Brrr. It’s cold outside, and you can’t wait to get into your warm, cozy home. You try to open your front door, but what happens? The lock isn’t working. How inconvenient in Michigan winters in which temperatures can dip dangerously below freezing.
When temperatures change dramatically, your door locks may not be on their best behavior.
Let’s look at how cold weather may affect the different types of locks you may have and what you can do about it if you’re locked out.
Traditional Locks
If you have a traditional lock with a key, you may have problems opening your door in winter, mainly if the temperature falls below freezing. Such problems usually arise when moisture gets trapped inside the lock and freezes once the temperature drops.
This could make it challenging to fit your key into the lock. If you manage to insert your key, the frozen lock may make it difficult to turn it, resulting in your key breaking inside the lock. Using a warm key and fitting it into a frozen lock may help unlock it.
Smart Locks
Locks with keys aren’t the only locks that may give you trouble in winter. Smart locks are also susceptible to problems with their locking mechanism when the weather drops substantially. For instance, your smart locks may not be able to recognize your keystrokes.
Another issue is that cold weather may drain your battery’s energy, which could cause it to malfunction. Changing the battery for your smart lock may solve the problem. If your smart lock also has a keyhole, you may have to use a regular key until you or a locksmith can fix the problem.
Biometric Entry Points
Another type of lock you may have trouble with during winter is a biometric lock, particularly those that rely on your fingerprints to open. As with smart locks, biometric locks may experience battery drain, making them less effective and preventing them from opening the door.
Other failures may arise from the lock recognizing your fingerprints. Sometimes, the cold weather may make your hands dry and brittle, making it difficult for the biometric system to identify the details of your fingerprints. Also, when your hands are cold, they may not effectively produce skin conductance, which helps create a small amount of heat and electricity in your fingertips.
Lack of skin conductance keeps the biometric system from recognizing your fingerprint, preventing you from opening your keyless system. Moisturizing and warming your hands may help your system recognize your fingerprints.
Car Locks
Cold temperatures may also affect the locking mechanism in your car. As with home locks that use keys, you may be unable to insert your car key because the lock is frozen. If you do, you may have trouble and break the key while turning it in the lock.
More modern cars with keyless entry are just as susceptible to frozen locks as keyed entry car locks. If the locking mechanism is frozen, the key fob that unlocks the doors may not open successfully.
Luckily, you can use a few simple techniques to unfreeze your locks. If you have a remote start, you can warm your car up for a few minutes, which may unfreeze your locks. Also, if you have a hair dryer, particularly a cordless one, you can blow it on the key lock for a few minutes to warm it up. Another option is to heat your key using a lighter and stick it into the lock. If none of these methods seem to be working, it may be time to call your local locksmith.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are smart locks and biometric locks the same?
No. Smart locks may have buttons to push. Biometric locks have sensors that detect patterns from your fingerprints that open the door. Smart locks may incorporate fingerprint technology, but they don’t have to.
Should I pour hot water on my locks to open them?
No. While heat will help, moisture and heat can cause even more problems with the locks. It’s ideal to use heat only to unlock your frozen locks.
Can I prevent frozen locks?
Yes. Regularly using a non-greasy lubricant or graphite powder will keep locks from freezing.
Are you having trouble with your locks and need someone to help you gain entry to your home or car? A locksmith can help. Call Action Locksmith today, and one of our representatives will come out and assist you with getting back into your home.
We have been providing residential and commercial locksmith services throughout Southeastern Michigan for more than 30 years. Our locksmiths are highly skilled in all types of doors, locks, security systems, safes and more.