“To repair, or to replace?” That is the question William Shakespeare posed one day while looking at the malfunctioning deadbolt in his suburban home in 1599 (scratching his head with a quill, of course). The situation inspired his most famous play, Sublet, and several spin-offs.
OK, none of this is true, but it does bring up a great point about deadbolts.
Deadbolts are the type of lock homeowners depend on most to prevent intruders from entering their home. But what happens when they fail? Let’s take a look at when to repair deadbolts, when to replace them and when to call in a professional.
When to Repair Deadbolts
There are a few situations where it is possible to repair the deadbolt. For example, if the deadbolt keeps getting stuck, it may just need some lubricant like WD-40. Another example is when the strike plate and door jamb need to be realigned. Or, it might not be an issue with the deadbolt at all. For example, if a key is worn down, it may not unlock the deadbolt as effectively as it did in the past. In that case, you might need to get another set of keys made.
When to Replace Deadbolts
Obviously, it’d be great if your deadbolt issue was an easy issue that you could repair yourself, but that’s not always the case. There are several components involved with deadbolts that aren’t easily visible to an untrained eye. If you tried the solutions mentioned in the section above and they didn’t work, it might be time to replace. Other common signs that a deadbolt needs to be replaced include:
- Overly rusted deadbolts
- Broken locks or deadbolts
- Broken door frames
- Locks that refuse to turn
- Bent tailpieces
- Deadbolts in new homes
- Deadbolts with misplaced keys
When to Call the Professionals
Whether you’d like to attempt a deadbolt repair or need to replace your deadbolt locks, hiring a professional locksmith company to do the job might be the best decision. Home security is of utmost importance, so you need a trustworthy, experienced locksmith to do the job if you want to enjoy peace of mind. Plus, a locksmith will be able to more easily identify the source of the problem and advise on customized solutions that you won’t find online. At the end of the day, investing a little in deadbolts that work properly now can help you avoid bigger investments down the road if the deadbolts fail.
If you need to repair a deadbolt or replace a deadbolt in your home, you can trust the team at A-1 Locksmith Security & Safes to do the job safely and efficiently the first time. Give us a call at 972-284-7500 to schedule an appointment today!
