Weather Changes and Your Home Security
Do you live in a region that experiences hotter or colder weather compared to other areas? Maybe you live in a location that has really hot summers and extremely cold winters, such as in Utah? If so, it is important to consider how weather extremes can affect your door locks and other security devices around your home. The more you know about how the weather can affect your home locks and even your home security cameras, the more prepared you will be to repair or deal with any kind of issues that may arise. Keep reading to find out more about how colder and warmer weather conditions can impact your locks and how they function.
Home Locks and Cold Weather
During colder weather, materials are bound to contract. Your door and its frame may no longer fit properly or create a proper seal when shut. This can cause a misalignment of your home locks, since the door and frame may not line up. You may have trouble shutting and locking the door. There is also more likely to be a draft coming through your front door since the door and frame may not be properly sealed together.
Rising humidity levels during winter months can also affect your home’s doors and locks. Excess moisture may be another reason why you may find it difficult to center the door in the frame during colder weather. The locks themselves may also be affected and can become frozen, making it difficult to insert or turn your key once it is in the slot.
Home Locks and Warm Weather
Just like colder weather, warmer weather can have a negative impact on your home locks. Warmer weather will make your door and the lock materials on your door expand, rather than contract. When these materials expand, this may make the lock perform differently. If the door frame swells, the lock may not fit correctly into position. If the door itself expands, then the deadbolt lock may not turn properly.
Issues with one’s locks during the summer is common. It is important to not let a misalignment go unattended for too long. In both cases, whether you are dealing with colder or warmer weather problems, it is important to have your door and locks looked at. An annual adjustment will help keep your locks operating properly, even in extreme weather.