Dealing With Sticky Locks on Your Home or Automobile
Posted on: 11 September 2017
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The lock on your car or the door and windows or your home help to keep your vehicle and home safe from intruders. However, occasionally, a lock may begin to stick. When this occurs, you may notice, that it becomes increasingly difficult to turn your key in the lock. While it can be tempting to ignore this issue, it is unlikely to resolve itself and will only get worse. If you have to use an increasing amount of force to turn the key in a lock, you greatly increase the chance that the key will break in half while it is in the lock. Before you call a locksmith, you may be able to repair the lock by adding a little lubrication. Below is a guide to two ways you can lubricate a sticky lock.
WD-40
WD-40 can be a quick and easy way to get it moving again. However, it is important to remember that WD-40 isn't strictly a lubricant. WD-40 is actually designed to displace water to help to prevent rusting and corrosion of metal parts. Its lubricating properties are a secondary action and are there for not designed to last for an extended period.
Eventually, WD-40 fluid will begin to evaporate and the lubrication it offers to your lock mechanism will be reduced. The causes the remaining fluid to thicken. As this occurs, dirt and debris can begin to collect within the viscous remains of the WD-40, causing the lock to begin to stick again.
If you plan to try the WD-40 option as a short term solution, you should never spray it directly into a lock. Instead, you should apply it to the key and then place the key in the lock. Repeat this action until the lock begins to work.
A Pencil
If you do not have any WD-40 in your home or car, you can use a pencil to lubricate your lock. This might sound strange. However, the graphite in a pencil will work as a lubricant when applied to the mechanism of the lock. To do this, you should use a sharp knife to shave the wood from a standard pencil. You should then run the blade along the exposed graphite and collect the shavings. You should then rub these shavings onto the key before placing it in the lock and turning it several times.
If you are still having problems with a sticky lock, you should call out a locksmith.