Do not let your lock freeze

Arrival of the first cold weather brings us a lot of customers whose keys are broken, or worse, the whole lock is ruined.

 

We assure you that it is possible to prevent freezing and save your locks.

 

In order to keep moisture away, you should protect your lock from direct rain, snow and sleet. If water can enter the lock, it is quite likely that the cold freezes it.   Car locks have usually dust protection that blocks direct access of dirt and protects the lock from rain at the same time. If the car lock is broken, you should replace it with a new one. This applies to older cars, because in most cases new cars are opened with a remote control, which spares the lock.   One of the main breaking point for keys is petrol cap lock. The reason for this is that gasoline includes water vapour. The problem can be solved by De-Icer lock oil, which carries away moisture and oils the lock at the same time.

 

You should definitely oil you locks before the frosts. Lubrication is useful as it forms a thin protective layer on the metal parts, so that moisture does not freeze the moving parts so tightly. A well-oiled lock can be used after the ice formation.

 

Front doors should be lubricated three times a year: before the frosts, in midwinter and in spring. If your door has a high passability, you should oil it monthly.

 

Here, make sure that you choose the right lock oil. Do not use unfamiliar oils and greases, if you do not know their effect. Olive oil is good for health, indeed. However, in case of locks you should use only lock oils. It may be that after using some kind of unknown oil, you have to wash the lock. 

 

Wash the dirt out of the lock

Your key should remain clean if you enter it into the lock. If it becomes dirty, there is probably a lot of dirt.  In this case, you should remove the dust. You can use any lock oil for cleaning the lock.  You should do so: spray the oil into the cylinder, enter the key into the lock and then, pull it out. Clean the key with a pad that has no tufts, and repeat the action till the key is not dirty anymore. Remove the oil which is redundant.

What to do in a situation, when the lock is already frozen, and hindsight does not help?

 

Lock oil De-Icer

Lock oil De-Icer helps you to melt off the lock. Such kind of fluid melts the ice and wears moisture out of the lock.  It also lubricates the lock.  

 

Heat

If the lock oil is not available, you can open the padlock with heat. In this case, you have to pour hot water over the lock or heat it with a blow-lamp. While handling the open fire, do not forget to follow fire safety rules.

 

If you managed to open the lock, take it to a warm room and warm it till moisture has evaporated. After warming you definitely have to oil the lock so you can reuse it. Hopefully you follow our advice and do not let the lock freeze. 

 

Use your creativity

If you have, for example, driven to your summer-house and boiling water or blow-lamp is not available, you can warm the lock. Try to find something warm from your car, which you can frap your lock in so that the cylinder is accessible. You can repeatedly heat up a cigarette lighter or a lighter and push it against the lock. That way you can warm the lock up and break the ice.

 

Abloy keys can bear the heat into the lock. Warm up the lock with the lighter or with your hands, and bear the heat with the key. A process like that can take quite a long time. However, in an emergency situation it helps to solve the problem.

 

 

In conclusion:

Follow these key points, and your lock will work properly:

• Protect your lock from direct rainfall
• Oil you lock before the frosts
• Oil your lock couple of times a year
• To melt off your lock, use lock oil de-icer
• Take your padlock occasionally into a warm room and warm It up to remove moisture. Oil the lock before reusing it.  
• Use only a proper lock oil