Fish house locks freezing up

[Benjy]

Last season was my first year on the ice with my new ice castle. After 8-10 hours on the ice with the furnace running inside, I noticed that my locks (deadbolt and door knob) were freezing up such that I could not get a key into them to lock the house from the outside. I am pretty sure this is because there is warm, moist air inside that is slowly leaking its way out through tiny openings in the lock mechanisms. As that air makes its way out, it is hitting cold air - often below zero - and freezing up everything. I've been able to loosen up the locks by using my small butane torch and heating them up, but its a hassle. Any suggestions on how to prevent this? I'm thinking about trying to duct tape the openings or something to reduce that air flow, but not certain that will do it. I think I read a post about someone putting a tennis ball on the door knob?? Any help would be appreciated.

[bluewater2]

We have had LOW ice castle for two years and we have never had the locks freeze. Door yes. We have the door on the V, not on the side. From day one we put a sport band-aid over the locks when we travel and never had a freeze up on the locks.

See if that helps.

Good luck

wish it was cold out

[dan z]

Try putting Pam vegetable spray on it or some sort of lubricant that won't freeze up. Any type liquid graphite should work also.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

I carry a propane torch in my truck from November until April just for frozen locks on my wheelhouse. Works good but you have to be quick when putting the heat to the lock!!!

Mike

[38bill]

How about WD40? I believe the "WD" stands for water displacer or something sim.