There is nothing more frustrating than going out to your car on a cold, winter day than to find the door lock frozen. It takes just a little moisture getting into a lock and below freezing temperatures to freeze it solid. A vehicle’s power windows and doors are prone to freezing as well. Here are a few ideas of how to deal with frozen locks, doors and windows.
Frozen Door Locks
First of all, do not try to force the key to turn as it can break the key off in the lock. A little patience will go a long way.
- Heat the key. Use a match or lighter to heat the key then immediately insert it into the lock. Do not try this with keys that have plastic at the top. After the heated key has been in the lock for a moment or two, gently try turning it. If it doesn’t unlock, repeat the steps.
- Deicer. Spray deicer into the lock. Give it a few moments, then insert the key and try to unlock it. It’s a good idea to have a few cans of deicer handy during the winter months.
- Use a hair dryer. Get an extension cord and connect the hair dryer to it. Turn on the dryer and direct the warm air at the lock. Block any wind with your body as it will impede the thawing process. After a couple minutes, insert the key into the lock and gently try to unlock it. Repeat the procedure if the lock is still frozen.
- Petroleum jelly. This will melt ice. Dip the key into the jelly and insert it into the lock. Wiggle it a few times and then try turning the key. You may have to repeat this several times.
Frozen Power Windows
If the power car window will not move or go down all the way, do not keep pushing the button since it could burn out the power motor. In most cases, the window may be frozen to the weather stripping. Also, some moisture inside the door that froze could be preventing the window from opening.
- Use a credit card. Insert a credit card between the weather stripping and window and gently slide it back and forth.
- Warm the car. Put the car’s heater on high and let the interior warm up.
Frozen Doors
If all the doors are frozen, use a hair dryer to melt the ice around the door or hit around the door frame with the palm of your gloved hand.
Preventing Frozen Locks
You can help prevent locks from freezing by spraying a little WD-40 into them. Also, try dipping your key into petroleum jelly, insert it into the lock, then turn the key back and forth a few times. This will distribute the jelly throughout the lock, preventing any moisture from freezing.
If you need help dealing with frozen locks, call us at Abington Locksmith. We are ready to help you any time of the year.
