The bees will buzz. The birds will sing. And your door will squeak because it’s gone all winter long without proper lubrication. If that’s the case, we have a few tips for you to get your door hardware ready to roll this spring season. Warmer weather typically brings more people out and about so you need to make sure your door hardware is properly maintained. If it’s not, it’s pertinent to have a little spruce up before your spring customers come knocking.

Properly Aligned Door Hardware

The extreme cold this past winter certainly had the potential to wreak havoc on door hardware. The steep drops in temperature at night were sure to cause some of your doors to swell, which lead to alignment problems when the weather warms up. If this is the case in your facility, check to see that all doors are properly aligned to avoid any scraping.

Lubrication

Lubrication is key with many hardware components, but it’s often overlooked when it comes to door hardware maintenance. To increase the life of your door, make sure all hinges stay properly lubricated. WD-40 is an option if you need a quick fix, but it’s important to note that it is a short-term solution. It’s typically used to break parts free if they’ve become gummed up over time with mineral deposits or grime. A Teflon-based lubricant is a better bet. This will extend the life of your door hardware and save you a little extra cash along the way. Nobody hates the sound of that.

A Clean Strike

Strikes are a sneaky place for bits of dirt and debris to pile up over those long winter months. That pocket provides a nice hiding place for all of the stuff you don’t want in the strike so it’s important to clean it out on a regular schedule. Trash and dirt can keep the door hardware from being able to latch properly, which leaves the facility’s security vulnerable. A quick check of the strike to see if there’s anything that needs to be removed and you’re ready to go!

These are just a few quick fixes to get your facility ready for the warmer weather. If you have any questions on what else you can do about door hardware maintenance, call us. We’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have!