Horley Locksmith

Sadly, all locks have a shelf life and at some stage they will need replacing. Whether it’s your home, business premises, garden shed or an outside office building. A properly functioning door is the first line of defence against burglars or opportunists. 

Replacing locks are far from people’s minds, whether you’ve purchased a new home or lived in your home for decades, well-functioning locks should be a high priority. Locks that become damaged or are getting stiff and hard to use is the time you need to start paying your locks some attention. 

We understand it’s exciting moving into a new property but before you pop the cork on your champagne bottle, make sure you change your entry door locks. Keys are in circulation well after you’ve stepped through the front door, so don’t compromise your safety and security by overlooking a fairly inexpensive task. You’ve invested a lot of money into your new home so don’t get carried away with setting up the Wi-Fi or planning your décor ideas. When you are safe and secure, these niceties can start to take place. Calling out a local locksmith on the day you are moving is a great way to ensure your home, family and valuables are protected. 

Locks are the most well-used mechanical hardware we use each day in our homes or business premises. Even if they are old but in good working order, it’s worth upgrading to more modern locks as security systems and regulations change over time. Modern locks are more burglar proof and offer greater protection for your home. 

Because of their constant use, locks are subjected to more wear, making them more likely to break down over time. If they look old and are not functioning as well, now is the time to replace them. A standard lock with proper care and maintenance could see you through several years but as wear and wear takes hold, the risk of them failing increases. 

You may have heard there has been a one-off or a spate of recent burglaries in your area. Opportunists will always take their chances, so it’s imperative you get your locks changed to prevent you falling victim. If, however you do fall victim, it may be that the burglar used brutal force to enter your home or premises and the likelihood is that the door or locking mechanism has been damaged, making it highly likely that the door won’t shut or lock properly. 

However, if the burglar entered your property by picking the lock or using a badly hidden key, its certain that your locks are not secure enough and criminals are likely to target you again. Replacing the lock will solve both these issues. 

Sadly, there is no guarantee to stop a burglary, but different locks come with different security features, making your home more secure and less vulnerable. Whilst burglars may try their luck a second time thinking they will enter the property again, for this reason it’s vital you change your locks immediately after a burglary takes place. Check your locks to see if they are 3 Star rated or have the British Standard Kite Mark on them. If not, think about getting them upgraded. 

It’s common for a lock to become damaged due to incorrect use. This can happen for a number of reasons, including incorrect installation, age, and misalignment. Maybe you’ve jiggled your key around over the years just to gain entry, or you’ve forced the door and lock when it shouldn’t need to be forced. It can even happen when you’ve had extra keys cut, which may have been badly cut, therefore causing damage inside the lock. This can have an effect on turning the key, resulting in the door not locking or unlocking correctly. This is where an emergency local locksmith needs to be called out to gain access into your property. To save this happening, be proactive and investigate replacing your locks before you risk a complete lock-out. 

Locks are designed to be used again and again and are tested to last. However just a slight misalignment can cause excess pressure on handles and locking mechanisms, which cause breakages and cracks in the internal parts of your lock. This can expose manufacturer weaknesses and cause your lock to malfunction leaving you either locked in or out. These issues can arise when your doors or locks were originally badly installed or can occur over time through misuse or when excess force has been repeatedly used to close a door. A misalignment now, that is only causing slight tension on the bolt, can lead to a much more serious issue when winter arrives and the door swells. 

For more helpful information, visit https://www.rlmlocksmiths.co.uk/