10 Tips for Better Door Lock Maintenance

Nowadays, smart locks are becoming increasingly widespread. Smart door locks are replacing traditional mechanical locks in more and more households, hotels, and apartments. Despite their strength and intelligence, smart door locks need proper maintenance and care daily, unlike mechanical locks. This article will focus on providing you with the TOP10 smart door lock maintenance tips to preventively maintain your door lock and better protect your home!

Is regular maintenance of your door locks important?

Regular door lock maintenance is essential for several reasons. Here are some key points highlighting the importance of maintaining door locks:

• Security: Door locks are the primary means of securing your home or property. Regular maintenance ensures that the locks function correctly and provides an added layer of security. Malfunctioning locks or worn-out components can compromise your security system and make your property more vulnerable to unauthorized access.
• Longevity: Like any mechanical device, door locks require regular maintenance to ensure longevity. Lubricating moving parts, inspecting for wear and tear, and promptly addressing any issues can extend the lifespan of your locks. Neglecting maintenance can lead to accelerated deterioration, requiring more frequent repairs or even premature replacement.
• Smooth Operation: Well-maintained locks operate smoothly and effortlessly. Regular maintenance prevents sticky or jammed locks, difficulty turning the key, or misaligned components. By addressing these issues promptly, you can avoid inconvenient situations such as locking out of your property.
• Cost Savings: Proactive lock maintenance can save you money in the long run. By identifying and addressing minor issues early on, you can prevent more significant problems from arising. Neglected locks may require costly repairs or replacement, whereas routine maintenance is generally more affordable.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing your door locks are in proper condition provides peace of mind. Having a secure solution reduces stress and allows you to concentrate on other aspects of your daily life.

Here are 10 door lock maintenance tips you can’t ignore for ensuring your door locks perform effectively!

√ Daily Use

1. Avoid using force

While smart locks are robust, they cannot withstand prolonged forceful use. Forceful handling of the lock can damage the lock itself and the door.

When closing the door, the force should be appropriate, as too little force may result in the door not closing completely. And you may damage the latch, guide plate, and latch case if you exert excessive force.

So the correct approach is to rotate the handle to engage the latch, then close the door, and finally release the handle. If you are indoors, develop a habit of double lock your lock to avoid accidental unlocking.

2. Do not hang heavy objects on the handle

The handle is an important component of a smart lock, and most smart locks on the market require downward pressure on the handle to unlock. Therefore, avoid hanging objects on the handle to prevent long-term stress that can disrupt its balance. This extra pressure can stretch the spring inside the handle, leading to looseness and drooping of the handle.

√ Appearance Maintenance

1. Clean the lock surface

Just like mechanical locks, smart door locks can accumulate dust with long-term use. Failure to take proper care of it can also result in scratches on the lock surface, affecting its appearance. Therefore, do not use hard objects to collide with or strike the lock casing, and protect the lock surface.

If the panel is damp or dirty, gently wipe it with a dry, soft cloth or a glasses cleaning cloth. Do not use corrosive liquids or substances (such as bleach, alcohol, gasoline, etc.) to clean the panel, as it can damage the surface coating.  

2. Clean the fingerprint lock sensor

After prolonged use, fingerprints may be left on the fingerprint collector of a smart fingerprint lock. Over time, this can affect fingerprint recognition sensitivity. Therefore, regular cleaning of the fingerprint sensor to avoid impact on normal use. You can use a clean cloth to wipe off dust and dirt from the fingerprint collection window. Additionally, when entering fingerprints, apply moderate pressure with your finger, avoiding excessive force.

√ Waterproof Protection

Although most locks are equipped with waterproof features, they can’t be submerged in water. Water ingress into the lock can render its internal components or circuit boards unusable.

Therefore, try to avoid smart locks coming into contact with water or other liquids. In the event that the lock panel is in contact with liquid or salt spray, use a soft, absorbent cloth to dry it.

√ Lock Cylinder Maintenance

The lock cylinder is one of the most important mechanical components of a smart lock and should not be neglected in terms of maintenance. If you notice that the lock cylinder is sticking and difficult to rotate to the correct position, it’s important to lubricate it promptly. Commonly use special mineral or graphite lubricants to lubricate.

Note: When applying lubricant, use an oil gun to spray oil into the door lock keyhole. Avoid using an excessive amount of oil. Roll the handle and knob until the door lock operates smoothly, then stop.

