Lock System Maintenance

All lock systems require maintenance. Failure to properly maintain key-operated locks will result in lockouts, broken keys, and annoyed employees.

Maintenance is as important for keys as it is for the locks. Keys in a poorly designed system may have very deep cuts in high-torque positions. Eventually, hairline fractures will form and the key will break at one of those cuts. A professional locksmith will design a system that minimizes premature wear and broken keys.

The manufacturers of your lock and key system and your combination locks can provide proper guidance on maintaining them.

One common mistake to avoid: Do not spray petroleum-based lubricants such as WD-40 into lock cores to lubricate them. The keyway and pin chamber in a lock’s core are a miniature wind chamber that carry airborne dust and particles. Petroleum-based lubricants adhere to the lock’s components and collect these particles. Locks should be lubricated with Silicone-based lubricants recommended by the locks’ manufacturers. WD-40 is a very effective spray to clean out the gum and residue inside a lock. After using WD-40 to clean a lock, lubricate it immediately with an approved lubricant. The approved lubricant will displace the petroleum-based spray.

The combinations on combination locks can be changed following the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid several mistakes when changing combinations:

• If the combination lock is mounted on a door and its strike plate is mounted on the door’s strike jamb, always remove the strike plate before doing anything else. Some combination locks, notably those having higher security, have a relock device that prevents the door from being unlocked with the lock’s backplate removed. If the door is closed and the combination lock’s bolt is automatically extended, you will be unable to reopen the lock from outside even with the correct combination. Never close the door when the back is off the lock unless you are inside with the lock.
  
  
• After changing a combination on a door-mounted lock, never set the lock without first running the combination at least twice and confirming that the new combination is working.
  
  
• After changing combinations, run the new combination’s digits first one-half digit high, then one-half digit low. Generally, the lock will open when the digits are half-high or half-low. Then run the new combination’s digits first one digit high, then one digit low. If the lock opens with any digit incorrect by one digit high or low, reset the combination.
  
  
• Finally, clean and lubricate the combination lock’s mechanism following the manufacturer’s recommendations.