If the lock in the garage is frozen, then experienced car owners know how to solve this problem quickly and painlessly. However, they simply try to prevent such a problem and regularly lubricate the locks, so as not to end up on one beautiful, or rather not at all wonderful, frosty morning, closed gate without being able to get inside.

The lock in the garage freezes due to condensation that occurs, which turns into ice when the temperature outside is sub-zero. That is why you must, first of all, try to avoid its occurrence, so that each time you do not resort to more and more sophisticated methods of defrosting a frozen lock in the garage.

But still, if the problem has already arisen, then it will be too late to “sprinkle ashes on your head” and reproach yourself for not lubricating the lock in time, allowing excess moisture, etc., especially if you need to quickly open the garage door.

So, how to defrost a lock in a garage. The first thing anyone who has encountered this problem at least once would recommend is to use open fire. You don’t need a flamethrower; a lighter, preferably with a “turbo flame,” and/or a newspaper (matches will also work) will suffice. In the first case, everything is simple - you activate the lighter and place it directly on the “cylinder”, in a matter of seconds the lock is ready for use. We do the same thing if we have a newspaper with matches. There is only one danger - the possibility of condensation, which can lead to a situation where when you put the car back in the garage, you will have to again decide how to warm the lock in the garage. Therefore, you will need to stock up on “flamethrower” equipment.

If there is no opportunity to use the previous advice, then there is no need to despair, because we have several more options in stock for how to open a frozen garage lock.

For example, an excellent option is to pour alcohol, antifreeze or antifreeze over the lock. In this case, these substances, reacting with the ice, melt it, and you safely end up in the garage. Enough available method, if these funds are at hand. You can use brake fluid in a similar way - literally 15 minutes after you pour it on the lock, it will open without any problems. By the way, it is more convenient to pour antifreeze into the lock using a syringe. In addition, there are special “defrosting” liquids on sale today, with the help of which the question of how to defrost a lock in a garage can be solved quite quickly and simply. They contain alcohol, and the principle of action is described above.

A good thing is a burner, which experienced car owners recommend in winter time always have with you, that is, keep one at home and the other in the car.

There's another one original way, how to warm up the locks in the garage if your car is with you and not inside. You just need to drive up to the garage door backwards, with the expectation that the exhaust pipe will be directed directly at the lock. In general, the idea is not bad, but there is a “minus” - you may have to suffer with the “correct entrance”.

And again let's return to preventing the problem of how to open frozen garage locks. Do not neglect regular drying and lubrication of the lock. In autumn, you can dry the lock in the sun, and in winter - on a radiator. It can be lubricated with liquid graphite, which is poured directly into the lock. After this, it must be kept in a dry place for some time so that the graphite hardens. After this, you can forget about the problem of a frozen garage lock for exactly two years. If there is no liquid graphite, then you can use any liquid containing oil. By carrying out this procedure regularly, you will prevent the formation of ice inside the lock, even with sudden changes in temperature and humidity. In addition, during snowfalls, do not forget to pay attention to whether the lock hole is not clogged with snow, which can subsequently firmly block the lock no worse than ice.

We also want to give a couple of tips on what not to do when you need to decide how to thaw frozen locks in the garage. Do not pour boiling water on castles under any circumstances. Having done this once, you will then have to suffer for a long time with ice-covered and non-opening locks, because due to hot water Stronger condensation will form inside the lock, and each time it will be more difficult to open the gate.

Winter is a rather unpleasant period, which is characterized by many unpleasant factors. Car owners especially dislike winter, as they need to take a number of steps to avoid becoming a victim of harsh weather. One of the common problems that garage owners have is a frozen lock. It is used to protect property from thieves, but in winter the lock freezes so much that even the owner himself cannot enter the garage. And if you are reading these lines, then, undoubtedly, you have also been in such a situation. How can you get to your vehicle? How to open a frozen garage lock? What can I do to prevent it from freezing in the future? You will find answers to these questions in this article.

We'll look at a few effective ways, thanks to which you can solve the problem without calling specialists.

