Door Hardware: How To Maintain Your Lock

June 12th, 2020

Your stainless steel door hardware (handles, hinges, door closers and especially locks) need regular maintenance to remain in good working order. Why? Airborne particles such as dust and salt can enter the keyhole from the outside. Once inside, these airborne particles can move within the locking system and cause issues with your lock. An example of this is when the bottom locking point doesn’t engage properly. 

How Often Is Lock Maintenance Required?

CommandeX recommends the following scheduled door lock maintenance:

• every 6 months in mild environments, and
• every 3 months in more extreme environments such as coastal, red dirt and industrial areas.

Adhoc maintenance should also be undertaken if you notice an issue with your door lock.

How to Maintain Your Door Lock

We’ll take you through the steps to maintain your triple lock system and the lock cylinder.

Triple Locking System Maintenance

CommandeX recommends using silicone spray (available from most hardware stores) to maintain your locking mechanism. DO NOT USE WD40 as it attracts dust and will cause damage in the long term.

Step 1

Open the hinged or sliding security screen door. Ensure the top and bottom locking points are retracted. If they are extended, turn the snib. The snib is a small lever on the indoor side of the door handle. It manually operates the lock catch to lock and unlock the door.

Once the top and bottom locking points are retracted, spray a small amount of silicone spray into the gap – approx.. 1x 1cm gap adjoining the locking point.

Step 2

With the security door still open, turn the door handle (as if you are going to open the door) to retract the middle locking point. Spray a small amount of silicone spray into the gap of the middle locking point.

Step 3

Turn the snib back and forth to move the silicone through the locking points. NOTE: If the snib doesn’t move, press the small silver button beside the locking point to release it.

How to Fix a Sticky Lock

To fix a sticky lock cylinder and prevent your key from getting stuck, we recommend using graphite powder.  DO NOT USE Silicone Spray or WD40 for a sticky lock. To apply the graphite powder, either:

1. Squirt the fine powder directly from the tube into the keyhole
2. Squirt the fine powder onto the key and then insert the powdered key into the keyhole

NOTE: The amount of graphite powder needed will depend on how sticky your lock is.

Once you have enough graphite powder in the keyhole, insert and remove the key several times in the keyhole to distribute the powder in the keyhole. Continue manoeuvring the key until it glides with ease.

General Maintenance for Sliding Door Tracks and Frame

STEP 1  – Vacuum sliding door tracks and frames to remove dirt and debris.  Dirt can cause damage and restrict the proper functioning of rollers, guides and drop bolts in the door. NOTE: Hover the vacuum cleaner attachment above the tracks so they do not touch and scratch them.

STEP 2  – Wipe down the external finish of all hardware using a non-abrasive cleaning fluid and a soft cloth.  Be sure to clean off any dirt or harmful residue like salt spray, from the surface.