One of the most frustrating things about my job is knowledge. For example;- I know of a widely used mortice type lock (often called ‘Chubb’), that is excellent for security purposes, yet prone to fail. In fact I often get called to open locks that just suddenly stop working. Before I even put the phone down, I am 99% sure of the brand of lock I will be dealing with and I would love to be able to name and shame here, but obviously cannot for legal reasons. The only thing I can say is if your mortice lock feels like it is starting to stick, check it is still having problems while the door is open and if it is, have it changed straight away before it seizes on you when you are desperate to get into your home. Personally, I only use Yale or ERA brands as I have yet to have a problem with either. As mentioned in previous blogs, keeping your locks oiled every six months or so is the best way to get the longest life out of them.

Mortice locks are also prone to rust as they sit inside wooden doors that naturally hold moisture. If you possess a couple of screwdrivers, it is worth taking the handles off your door every couple of years and removing the lock to check its condition. Many people are surprised at the state of their locks when they are removed, but then say things like; “It’s done well for ten years!” Ten years? It seems we live in a time when many are prepared to change their cars every three years or so (not all of us by far, but enough to use as an example), cars that are precision made with amazing technology, yet we hang on to locks until they fail. I know if you keep hold of a car long enough, it might eventually be worth more than you pay for it, but most of us get rid of our cars, trading in for new ones, usually making a loss, especially where loans are involved. Now compare that to the cost of a new lock which is designed to keep you and your possessions safe.

“But why should I change a perfectly good lock?” I hear you ask. My response is this; How do you know it is a perfectly good lock? You might be lucky and have a lock that lasts a lifetime. You might still be using the same lock your grandparents used when they were young, but you might also arrive home from the supermarket with bags of frozen food only to find your lock has seized and your local locksmith is still hours away stuck on another job. Please don’t think this is a sales pitch. By all means, change the lock yourself, or ask some friends if you are unsure of how to do it. I recently did a job where the front door to a block of flats was changed. I understand that changing the lock meant new keys for all the residents, but the managing company said they expect to see me again soon as the other blocks in the complex had similar locks that were “probably coming to the end of their lives.” These are high usage doors and we are talking about multiple families being locked out should just one lock fail. This highlights how we think about potential problems. We know something could fail any day, but are willing to take the risk anyway.

So, my advice is this: If your locks are more than a few years old, put yourself in the worst possible situation for the lock to fail and ask yourself what you would do. If you don’t have a very workable plan ‘B’ then it might be worth replacing the lock to reduce the likelihood of that scenario happening.

Thanks for reading.