Heat Health Warning for Doors

The climate crisis is bringing more frequent and more severe weather events - extreme heat is one of the most dangerous consequences of this.  Next week in Birmingham and Solihull BBC Weather predicts 37 degree heat: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2636979  Not only is there the obvious difficulty and danger to human health that is all over the headlines - what about all the other objects in our world that we depend on?  We are warned of railway tracks bending under 60 degree temperatures and tarmac on the road melting ( https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/15/heat-emergency-declared-in-england-as-temperature-expected-to-hit-40c ) but what about some well known yet essential things such as doors and windows in your house?  Be warned, locksmiths are expecting the following mis-haps but if you prepare in advance you can save yourself the headaches:

• Sticking Multi-Point Locks in uPVC or Composite Doors: many of these are likely to become difficult to operate or stuck completeley due to dried up or evaporated lubricant.
• What to do: make sure your door is very well lubricated along it's edge where the bolts and latches pop in and out.

• Broken Keys:  cylinder type locks contain many tiny metal components that are designed to move up and down and slide past each other to provide the function of locking.  If these have no lubricant in them then some will become hard to move or the key may not turn whatsoever.  This is when people try to overcome the inherent friction using strength.  Unfortunately keys are not built to withstand large forces - don't break yours by forcing it.
• What to do: lubricate inside the keyway.  Most locks will do well with WD40 Specialist silicone spray but some specify microfine graphite powder.  Plus don't force it!

• Stuck Wooden Door or Jammed uPVC Door: doors of all types can become jammed when the door and frame warp under heat stress to an extent that they no longer match each other and the moving parts cannot fit easily into the frame.  This can cause the door to be stuck closed and potentially break altogether if you use excessive force on keys and handles.
• What to do: keep the door aligned and adjusted - if you are 'making do' already with a door that isn't quite right it's likely to be stuck altogether under severe heat stress.  Good lubrication will reduce the overal friction and lessen the likelihood of you being completely stuck.  Sometimes it's possible to literally cool down your door with cold water from a hose if you have one available, but if you have other exits from your home you may be advised by us to wait until the temperature stabilises at a cooler level, this may solve all your problems.