Lock Maintenance

Like every other mechanism installed in a property, locks need a bit of maintenance in order to ensure these are working correctly. It doesn’t matter if these are installed at home or in a commercial building: if you don’t take good care of your locks, they will break or malfunction when you least expect it. This could lead to other unpleasant predicaments like lockouts or worse: break-ins.

But never fear – our experts are here to help you understand how to keep everything in top working condition. Keep on reading for our top tips for basic lock maintenance:

• Make sure everything is properly connected

This may sound obvious, but a lock will only do its job if the door is correctly installed and the lock has been fitted in the right position. A badly fitted door will put an unnecessary amount of stress on your locks, ultimately causing them to malfunction. On that note, the first thing to check is whether the door itself has been properly hung – it shouldn’t sag or bind, and the gap between the door and the frame should be uniform on all sides. Don’t forget to check the hinges: these should ideally have 3-inch screws installed as it will prevent sagging and increase the door’s overall resistance.

• Check your dead latch and deadbolts

A dead latch is a small plunger that rides on a door latch’s flattest side. When closed, these should be aligned with the strike plate – it should NOT fall into the plate itself, as this will cause your lock to malfunction. As for your deadbolts, you shouldn’t need to push, pull or lift the door in order to get the locking mechanism to work – remember, your deadbolt won’t be locked unless it is fully extended, so make sure that the hole in the door jamb is big enough to accommodate it.

• Inspect your locks for wear and tear

Is your key sticking to the lock? It might be time to call a locksmith in Milwaukee to check things out. You may be dealing with a worn out lock that needs replacement. If you fail to replace a lock early enough, you will likely get locked out of your property.

• Oil up your locks

An overlooked fact for all property owners is that locks actually require yearly lubrication. You’ll need to find the right type of lubricant here: we don’t recommend petroleum-based products, but Teflon and other dry lubricant options are a great choice for this job. If you can’t find these anywhere, a graphite based lubricant can be quite good as well. Spray a small amount of oil into the keyway, then run the key in and out of the lock a couple of times to spread it evenly. Remove any debris you find each time you remove the key from the lock.

• For electronic or keyless locks: only use brand-name batteries

There are times when the cheapest solutions are going to be the most expensive. Off-brand batteries wear out a lot more quickly – so investing in a brand-name battery will actually save you time and money in the long haul.

• Never close your door by tugging the key

This will just put pressure on your locks, which will eventually lead to wear and tear. Simply said, when the pins inside are constantly under stress, they become less responsive and more susceptible to damage.

Broken or worn out locks? Call a locksmith

Sometimes, you may find yourself with locks that need to be repaired or replaced. While you can usually trust these to last you up to seven years, no security fixture is ever completely immune to damage.

That’s where locksmiths provide an invaluable amount of help and expertise. A qualified professional in your area will be able to inspect the locks in your property or vehicle for damage and provide the right solutions if they encounter any issues. You can expect a credible expert to give you a full cost breakdown of repairs – and they won’t try to upsell or push you into taking things one step further. You should tread with caution if a locksmith tells you that they need to completely dismantle your locks and start anew, as there is seldom any need for such drastic measures.

Remember, you are letting the professional into the property you have invested time and money into. If you don’t feel comfortable with the person inspecting your locks, you don’t have to go ahead with their services. For a bit of peace of mind, make sure to visit the business you’re considering to hire and talk to a locksmith in person – most companies offer free consultations and price quotes to enable their customers to do just that. On the topic of price quotes: be wary of any professional who changes their estimates once they’ve reached your property as they are likely trying to get more money out of you.

Other tips to consider if you’ve never hired a locksmith before: always ask for recommendations, keep the contact details of at least a couple of businesses handy, and take the time to shop around for the best deals and do a bit of checking into backgrounds. Always go for a local business with a physical address that is easy to verify – this will save you money and will ensure you are hiring a credible professional. Read up on online reviews on websites like Angie’s List and Yelp, cross-check the company’s license and insurance details (which you should always request when you contact them) through the local directories, and make sure to get in touch with client references in the area (a credible professional won’t balk at the idea of providing these upon request). Make sure to ask for a full cost breakdown for all solutions, and, while you’re at it, ask about their after-hours services costs too – you never know when you’ll need emergency locksmith assistance.

