Frozen gate locks are just one of the nuisances that winters bring. But the good thing is, they’re preventable. You just need to know some tips and tricks to keep your gate locks from freezing. And you need to remember them when you expect a temperature drop.
Why Do Gate Locks Freeze in the Winter?
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Misty mornings, icy winds, rain, and storms are common in winters. Your gate locks are exposed to moisture because of them. When the temperature is still above the freezing point, moisture tends to creep inside the locks. And when the temperature falls at a certain time in the day, the moisture freezes. This jams the locking mechanism in your gate locks.
What You Should Not Do
Before we discuss what you can do to prevent frozen gate locks, let’s talk about the things you shouldn’t do. This is important because doing the wrong thing can damage your locks. You will have a bigger problem on your hands that way.
- Don’t pour hot or cold water on the lock. When your is frozen, it seems intuitive to melt the ice by pouring hot water on it. But you shouldn’t do that. Even if your lock opens, it will freeze again and get jammed again. Your lock has frozen because there’s moisture in it. Don’t add more.
- Don’t use a blowtorch to heat the lock. This is another seemingly intuitive hack. But a blowtorch has a very high temperature and will quickly heat the lock. The mechanism inside will expand. This can damage the lock beyond repair.
- Don’t use a lighter or blowtorch to heat the key. Using a lighter, a hairdryer or some other heating gadget might not work on the lock because they’re too slow. This might tempt you to heat the key instead. That’s not a good idea because heating the key will damage, bend, or change its shape.
- Don’t use car anti-freeze on your gate lock. This can damage the paint on your gate.
- Don’t use force when you’re trying to open your lock. Frozen locks are unrelenting. It’s unlikely that you can open them by force. You might end up damaging the mechanism inside your lock because it becomes brittle when frozen. You might even break your key inside the lock.
- Don’t use greasy lubricants like petroleum jelly inside your lock. This causes dirt and grime to build up inside the lock, and that will be problematic in the future.
- Don’t use your hand to make the lock warm. Chilblains are not fun. Remember, safety first.
There are DIY hacks you can try to thaw your gate lock. These include rubbing hand sanitizer on your key and inserting it in your lock. The alcohol in hand sanitizer has a lower freezing point than water. It can melt the ice inside the lock. But these methods might not work. Like we discussed earlier, some hacks are risky and do more harm than good.
Once your gate lock is frozen, the best course of action is to call a professional. But it’s even better to prevent that situation from happening in the first place. Here are some tips on how to keep your gate locks from freezing when winter comes around:
Use a Lock Lubricant like WD-40
Oil-based lock lubricants like WD-40 can keep moisture out of your lock and prevent it from freezing. They work well because oil has a much lower freezing point than water and will keep your lock functioning all winter. If there’s water already inside the lock, WD-40 can displace it.
But there is a down-side to using oil-based lubricants. They attract dirt, and the build-up of gunk in your lock will damage it with time. If your lock gets sticky in the summers, oil-based lubricants may be the reason. That’s why oil-based lubricants need to be completely removed from the lock before the weather changes and becomes warmer.
You can remove the lubricant by using a can of compressed air to force the lubricant out and wiping it with a cloth. But of course, this method can be inconvenient. You might prefer to use a greaseless lubricant such as graphite.
In cold winters, you should spray your locks with WD-40 on a weekly basis. You should also lubricate your locks when you learn about a forecast of a snowstorm or freezing temperatures ahead.
Use a Graphite Lubricant
An alternative to conventional lubricants is a graphite lubricant or graphite powder. It is a dry lubricant that can prevent moisture from coating the inside of your lock. This will prevent your locks from freezing.
Graphite also does not have an unpleasant odor like other lubricants. Graphite doesn’t only keep your locks from freezing, it also keeps their inner mechanism free of corrosion and dirt. That’s why graphite lubricants can be used throughout the year. It won’t make your locks sticky.
The problem with graphite lubricants you can’t use them if there’s water already inside the lock. They can’t displace water like WD-40. Instead, the graphite will cake up. This may prevent the lock from functioning properly. Use the graphite spray on a dry lock before the cold winters start.
You can also dry them out with a can of compressed air. If you have used an oil-based lubricant like WD-4, don’t use the graphite spray right away. Clean the previous lubricant from your lock first. If you don’t, the graphite will clump inside the lock. You need to lubricate your gate locks with graphite spray regularly as well.
How to Use a Lubricant Effectively
Both WD-40 and graphite lubricants can only work effectively if they’re completely inside the lock. If you don’t use them with a proper technique, moisture will still get inside your lock. This will cause your gate lock to freeze, even if you’re applying the lubricant regularly. Follow these steps to lubricate your gate locks:
Step 1: Shake the lubricant container well.
Step 2: Many lubricants come with a straw. In this case, take the cap off and insert the straw in the spray nozzle. The straw helps the lubricate penetrate deep inside the lock.
Step 3: Place the straw or the nozzle of the lubricant close to the lock but don’t touch it.
Step 4: Quickly spray on the lock 3-4 times.
Step 5: Insert your key into the lock and move it around so that the lubricate distributes deep inside the lock.
Cover Your Gate Locks
Your gate locks freeze because of moisture. Covering them can prevent the moisture from getting in. But in very cold winters, covering them is not enough. Lubricants are necessary to keep your locks functioning properly. They prevent the inner mechanism of your lock from becoming too brittle and breaking. They also prevent corrosion.
Covering your locks should not be a replacement for lubricants. But you can lubricate your locks and cover them for added protection against the formidable cold. Here are some tips you can use to cover your locks:
- Take a strong magnet and cover the lock’s surface. Make sure you cover the entire opening with the magnet. When you need to use the lock, just remove the magnet, use your key, and put it back on.
- If you have a padlock, you can cover it with aluminum foil. This can be inconvenient if you have to go out frequently. You can keep a roll of aluminum foil in your car so you remember to cover it. Don’t use a sock to cover your padlock in rainy or snowy weather. The sock will just get wet and freeze.
- If you’re in a pinch, you can use duct tape to cover your locks. The cold weather can dislodge the tape so it won’t stay for a long time.
The Takeaway
Frozen gate locks are not just inconvenient, they can be dangerous in emergency situations. That’s why you should always think ahead and take steps to keep in from freezing when the winters start. But before you try any DIY hack, make sure that it’s safe and doesn’t do more harm than good.