Why does the castle freeze

How does it happen that a metal lock can freeze? Everyone knows that objects cannot just freeze. The liquid freezes, and under the influence of low temperature it also expands. If a castle freezes, it is logical to conclude that there was water in it. But where did it come from? There are several reasons.

As you can see, the liquid turns into ice, disrupting the operation of the lock. Knowing the reason, we can find the right decision. Main task- remove all ice so that the lock mechanism works again. It is important to know the correct course of action so as not to worsen the situation.

What not to do

First, let's look at what not to do if the lock doesn't want to open. After all, the first reaction can be disastrous. In fact, a frozen castle is not fatal, but you need to avoid making the situation worse. Often, angry car owners begin to try with all their might to turn the key in the lock in order to open the garage door with brute force. Is this correct? Not at all! Doing this is highly not recommended. Why?

The thing is that when the lock is frozen, you cannot open it by force. He's unlikely to give in. However, you can make things worse. With the way keys are made these days, it might just break inside the keyhole. Now things are bad. You can’t just get the key, so most likely you will have to change the lock completely. This extra costs, time and effort. What then should be done? Let's take a look the right ways solutions to the lock problem.

Methods for opening a frozen lock

This phenomenon is not critical, because there are many proven and good ways. Some are simple, others are complex. But, thanks to them, you can open the lock and get to the garage. We have already learned that your task is to unfreeze the mechanism. Here are the tricks to help you:

Advice! Alternatively, use brake fluid. It is poured inside the castle and waited for about 10 minutes. The mechanism will immediately open.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that there are also special pocket defrosters. To prevent a frozen castle from taking you by surprise, buy this product in advance and carry it with you. Thanks to such a variety of methods, you will definitely be able to open your lock and get to the garage.

How can you prevent the castle from freezing at all in the future?

Freezing Prevention

If you don't want the problem to happen again, there are a number of steps you need to take. If your lock is a padlock, then cylinder models will not work well on the outside and will often freeze. Ideally, use a lever lock. As practice shows, they tolerate temperature fluctuations well and cope with their task.

Another way is to insulate the castle. Then condensation will not form in it. And to prevent dripping water from getting inside, it should be protected with a box. Then external factors will not be scary for him.

When a lock freezes, it is not enough to simply defrost it. We need to find the reason to prevent similar problems in the future. There are three most common reasons why locks and doors freeze:

• Lubrication.
• Moisture.
• Dirt.

Most often cause of freezing is that moisture, dirt and grease are simultaneously present in the lock. If the insides of the lock are in a perfectly clean condition, then in most cases the mechanism will work perfectly even in severe frosts.
It should be understood that they are used different types castles with their design features. Some of them tolerate frost well, while others do not. For example, cylinder locks work very poorly on the street. This design is made with increased precision, so it is afraid of even small grains of sand.
The small spring and code elements stick together in the cold, making it impossible to open the lock. If another drop of water gets inside, the problem will be even more serious.
When purchasing a lock, you should immediately check whether it can be used outdoors. Some manufacturers indicate whether the lock is suitable for outdoor use.
For garage doors the best option there will be sulvad castles. They tolerate aggressive environments better than cylinder ones. Unlike the very delicate and small code elements of cylinder mechanisms, sulvad ones use a reliable spring and fairly large plates that better withstand moisture or dirt.
A deadbolt lock is also often used for garages. The mechanism of this lock is durable, but it should not be used to protect valuable property. In most cases, they are easy to open, so this option can only be combined with other types of locks.