√ Lock Body Maintenance

As an essential component of smart locks, the lock body plays a crucial role in terms of security and usability. It also requires regular inspection to check for wear or looseness of parts. If you encounter any issues during use, do not attempt to dismantle the lock body for repairs, as this may cause electronic component failures. Instead, contact the brand and schedule an after-sales service visit.

Additionally, it is important to frequently check the gap between the lock body and the strike plate, as well as the alignment of the latch bolt and the strike plate hole. If any abnormalities are found, contact the brand’s after-sales service or the installer to make the necessary adjustments to ensure the normal use of the smart lock.

√ Replace Your Mechanical Key

Although mechanical key unlocking is a backup option for smart locks, it is equally important for their key maintenance and security. Keep your key in a safe place, and if necessary, you can make duplicates of your key for future needs. If your key shows signs of wear, replace it promptly to avoid further damage that could lead to it breaking inside the lock cylinder.

What to do if you lose your key? You just simply unlock your door lock without a key first, such as card unlock, smartphone unlock, or password unlock. And then use the following solutions: If your key is a master key, you can contact the smart lock supplier to obtain a replacement. If your key is a single key, the supplier may not be able to provide a replacement and you may need to replace the lock cylinder.

√ Lock Battery Maintenance

1. Regularly check the battery condition

For smart locks that use disposable batteries, it is essential to periodically open the battery compartment and inspect the batteries. Batteries may have leak issues over time. To prevent battery leakage and subsequent rusting of the battery compartment, regularly check the condition inside the compartment. If you discover any leakage, promptly replace the batteries and wipe any residual liquid from the compartment.

Different battery brands have varying quality and lifespans, so when purchasing batteries, try to choose smart lock special batteries. The average lifespan of smart lock batteries is generally one to two years, and it is recommended to check them every six months.

2. Regularly check the lock’s battery level

Regularly check the remaining battery level of the lock. Most smart locks allow you to check the battery level through system software or applications. Typically, smart door locks have a low battery alert.

For example, YGS smart locks will have a low battery warning when the voltage drops below 4.8V. At this point, the lock can still be used for approximately one hundred more lock/unlock cycles.

In daily use, pay attention to any low battery alerts from the lock and replace the batteries promptly to avoid the smart lock not working.

3. Battery replacement and usage

When the smart lock requires battery replacement, make sure you know the location of the battery compartment before proceeding. If you’re unsure of the battery compartment’s location, refer to the smart lock manual or consult the smart lock supplier. For more detailed instructions on replacing batteries in door locks.

√ Door Maintenance

Future lock maintenance is not just about maintaining the lock, it also involves taking care of the door itself. This not only affects the appearance of your house but also impacts the experience of unlocking. Door maintenance should include the following aspects:

1. Avoid sticking things on the door, such as stickers or hooks. This can leave marks on the door that are difficult to remove and affect its aesthetics.
2. Do not let your door be exposed to prolonged moisture, especially wooden doors, as it can cause the door to mold and develop an unpleasant odor.
3. Avoid prolonged exposure of your door to direct sunlight, as it can lead to the door cracking.
4. When opening or closing the door, avoid using excessive force or opening it at too wide of an angle.
5. Use a soft cloth to wipe the door surface and keep it clean. This helps prevent corrosive substances from corroding the door and enhances the shine of security doors. 

√ Door Hinges Maintenance

Door hinges are an important link that connects the door and the door frame with screws, directly impacting the functionality of the door. With frequent use, door hinges undergo repeated opening and closing, which can eventually lead to deterioration or damage.

To maintain a smooth door-opening experience, it is recommended to regularly lubricate the door hinges with lubricating oil. Pay special attention to lubricating the door frame screws, hinge screws, and screws on the door lock to prevent difficulties in opening the door.

Alternatively, you can consider reinforcing the loose screws on the door frame to prevent sagging and the screws from slipping out, or even replacing them with stainless steel door hinges, which can save you a lot of trouble.

√ Fixing with a Professional Locksmith

If you encounter problems with your smart lock after use, avoid disassembling the lock on your own. Users who are unfamiliar with the internal structure of the lock can easily damage it. It is best to contact emergency locksmith services to inform them of the situation. And determine if an on-site solution is needed, allowing the experts to assist you with the repairs.

In addition, whether it’s unlocking, repairing, or replacing locks, it is crucial to find a professional and reputable company to avoid future issues and ensure reliable assistance.