The winter comes with a lot of cozy nights at home that a lot of people enjoy. However, aside from hot drinks by the fire, winter brings several issues with the drop in external temperature. One of the most common problems people struggle with during the colder months are frozen door locks.
Of course, the local lock smith is always ready to unfreeze and unlock your doors, but sometimes trying a few tricks is worth the effort. Here are some hacks you can try the next time you find yourself facing a frozen door lock:
Hand Sanitizer
It is common knowledge that alcohol has a relatively lower freezing point when compared to water which means it does not freeze when exposed to low temperatures. A great hack to unfreeze a door lock is to squeeze some hand sanitizer on the key before unlocking the door.
Allow the hand sanitizer to unfreeze the lock for a few minutes before turning the key. Others are lucky enough to get it on the first try, but if you don’t give it a couple more tries before calling the lock smith for help.
Petroleum Jelly
Another easy hack to follow is the use of petroleum jelly. Just dip or slather the key with petroleum jelly before trying to use it on the door. Sometimes the lock can be hard to turn, just remember to turn very slowly and giggle the key a few times to avoid breaking or damaging the lock mechanism.
Hot Breath
At times the best solution is the simplest one. Cup your hand over the lock and use your breath to warm up and defrost it before trying to open the door. Breathe on the lock for at least a minute and give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, breathe on it a couple more times until the locks are warm enough to turn with ease.
Magnets
This hack isn’t typically considered a defrosting tip, it is more like preventing the locks from freezing in the first place. Take a small refrigerator magnet and stick it on the keyhole. Covering the keyhole prevents it from freezing and getting stuck.
Just make sure to place the magnet back on the keyhole after opening the door to avoid any future lock issues.
Bonus Tip: DO NOT Use Hot Water
It only seems natural to use hot water to unfreeze the locks, but that is a big mistake. Although the hot water will defrost the lock and allow you to open the door easily, constantly throwing hot water on the door will lead to water damage.
Plus, when the water starts to cool it will eventually freeze. The water that is left inside the keyhole will also freeze and even turn to ice making it more difficult to defrost and unlock the next time.
Don’t panic if you find yourself stuck outside your home or car due to frozen locks. Stay calm, remember these tips and use them. If all else fails, make sure you save the number of your local lock smith so you can contact them in case of an emergency.
Do you need to unlock a door, replaced a key, or install locks? If you need a lock smith, then contact us today at WFX! We’re here to help.