Defrosting methods

First, let's look at what not to do if if the lock won't open. The first reaction to the problem of a frozen lock in the garage, what to do can be disastrous. The issue of a frozen lock is not fatal, so there is no need to aggravate the situation. Often, angry car enthusiasts begin to twist the key in the lock with all their might in order to open the garage lock with brute force. If the lock is frozen, you cannot force it open, but the situation can be made even worse. Nowadays, keys are not made strong enough, so they can simply break inside the keyhole. You can’t just get the key from there, and the lock will most likely have to be completely changed. This is extra effort, time and expense. What to do then? Follow the instructions on how to open a frozen garage door:

• Most convenient way for the conditions under consideration - use open fire. This is possible without special effort and quickly warm up garage lock. In the very simple case the garage owner will only need to light a piece of paper or newspaper and bring it to the lock hole. Despite its simplicity, this technique most often helps solve problems with defrosting the lock. This method does not guarantee 100% success the next time you try to open the lock. Melted moisture in very severe frosts can quickly turn into ice again.
• More reliable way heating the lock using an open fire is the use of a blowtorch or gas burner for these purposes, which must be constantly ready in the winter and stored at home.
• Even more in an efficient way To solve this problem there will be a method when antifreeze, alcohol or antifreeze is poured into the internal volume of a frozen lock. The application of this technique is that all of the listed substances come into contact with ice. active reaction, which will loosen it and restore the functionality of the locking mechanism.

Brake fluid can be used to fill the internal volume of the lock mechanism. After filling it, after some time (approximately 10 - 15 minutes), the lock can be opened without much difficulty.
You can also purchase a special alcohol-based defrosting liquid. With its help, any ice formations are quickly removed.
In winter, especially during severe frosts, it is advisable to carry all these liquids with you. This will allow you to quickly resolve any problems that arise. To pour these reagents into the lock mechanism, it is convenient to use medical syringe. It is better not to carry a syringe with technical liquid in it along with documents.

Prevention

The first thing required to protect a lock from freezing is to choose it correctly. You should purchase those mechanisms that are intended for outdoor use. As written above, sulvad locks are best suited. It is also necessary that the lock has a closed key window.
The mechanism must be protected from moisture. If snow or rain constantly falls on the lock, it will freeze.
Another problem is condensation. Can be insulated garage doors and the castle itself. There is a method for making a “pocket”. This is a metal box welded on all sides. Only one edge of it is not welded - for installing the lock in a pocket. Then the created “pocket” is welded into the door. This technology can even be used to install a lock on a gate or gate without fear that it will freeze.
If you have questions about whether the lock in the garage freezes, what to lubricate, then prudent garage owners lubricate the internal mechanism with graphite or machine oil in advance. Before applying a layer of lubricant, it is necessary to garage doors remove the lock and dry it at home, for example, on a battery.
If you follow the instructions and do not act rashly, then solving the issue of defrosting the lock is quite simple.

Is your garage lock frozen? No problem. On this page I will show you how to open a frozen garage lock in a simple and in a budget way without using any expensive chemicals or tool.

I remember how, as a child, I liked winter, a lot of snow, New Year, sleds, skis and other delights of this frosty time of year.

But when I got my driver's license and bought my first car, then I had an epiphany. It turns out that snow and frost cause only problems that constantly ruin the life of a motorist.

But if previously the only problem that gave me problems was the snow, which must be constantly removed in order to leave my comfortable and dry garage, now I am also faced with the harmful effects of frost.

Life just so happened that I lost my garage and had to temporarily rent someone else’s.

To be honest, I have never dealt with such garages. I lived in a private house and my garage was in the yard. It would seem that it makes no difference where the garage is - either in the yard, or in a garage cooperative.

But my first winter in such conditions showed that the difference is huge. It’s not even that I have to walk several kilometers to the garage and sometimes think about whether to go closer to pick up the car or go straight to where I wanted to go with this very car.

And the fact is that the real pitfalls began to manifest themselves with the first snow and the first frost.

As always, I urgently needed a car and I ran to the garage. Arriving, I saw a sad picture

Okay, no problem, I’ll clear away the snow in an hour and go.

But what to throw away? The shovel is in the garage... And there’s not a soul around - there’s no one to even ask.

Three hours later I found a shovel. It snowed for two hours. It got dark. Didn't go anywhere...

