There's no expiry date
Unlike other things around the house, a lock doesn't come with a set lifespan. It depends on the quality of the mechanism, how many times a day it's used, and the conditions of where it's installed (for example, the moisture and salt in the air near the coast wear a cylinder down faster than inland). Even so, there are clear signs it's reached the end of its cycle.
Signs your lock is nearing the end
- The key gets harder and harder to turn, or you have to wiggle or force it slightly to get it in
- The cylinder turns but sometimes "slips" without fully opening
- You notice play in the knob, the handle or the cylinder itself
- There's been a tampering attempt, even if it didn't open
- It's an old bit-key (warded) lock, with fewer and fewer spare parts available
- You haven't changed it in years and don't know how many copies of the key are out there
What wears it out faster
- Very frequent use (community entrances, high-traffic businesses)
- Closeness to the sea: moisture and salt affect the internal mechanism over time
- Metal doors exposed to the sun, which expand and slightly misalign the lock
Repair or replace?
If the problem is a one-off (dirt, a small adjustment), it can often be fixed with a clean and lubrication of the mechanism, with no need to replace anything. But if the key has been giving trouble for a while, or there's been an attempt to force it, it's usually more cost-effective to replace it outright rather than fixing symptoms one by one. We check it on site and tell you honestly which option makes most sense for your case, without suggesting you replace more than necessary.