Lock Freezing

[randallt]

I had problems with my deadbolt freezing on my wheelhouse this year. I put oil/deicer in on on it. That seemed to help for a few weeks then it would happen again. Any oil/graphite that won't freeze. My only solution is to rememer to oil it every week or so.

Any better solutions.

[b1gf1sh1]

any non liquid/non paste lock lubricant is best. ask your local ''small'' hardware store for it. when too cold even petroleum will freeze solid. unfortunatly you already put liquid in it so you either can just change the lock or remove it and clean it out. naptha works great for cleaning up things like that, along with a stiff paint brush and air of at least 30 psi is best of course. warm naptha works better than room temp naptha. or mabe it's just a worn out lock, taking it out and inspecting it may help determine that.

[Sandmannd]

Have you ever tried the lock deicer that comes in a little container for our pocket. Stick it in the keyhole and it sprays in. I've used it on cars before and it works.

[Nutty Fisherman]

I tried that on my house and it helped one day. I even took the lock out and dried it on the heater, Just had to have a propane torch along, it didn't take very much to thaw it out to get it unlocked but would be froze the next night.

[b1gf1sh1]

lock de-icer is a great temporary emergency fix. it's just not made to be used long term on locks. it contains chemicals that harm the coatings put on steel lock parts to prevent rust, zinc in particular. they contain alchohol, anti freezing agents,binders, and propelents. they can under certain conditions cause oxidation on the parts that will prevent them from slideing smoothly and/or seize them up. even oil in a warm environment will not help most times if this happens. your best case senerio is to buy a top quality lock meant for saltwater environments, that contain no steel parts whatsoever. stainless steel, brass/bronze, titanium and the like, take care of it from the beginning with a quallity dry lube and it will last decades under relativly harsh conditions. instead of using lock de-icer your better off heating up your key with a heat source and keep inserting it and wiggling it untill it free's up. or if possible put it inside and heat it up while it is inside the lock. or a piece of metal that will go inside if its froze up so bad the key wont even go in. if the bolt shaft itself is freezing up it's probably a result of condensation build up from warming up from weather or heat inside the house then that water build up freezes when it gets cold. use dry lube more often. to help with the freezing... there is usually a little room in the back side of the bolt hole. stuff a little cotton inside before you lock it and it will help to draw the water from the condensation away from the bolt shaft. change it every time so it works at max potential. or just oversize the hole the shaft goes into. also with an oversized hole more cotton can be inserted to surround the shaft with a protective barrier that even if froze will break easier. it spring yet??

[shamrock7]

just curious.....vented or un-vented heater? If it is un-vented, that may be your problem. Condensation

[Paul Waldowski]

Best long term fix is iso heet, just splash some in the keyhole and you're good to go.

[Random guy]

Paul is right on that one. I use de-icer or Heet on the rental latches. Use the de-icer to free it up and remove the moisture then give em a shot of WD-40 to help with preventing future freeze ups.

[Nutty Fisherman]

house is vented. Tried the wd40 thing didn't help after a couple of days. But when it's 20 below it doesn't help either

[Phred52]

nutty, I use a product meant for reloading called 'One Shot', it's marketed by Hornady. It is a case lube that sprays on and dries in less than a minute. I had used WD on the lock, but that just seemed to attract the dirt and dust so I had to find something better. The door to my wheelhouse is on the back of the house so all the road dust just rolls back there. Since I switched, NO problems. Phred52

[Boss Hogg]

I have had that problem many times. Tryed nearly everything, but nothing really seems to work. So I carry a good butane torch in the cab on my truck. If you keep the tank warm, it will throw a blue flame a couple of inches long. I first give it a shot in the key hole. After the key goes in, I keep jiggling the key and put heat on the door knob. After a little while the key turns, and your in.

Just don't do what I did. After the key turns, don't take your glove off to turn the door knob.

[doughnut03]

And dont be unprepared, and stick your mouth around the key lock thinking "hey, lets blow warm air in there to melt the ice" to realize that your lips are straight up stuck (many, many years and brain cells ago). Just another moronic tale that I probably shouldnt tell anyone but will place online for thousands to see haha

[Nutty Fisherman]

Been there done that on the hot door knob

[wormhook]

i had freezing knob & thought it was cheap, so I got a more expensive lock. That didn't help same promblem so i use WD-40 periodicly, helps some but still ices up.

[randallt]

My problem is definitely condensation, so non-liquid lubricants won't help. The cannister of de-icer works sometimes, but sometimes the freeze occurs on the bolt. I will get a torch to carry. I once took a hairdryer and generator and that worked but a torch I could carry. Or perhaps a small travel hairdryer and keep my inverter in the car.

Thanks for the suggestions. Was really wondering if I had a cheap lock and if upgrading would help, but apparently not.