Locks keep freezing, what to do?

[Old Salt]

Now that has been clarified use some car deicer on the key hole. Once the key has been inserted and the lock opened get some 3 in 1 oil inside the key hole and work the lock using oil on the shaft as well as the keyhole.

A light oil will work better than a heavy oil as that may attract dirt in the long run. Spray oils may be easier to get inside the mechanism. Whilst WD40 will displace water it is not the best lubricant despite what people may think.

 

[MisterBoy]

Might be peculiarities of recent weather, freezing mist and so on and it's in a shady spot.

Our padlocks were similar even though they hang down, almost an icicle hanging from the key hole!

 

[Old Salt]

Now that has been clarified use some car deicer on the key hole. Once the key has been inserted and the lock opened get some 3 in 1 oil inside the key hole and work the lock using oil on the shaft as well as the keyhole.

A light oil will work better than a heavy oil as that may attract dirt in the long run. Spray oils may be easier to get inside the mechanism. Whilst WD40 will displace water it is not the best lubricant despite what people may think.

 

[foxhole]

To clarify, it's actually the keyhole that is freezing up... It's literally full of ice so you can't get the key in!

My wife said they'd tried antifreeze without success, though they didn't have time to leave it and see as it needed to be open for access. My suspicion is it would work, but slowly.

Heat the key and use that to free and dry out the lock