Before, I never even thought that this could be such a problem that I would have to change my plans, because I always had a shovel in the yard. But you can’t leave it near the garage. The legs will do right away. So now I walk around the city with a shovel

I decided to go in the morning. I've arrived. It's snowing again. It’s good that the shovel is always with me now. I dug it up. The mood was lifted. He inserted the key into the lock. The mood dropped nowhere lower.

In general, the castle was frozen solid.

This was the first time I encountered this situation. My home garage was dry, but this one is damp. Naturally, all the dampness condensed in the cold metal lock and froze. This is what it looks like

The owner of the garage also liked to lubricate the lock with brake fluid. In general, I am against lubrication of locks and, especially, with means not intended for this. As a result, over time, all these “lubricants” turned into a nasty emulsion, which further aggravated the situation.

What to do?

I went back, went online, and read some crazy advice. They may not be delusional, but there is no other word for it.

The first tip is to pour boiling water into the castle. Let's say I bring boiling water to the garage. I'll fill the lock and it will open. What's next? This water will freeze in an hour and then I won’t be able to use the lock at all until spring. There is nothing to dry the lock with, since there is not even electricity in the garage. I discarded this idea.

Tip two is to spray WD-40 or silicone grease into the lock hole. But all these lubricants are in a closed garage... Okay, I’ll buy more in the store while it’s open. But after calculating the cost of these lubricants, I abandoned this idea. I don't believe that these lubricants will do anything with the rather massive garage locks. Moreover, I noticed earlier that silicone grease freezes on metal in cold weather. In general, I rejected this idea.

Tip three is to buy a lock defroster. A small car door lock may thaw, but massive garage locks are unlikely to. Of course, it might thaw if you put half a bucket of it in there, but considering their cost, I came to the conclusion that this is not my way.

Tip four - warm it up with a hairdryer. The advice is just bomb. He smiled and moved on.

Tip six is ​​to light a fire under the garage door and wait until the lock thaws. Or the garage will burn down, especially in such a wind.

I spat on it all and started thinking. I went and had lunch. I thought a little more.

I narrowed the range of requirements, which began to consist of two points:

1. The only way to melt the ice in a castle is by temperature. No amount of silicones, alcohols or WD-40 will help with this when even the keyhole is covered with ice. All these means will not even be able to penetrate into the necessary places. In general, just something hot!
2. So that something hot doesn’t freeze later or burn down the garage. It also did not require electricity.

I think it’s good that I at least managed to pour the anti-freeze into the washer before the onset of such frost. Otherwise, worry about it.

STOP! UNFREEZE!!! Eureka! It became much more pleasant to think. Maybe this is a way out of the situation?

No! Anti-freeze is not the same. But antifreeze is that! It protects against corrosion, has a slight lubricating effect, and the price is budget-friendly. It can also be heated, and after cooling it will not freeze.

In general, I bought a couple of liters of antifreeze, since my antifreeze is still in the same garage with a frozen lock.

I took a plastic bottle and poured antifreeze into it. While I was getting dressed, I put the bottle in hot water.

On the other hand plastic bottle twisted the lid, made a hole in it and took it with him

I came to the garage, screwed a cap with a hole onto the bottle and sparingly poured the contents into the keyholes

A minute later the locks opened!

Having opened the garage, I also watered them from the inside.

Ideally, it would be nice to cover the locks, for example, with foam plastic, so that condensation from the garage does not settle on them, but the garage is not mine and it is not for me to decide this issue.

Moreover, the castle didn’t freeze over yet. But now a bottle of antifreeze is always on the balcony. Actually, like a shovel

This is how easy and inexpensive it was to open a frozen lock in the garage. And most importantly, protect yourself from such problems in the future.

Here is a video on the topic The lock in the garage froze

If you have had such a sad experience of locks freezing in your garage and have options for solving this problem, then share in the comments below.

Peace and smooth roads to everyone!

Probably every garage owner has encountered the problem of frozen garage door locks. Sometimes there are cases when the door freezes constantly, and the owners of the garage do not know how to solve this problem. In addition, there are many tips on the Internet on how to protect the lock from freezing.

