeowners and business owners, including frozen or burst pipes, dampness, leaks, and broken heating systems. The functioning of doors and windows locking mechanisms can also be impacted by the cold, which can very easily compromise the security of your building. Your local locksmith in Cardiff is a very good source of information regarding keeping your locks ready for the winter and are sure to let you know that it is incredibly important to ensure the functionality and effectiveness of your locks when the cold weather settles in.
So, how exactly does the cold weather affect your locks?
What Happens to Doors and Locks in the Cold?
If you ask your local locksmith in Cardiff, they will tell you that just as wood has been known to expand when the temperature rises, it is very easy for the opposite to happen in the cold. When the temperature drops, it is possible for a door frame to compress or become warped, particularly if it is composed of a material like wood. The deadbolt may not function properly if the lock has not been installed correctly within the frame. You can notice that the door starts to stick and that it becomes difficult to open and close if moisture seeps into the doorframe as well.
As we move forward, winters are becoming even more damp than before. The mechanism of a lock is more prone to taking on moisture. When the weather gets colder, the moisture within the lock may freeze, making it difficult for you to put a key into it. What can be even more frustrating is that a frozen lock can cause keys to get trapped inside of it, creating a whole new set of issues. As much as your local Cardiff locksmith would love to help you out of a sticky situation, it would be much more preferable that you don’t end up stuck out in the middle of a snowstorm. In addition to the locks becoming frozen or warped, extremely cold temperatures have the potential to make locks brittle and even break them, which is not ideal if you’re trapped outside in the cold. What should you do if you do find yourself having issues with your locks in the cold? Let’s talk about that.
What to Do if Your Locks are Affected by the Cold?
The first thing to keep in mind in any sort of stressful situation is to try not to panic. The worst thing you can do to yourself when you find yourself in a bind is to cause yourself to become even more frustrated and shroud yourself with a feeling of hopelessness.
No matter what, keep in mind that you can always contact your emergency locksmith in Cardiff.
Although the most tempting thing to do if your locks have been impacted by the cold weather might be to attempt to repair them on your own, doing so could very easily make things worse. The best course of action is to have a reliable locksmith examine the situation. If your existing locking mechanism wasn’t properly put inside the doorframe, in some cases you might have to have the locking mechanism replaced entirely. Whenever you need to replace a locking mechanism in your doors, contacting your local locksmith in Cardiff is always the best course of action and it will ensure that the work is done properly.
If you find yourself in need of a locksmith or have any questions regarding locks and the changing temperatures, feel free to get in touch.