Locksmith Master Milwaukee is more than happy to help anyone in Milwaukee, WI who is experiencing lock troubles. Be it a malfunction, wear and tear, or 24/7 lockout assistance, our licensed and insured professionals are always at your disposal. If you’re in the area, get in touch to discuss some options with our team and we’ll go from there.

Aricle source here: Lock Maintenance

No More Lost Keys

If you are a motorist, you run the risk of losing your car key at some point. This can be one of the most frustrating experiences that a motorist goes through. If you have somewhere that you have to be and you do not know where your keys are, you will likely be late or not able to make it at all. At Locksmith Master Milwaukee in Milwaukee, WI, we receive many calls related to lost or stolen automotive keys. Our automotive locksmith services are very popular, for obvious reasons.

You may be getting more frustrated as you start trying to figure out where you may have left your keys. Did they fall out of your pocket, did you leave them on the counter of the last store you were in, did someone take them? All of these are some of the questions that may be going through your head. This can be extremely frustrating! Our locksmith technicians have advised us of some of the most practical ways for you to keep up with your automotive keys.

1. Get Spare Keys Made

This may not sound like something that we should have to say but it is. You would be surprised to find out just how many motorists we meet who do not have a spare key. By having a spare key you save both time and money. You don’t have to spend money on a service provider who would have to come and make you a key, rather you can just call up the person with the key so that you can get back inside your car and back on your way again. However, the second best option would be to turn to a locksmith who has mobile services. They will come to your location and make your key on the spot.

2. Put Tags on Car Keys
   

This might sound like something that you would have done to a child but it is just as useful and practical to put on your keys. When you lose or misplace your keys, they can be returned to you if the person knows who they belong to. The tag should include your name, number and email address ONLY. Don’t have to put your physical address on the key tag because your keys may fall into the wrong hands and you could end up with a worse problem on your hands than you already have. Just don’t put to much personal information on your key tag. You can always meet the person in a public location to retrieve your keys.

3. Check for Your Keys
   

Again, this is something that you wouldn’t think that we would have to mention but the trust is that this is exactly why most people lose their keys. If you remember to have your keys in your hand before exiting your car, you will avoid leaving them in the ignition or laying them on the seat next to you. Create a routine or habit that you do before getting out of your car to ensure that your keys are actually in your possession. Some people find it helpful to toss them up or place them in a specific pocket before hoping out of the car. When you do the same thing every time you get out of the car, it will be strange when you do not and immediately alert you to the need to grab your keys. This may seem unnatural the first couple of times but the more you do it, the easier and more natural it will begin to feel.

4. Getting Your Lost Keys Back
   

Doing something as simple as retracing your steps could help you get your keys back. However, as logical as this sounds, many people do not do this. Since they are in a panic, they just can’t seem to consider the most logical things to do in order to find their keys. In addition to retracing your steps, you might write down every location you were in prior to going back to your car. Even when you go to the last place that you were and do not see your keys, ask anyone in the vicinity if someone turned in a set of keys. You don’t want to simply walk away without knowing. It is very easy to take something out of your pocket or purse and lay it down without realizing it. As a last resort, after trying the aforementioned suggestions, you can always rely on the services of Locksmith Master Milwaukee. We’ll come to your rescue by arriving quickly to make you a new car key.

Locksmith services in Milwaukee tend to receive more business during the holiday season more than any other time of the year. This is because people are less aware of their surroundings and are constantly hoping in and out of their cars. Equipped with the suggestions above, you might find it helpful to revisit them to improve your chances of not losing your key. No one ever expects to find themselves locked out of their car, but when you are, it can certainly be helpful to know what to do in order to get your keys back. Why not save yourself in further frustration by following just 1 or 2 of the suggestions listed above. Life is unpredictable, all we can do is try to anticipate situations that can occur and plan for them as best as we can. Despite our best efforts, sometimes losing or misplacing a key is simply inevitable. Do your part by being alert to what you can do to minimize the probability of losing your car keys. The last thing you would want to happen is for your keys to fall into the wrong hands. We can tell you from experience that the probability of this occurring is very high. Protect yourself by trying to do your best to keep a hold of your car keys at all times. You’ll be glad you took the initiative to do so.

 

Aricle source here: No More Lost Keys