black front door with lock

Lock Stuck? Open Your Door Safely with These Three Tips

A jammed lock is more than just an annoyance. It can mean standing on the front doorstep, whether at home or at work, for a long time. It can mean missed appointments, missed phone calls and even missed workdays. In some cases, it can put you, your family or your coworkers in danger.

There are many causes for a stuck lock, and they might include extreme weather conditions, corrosion in the form of rust, or old and faulty keys that might break and get stuck in the lock.

The following are some common causes for stuck locks, and some remedies.

Is the key correct?

It may sound a bit silly, but locksmiths attending to “stuck” locks often find that someone’s been attempting to open a lock with the wrong key. Before you try and jam the key into the lock again, be sure you’re using the right key or, if possible, try someone else’s key.

Is the lock frozen?

In winter when temps go below freezing, keys may not work until the lock is warmed to a certain temperature. Try breathing on the key or aiming a warm stream from a hairdryer at it, and attempt to open the lock once more.

Does the lock need lubrication?

Use a silicone thread lubricant you can find at a hardware store to try and moisten the jammed lock, which should make it easier to insert the key. You may also wish to try putting a small dot of graphite in the keyhole if you still can’t get the key in. Important tip: once you’ve applied graphite to the key, try to open the jammed lock several times so the graphite has a chance to work properly.

Call a Professional Locksmith Service

If you still can’t get the lock open, or if the key breaks in the lock, you’ll need to call a professional locksmith. We serve Connecticut and Westchester County, New York residential, commercial and automotive customers for emergency lockout services and lock maintenance.

Here are just some of the towns in CT that we serve: Durham, Killingworth, Middletown, Portland – and more.

We are a family-owned and operated locksmith business. We care about every job and offer professional, reliable, fast, and affordable service to the community. For more information, visit our web site or call us at 203-752-1464.

antique door

Updating Antique Doors for Lock Security

Many people love the charm of older houses and strive to maintain or restore them to their original condition. This requires special skills and training, especially when it comes to doors and locks. An antique lock may have become damaged or sensitive from years of wear and tear or disuse, but it may still be in good enough condition to keep your home secure if it receives the right repairs.

In past centuries, locksmiths often made locks themselves and experimented with a variety of techniques. That means antique locks are not standardized the way modern locks are. Not all locksmiths have the tools and training necessary to repair them. Any work on an antique lock should be left to an expert. You could also opt to add newer lock security elements that make the door secure while leaving its aesthetics intact.

Common Issues with Old Locks

Many problems with antique door locks are a result of rust that caused the lock to seize up or made it hard to turn the door handle. You might be able to take a rusted lock apart yourself, soak it in vinegar, and clean it yourself, but putting it back together would most likely require help from a locksmith. If the rust is so bad that the metal has worn down, cracked, or broken, you will definitely need the assistance of a locksmith. All or part of the lock may need to be replaced.

If there is an internal problem with the lock, it is most likely due to a foreign object that has become lodged inside and is blocking the key path. Since the internal workings of antique locks can vary widely, hiring a qualified locksmith is essential.

Sometimes an antique lock falls apart. This can usually be fixed by tightening the connections, but sometimes there is a different problem and more investigation is required to diagnose the source of the issue.

If you had a broken antique lock repaired and it worked for a while, but the same problem arose again, it might be because one component is not aligned correctly and is damaging another component. It is also possible that the house’s foundation has shifted. If that is the case, no locksmith will be able to permanently fix the lock. The foundation issue will need to be addressed for the lock to function consistently.

In some cases, an antique lock is so damaged that it cannot be fixed. A locksmith may be able to find a lock similar to the old one or help you to make a modern upgrade that protects your property and still looks good on the door.

Trust Your Antique Door Lock to a Professional

If you have an antique door lock that is damaged, don’t attempt to fix it yourself. Antique locks are complicated and often fragile, and you could make the problem worse. All American Locksmiths has a team of professionals who are up to the task of repairing or updating door locks. Contact us if you need help.

vacation

Lock Your Home Securely for Summer Vacation

The summer season is arguably one of the favorite times of the year for most. It’s not only when most of the nation experiences hot, sunshine and dry days, but it’s also vacation season. Schools out for those with kids, most who like to travel can do so with beach days lined up and of course, it means no work or boring responsibilities for a few days.

While we certainly are all for fun and advocate vacations as a great way to decompress, there are some things you must keep in mind before you take off when it comes to keeping your home secure while you’re gone.

Don’t forget that while the average person is only thinking about sun and fun come summer, criminals also know this is prime time when many people will be away from extended periods of time.

Here are some tips to lock up your home properly before going on vacation.

Double and Triple Check Every Access Point is Locked

Before leaving on your trip do a perimeter check around the entire home to ensure you haven’t missed locking any door window or another access point where someone could walk into your home. It also helps to use security monitoring systems. Many on the market today will even alert you via text when there’s movement on your property.

Never Advertise Your Extended Leave Publicly

While it’s okay to gloat about your trip, it’s never okay to tell people, especially on very public social networks your entire itinerary including how long and when you’ll be gone. You never know who can gain access to that data and use it as an opportunity to break into your home.

Too Late? Call a Locksmith!

The last thing you want to do is return home and realize your home’s been breached. The door lock is broken, or that your hidden spare key has gone missing. But if you do, we’re here to help! All American Locksmiths provides fast, dependable service for all of your business and residential lock needs.

Contact us today!