Scratches and scrapes on your door locks are a small tell-tale sign that it may be time for a replacement.
The locks on the door to your home may not be something that you spend a lot of time thinking about. They do important work, however, so you want to be sure they are in good working order. Those locks hold the key (pun intended) to the safety and security of your whole house. And when you move into a new house, either new to you or actually newly built, there is an assumption that the locks are going to be freshly changed and brand new as well. This isn’t always the case, however, so it is important to keep an eye out for these common signs that it is time to replace your door locks.
Door Locks Older Than Seven Years
If your locks are older, it may be time to replace them. Many locksmiths agree that door locks that are older than seven years should be replaced. On a property that you’ve owned for a while,you probably know the age of the locks. If you have a new property, it may be worthwhile to replace the locks just in case they’re older than seven years. If you’re not sure and you don’t want to commit to a full replacement, consider having a locksmith come in to check out the locks and make sure they are still operating correctly.
Door Locks with Visible Damage
If your locks or doors have visible damage to them, such as scratches or scrapes that is a sign that you should get new ones. The surface damage may not actually impact the security of the locks, but in some cases it could. Surface damage over time can lead to increased rust which can make the locking mechanism more brittle and prone to breakage.
Door Locks are Compromised
If you have reason to believe that your door locks are compromised – if you have lost a key or given it to someone who you no longer trust, that is a good reason to replace the locks entirely. If someone has broken into the building, that is also a reason to have the locks replaced (and possibly upgraded). When in doubt, keep your property safe with strong and secure locks.
Cheap Door Locks
If your locks seem like they’re cheaply made, they catch or slip when you turn the key, or the keys get stuck, this is a good indication that you should probably buy new. Perhaps the locks have just aged and developed faults, but it is also likely that the locks were the cheapest available materials during construction. If you want to know for sure that your doors have locks that you can trust, you will probably have to buy new ones yourself.
Unappealing Door Locks
So, technically, this one has nothing to do with safety or security, but it is still a valid reason to change out your locks if you have the budget to do so. You should love your home and if there is something that you seriously dislike about it, and that you can reasonably change, you should do it. If having a new, fancy, or pretty lockset on your front door would feel better to you, that is a good enough reason to do it.
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Leland Fisher Lumber is full-service lumber and hardware supplier. We’ve serviced homeowners and professional contractors in Montgomery County, Howard County, and Frederick County since 1894! Whether you want to remodel your home or upgrade your business, we have the professionalism and expertise to make any architectural vision come to life.
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