Winter Lock Checklist for Boone Homeowners
Why October and not December
Because every job on this list is cheap when the weather is mild and expensive once it is not. A cylinder serviced in October does not seize in January, and a key that does not have to be forced does not shear. Two items on that list are jobs rather than chores: correcting a door that has dropped, and swapping cells in a keypad for lithium.
Five jobs, about an hour, done in October. Lubricate every exterior cylinder with graphite or PTFE. Check each door latches without being shouldered. Replace keypad batteries with lithium. Confirm the off-site spare still works. Fit three-inch screws to every strike.
The alignment check is the one people skip
Stand outside and lock each exterior door. If you have to lift, push or shoulder it, the frame has moved. That is the condition that snaps keys on the coldest night of the year, and it is an hour of labour to fix.
Keypads and batteries
Do not test them, replace them. Alkaline cells lose a large share of their capacity in sustained cold, and lithium cells cost a few dollars more and last the season.
October checklist
| Job | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lubricate cylinders, graphite or PTFE | 15 min | Minimal |
| Check every door latches cleanly | 10 min | $50 – $200 if adjustment needed |
| Replace keypad batteries with lithium | 10 min | Under $20 |
| Test the off-site spare | 5 min | Free |
| 3-inch screws into every strike | 20 min | Under $100 fitted |
The Short Version
- Do it in October, not December.
- A door you shoulder will snap a key by February.
- Replace keypad batteries rather than testing them.
- Long strike screws are the cheapest security upgrade.
Questions People Also Ask
Locked out, or want a straight price before anyone drives out? Call Locksmith Master Boone on (828) 532-7594. Insured, price agreed on the phone, no fix no fee. Book the October service visit now.