With warm weather, you may notice the temperature changes affect the locks on your doors. Many materials, including wood, expand with heat, and when this happens, your doors can
“stick” or become difficult to open or close. This is especially true for doors that face the outside of the building. Not only is this inconvenient, but if your doors don’t latch properly, you could unknowingly expose your business to security breaches. To understand how heat and humidity affect your doors, the locksmiths from Fortress Safe & Lock in Cincinnati, OH, provide the following explanation.

When a door doesn’t fit properly into its frame, the locking mechanism can jam up. If you try to turn the key in a deadbolt and it doesn’t budge, the problem might not be the key but the lock itself. In this scenario, securing your property is challenging too, because the deadbolt won’t slide into the strike plate hole. During the summer, double-check that your doors have latched properly before leaving your business.

When doors and locks are properly installed by a professional, you’ll be less likely to experience swelling and misalignment issues. Lubricating the mechanism can also help. If this is a recurring problem for your business, the door and frame can be replaced with materials that won’t be affected by the heat and humidity. To learn more about your options, talk to a contractor or experienced locksmith; they may recommend steel doors and frames. 

If your door sticks and you can’t gain access to your building, call the professionals at Fortress Safe & Lock. This affordable, reliable, and punctual locksmith service offers 24/7 lock-out support, repairs, installations, and access control systems. Call (513) 823-9251 to set up an appointment today, and visit their website to learn more about their rates and qualifications.