Cold-weather lock problems
Reno winters are cold; Washoe County's residential design criteria use a 17°F winter design temperature, and NOAA's engineering weather data for the Reno airport records about 123 freeze-thaw cycles a year. Moisture that gets into a lock cylinder can freeze overnight and make the key impossible to insert or turn. Gate locks, padlocks, garage side doors and exterior storage sheds are especially prone. A lock de-icer or gently warming the key can help in the moment; don't force a frozen key, which can bend or break it. A dry lubricant made for locks, applied in fall, helps keep moisture out. Oil-based lubricants attract dust and can gum up in the cold.
Doors that move with the seasons
The National Weather Service notes Reno's large swings in temperature from day to night and season to season. Doors expand and contract with those swings, and dry air causes wood to shrink. A door that latches easily in summer may bind in winter, putting strain on the deadbolt. Adjusting the strike plate or the door's hinges keeps the bolt moving freely and protects the lock.
Moving into a Reno home
Reno and Sparks have seen a lot of new residents. If you've just moved in, you don't know how many copies of the keys exist. Rekeying every exterior lock, including garage entry doors and gates, gives you control. A locksmith can often key all compatible locks alike.
Strengthening doors
A reinforced strike plate with long screws into the wall framing, longer hinge screws, a solid exterior door and a quality deadbolt make forced entry much harder. Sliding doors benefit from a secondary lock or a bar in the track. Doors with glass near the lock may need security film or another solution.
Smart locks in cold weather
Battery-powered smart locks lose battery capacity in cold weather. If your smart lock is on an exterior door exposed to cold, check batteries before winter, keep the key backup, and know how the lock behaves if the batteries die.
Lockouts and scams
If you're locked out, ask for a total price on the phone, the business's legal name and address, and a promise to try non-destructive entry first. Get the price in writing before work starts. In cold weather, being locked out is a safety issue; if someone vulnerable is outside without shelter or inside in danger, call 911.
Before you hire
Ask Reno locksmiths whether your locks can be rekeyed or keyed alike, what grade of deadbolt they recommend, how they'll reinforce the door, and how they'll protect exterior locks from freezing. Look up the business with the Nevada State Contractors Board where installation work is involved, and ask about any local business license.
Garages and sheds
Detached garages, sheds and side gates often have older, weaker locks that freeze easily. Weather-resistant padlocks and gate locks, keyed to match the house where possible, are worth the upgrade.