But as experts say, some of this advice can only do harm. The lock in the garage freezes, we will look at what to do, videos, photos and much more in this article.

Why do castles freeze?

If your lock freezes, it is not enough to simply defrost it. It is necessary to find the reason for this to prevent similar problems. There are three most common reasons that cause locks and doors to freeze:

• dirt;
• moisture;
• lubricant

The most common cause of freezing is that dirt, grease and moisture are present in the lock at the same time. If the inside of the lock is in a perfectly clean condition, in most cases it will work perfectly, even in the most severe frosts. It should be understood that there are different types locks with various design features. Therefore, some types of locks will withstand frost well, while others will not. For example, cylinder ones work very poorly on the street. Such products are made with increased manufacturing precision and are therefore resistant to even small grains of sand. The code elements and the small spring stick together in the cold and it becomes impossible to open the lock. If in addition to this a drop of water gets inside, the problem will become even more serious. When purchasing a lock, you must immediately clarify whether it can be used outdoors. Some manufacturers indicate whether their products are suitable for outdoor use.

Lever locks are better suited for garage doors. They carry aggressive environment better than cylinder ones. Unlike the small and very delicate code elements of cylinder mechanisms, lever mechanisms have fairly large plates and a reliable spring that better tolerate dirt or lag. A deadbolt lock is also often used for garages. Although the mechanism of this lock is quite durable, it is not recommended for use to protect expensive property. In most cases, it is quite easy to open it, so this option can only be used in conjunction with other types of locks.

How to lubricate a door lock

There is an opinion that lubricant will help the lock resist sub-zero temperatures and extend the service life. But that's not true. In most cases, lubricant will only harm the mechanism. Why? It collects dirt and dust, and also thickens in the cold. It would be best to avoid lubrication completely. More suitable option- from time to time, disassemble the lock and clean it from dirt.

How to protect a lock from freezing

The first thing you should do to prevent the lock from freezing is to choose it correctly. You should only buy mechanisms that are intended for outdoor use. As we have already discussed above, lever locks are better suited for this task. It is even better if this mechanism has a closed key window.

In addition, the mechanism should be protected as best as possible from moisture. If the castle is constantly exposed to rain or snow, it will constantly freeze. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the mechanism from snow and rain.

Another problem is condensation. Some people decide to properly insulate their garage doors and the lock itself. You can also make a so-called “pocket”. This is a metal box that is welded on all sides. Only one edge is not welded, for installation in the lock pocket. After this, the made “pocket” is welded directly into the door. In addition, this technology can even be used to install a lock on a wicket or gate without fear of it freezing.

How to defrost a lock in a garage in winter

There are some ways to open your garage door if the lock is frozen. But before that, I would like to mention that in such a situation you cannot use force, because this can lead to the key breaking and the situation will be even worse.

Most in a simple way will pour boiling water over the castle. This method is very simple and does not require much effort. But, after this procedure, the mechanism must be completely dried. Otherwise, the problem will recur and quickly disable the mechanism.

The next method will be the method using fire. To do this, simply light a newspaper and bring it to the key hole. The fire will quickly melt the ice and most likely help open the door. This method is very common, but it is worth paying attention to its disadvantages. For example, after use, the paint on the doors burns or black spots appear that cannot be washed off. Therefore after use this method The garage door needs to be repainted.

If the newspaper does not help to defrost the locks, and there is very little time, then you can use blowtorch or a gas burner. This method is suitable better than boiling water for the reason that after using the burner the mechanism does not need to be dried. But the disadvantages of the method remain the same as those of the newspaper. Although some gas burners They have flame adjustment, so if used carefully, the burner will not cause damage to the doors.

The next method is to pour antifreeze, alcohol or antifreeze inside the lock. When interacting with ice, they loosen it, restoring the functionality of the mechanism.

The easiest way is to buy a special liquid, with which you can quickly defrost this mechanism. You can buy defrosting liquid at almost any big city at an affordable price.