What the cold does to locks and doors in Reno

Freezes in northern Nevada run from early autumn to late spring, according to the Desert Research Institute's Western Regional Climate Center, and in Nevada's northwest and northeast the season without a freeze is under 70 days. That leaves many nights when moisture inside a lock, latch or keyway can freeze. A frozen lock can be thawed with de-icer or a warmed key, but hot water can refreeze in the keyway.

Across Nevada, daily highs and lows average about 30 to 35 degrees apart. Wood and metal move with that swing, and a door can drift just enough that a deadbolt binds only at certain times of day. When that happens, check the door and strike plate alignment before deciding the lock is at fault. The fix may be tightening or adjusting rather than replacing.

Snow matters too. The city's snow-control page says most plowing is on higher-elevation routes and outlying areas, which get the most snow. Homes there are worth a fall check of hinge screws, latches and gate hardware.

Older hardware

Washoe County, home to Reno, has many older doors: more than a third of its homes predate 1980, so some still carry old cylinders, latches and knobs. Parts that old loosen, wear and collect grit. If grit makes a key stick, clean the keyway and use a dry lubricant, not oil.

Simple upkeep before winter

Tighten the screws in the hinges, latch and strike plate.
Clean the keyway, and use a dry lubricant if it is needed.
Test every spare key. A badly worn key can damage a good lock.
Note whether the trouble comes only in the cold or only at certain times of day.

Notes to send with a repair request

Say which door has the problem, what the lock does, when it happens and roughly how old the hardware is. Photos of the lock, latch and strike plate help. If a key has snapped, see broken key extraction. If the hardware is worn past repair, lock replacement is the next step. The lock repair page describes the service, and the Reno page has the wider local picture.

At the door

What lock repair covers

Diagnosing and fixing locks that stick, turn stiffly, will not latch, or have loose or misaligned parts.

Diagnosing why the lock is sticking, binding, or failing to latch
Cleaning and lubricating the lock mechanism where appropriate
Adjusting or realigning the strike plate and latch

ID and proof you may access the property are checked before any work.

Lock Repair in Nevada

Sources

Public records and references this page draws on. They are outside USA Locksmith Pros and open in a new tab.

Lock Repair in Reno, NV