Blog

Owners Deb & Dave are avid bird watchers and have decided this year our annual fundraising efforts will be donated to: Freedom First Wildlife Rehab Inc. Waterford, CT Here is how you can help.....post a picture to our Facebook page of your pet, friends pet, wild encounter, whatever you've got and include a silly caption. Something to make us smile. Each submission will add to our donation. We also ask that you like and share our Facebook page to spread the word to family and friends, allowing them to also help. All submissions will be included in a drawing to win a family membership to Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center to be drawn in January 2024. Gather pictures of your dogs, cats, turtles, horses, fish, all are welcome and post them to our page, don't forget your silly caption. We look forward to you making us smile!

- BIG NEWS - AA Lock & Key is proud to announce we have done green. We recently had a 54 panel ground mount solar array installed at our shop in Ledyard, capable of producing over 25,000 KWH per year. This was made possible with the help of a green loan through CT Green Bank and our local installer Eastern CT Solar LLC . O wners, Charlie Morgan and Mark Waldo.

Words of Wisdom from our Locksmiths Dave, Dan & Chris...... 7 PLACES TO NEVER USE WD-40 — you’ll be surprised As an easy-to-use and readily available lubricant, WD-40 is a popular product for all sorts of uses around the home, garden, and workshop. It’s something most of us have at the back of a cupboard and can provide an essential quick-fix to all manner of problems. What’s more, it’s not just a lubricant, this clever spray can be used for some cleaning tasks and for preventing rust too. According to the brand, the WD stands for water displacement — the product is a blend of lubricants as well as anti-corrosion agents. It’s this clever blend that makes it a great all rounder for tackling a variety of tasks. But despite having multiple and varied uses, there are some scenarios where reaching for the can of WD-40 is not the best option. So before you accidentally use it in the wrong place, read on to find out exactly what problems you shouldn’t attack with that can of trusty WD-40. 1. Hinges If you’re on a mission to fix a squeaky door you might be tempted to reach for the can of WD-40, in the hope that a quick spritz will solve the problem. And it will for a little bit. But the reason you shouldn’t use WD-40 on hinges is that it may be a lubricant, but it doesn’t contain enough lubrication to effectively oil the hinge and keep it operating smoothly and squeak free for very long. Plus, it can attract dust and dirt to the area, damaging the hinge in the longer term. 2. Bike chains No matter if you’ve splashed out on a fancy new electric bike or you’re still relying on pedal power, keeping your bike in tip-top condition requires regular maintenance. And whether or not you should use regular WD-40 on a bike chain is hotly debated across the internet. It’s true that it won’t damage your bike chain, and it works as an effective degreaser if you need to clean the chain. But to lubricate the chain, WD-40 makes a Specialist Bike Chain Lube ($13.75, Amazon), which is going to be the most effective thing for the job. The standard WD-40 isn’t greasy enough to properly lubricate the chain of your bike. 3. Locks Unless you’ve upgraded your entry system to a smart lock, you might be familiar with the problem of a key operated lock becoming stiff and hard to turn. As with hinges, WD-40 might temporarily alleviate the problem, but it doesn’t contain enough of the oily lubricant needed to grease up the mechanism and make it turn easily. And, since WD-40 also acts as a degreaser, it could remove any remaining lubricant and make the problem worse in the long run. 4. Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic WD-40 is a great product for rejuvenating plastic items; it can help remove grime and add a welcome shine to dulled plastic. It’s often recommended for sprucing up garden furniture, and the brand says it works wonders on the plastic in the interior of your car. But WD-40 can’t be used on polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic. Polycarbonate is impact-resistant and clear, so it can often be found in eye-glasses, lighting fixtures, and plastic greenhouses. Similarly, clear polystyrene can be used in glazing and packaging. Sometimes it’s tricky to know exactly what type of plastic you have, so err on the side of caution, especially when it comes to clear plastics. 5. Sensitive electronics We rely on our devices such as phones and tablets, so when they go wrong we usually look for a quick fix solution in the hope that they’ll be up and running again as soon as possible. But if you’ve got a button that sticks, or a sliding button that won’t budge, don’t reach for the WD-40. Not only could the product damage your expensive electronics on the exterior, if sprayed on a button, it could seep inside and cause further internal damage. Using WD-40 also may invalidate any warranty you have left. 6. Wax polishes and some wax coatings While WD-40 is safe to use on lots of painted surfaces and can remove things like crayon or gum, you should avoid using it on waxed furniture or any wood with a wax coating. WD-40 can soften the wax, which could affect the appearance. At worst the lubricant could remove the wax all together and mean the whole piece of furniture needs refinishing. As a rule of thumb, on any painted or treated surface, test WD-40 in an inconspicuous area first to avoid any potential disasters. 7. Anything that comes into contact with food WD-40 is not food safe so it shouldn’t be used to fix anything that comes into contact with food. Thus, we’d suggest you avoid using it when fixing any kitchen appliances, where possible. Or at least limit your use to the parts of the kitchen that don’t come into contact with food or drink. WD-40 can be useful for removing grease and grime from tile grout, or shining a stainless steel fridge door. However, be careful to use small amounts and clean food preparation surfaces afterward in case of any over-spray. Always wash your hands thoroughly after using, especially if you’re about to eat or prepare foods. Don’t ditch your can of WD-40, though — it’s still a great product that can be a help all around the home. Some of our favorite uses include removing nasty sticky residues, like that sticky mess left behind by duct tape or even gum. It’s also a handy stain remover that can remove ink from several surfaces. And we already mentioned that WD-40 can bring a shine to your plastic outdoor furniture, but surprisingly, it’ll do the same to your fake plants if you rub it over the leaves — who knew? Article by Helen McCue

Door Closer Fun Facts: What is the door closer? A door closer refers to any mechanical device that closes the door in a controlled manner after someone opens it or automatically opens it to prevent it from closing with a bang. When the door is opened, it can be compressed and released to close the door automatically. It acts as a spring-loaded door, ensuring that it is accurately closed to the initial position and in time after it is opened. There are two main types of mechanical door closers: pneumatic and hydraulic. Pneumatic doors are usually used for lighter doors while hydraulic ones are used for heavier ones. How does door closer work? Hydraulic door closers include supporting guides, transmission gears, return springs, one-way valves, rack plungers, throttle valve cores and housings, end caps, sealing rings, and connecting rods. The shell and the connecting rod fix the door closer and connect the door leaf and frame. A door closer is a mechanical device that slowly and firmly closes the door to lock it. It is achieved by using the spring tension adjusted by hydraulic oil. When the user opens the door, hydraulic fluid flows from one reservoir to another. The hydraulic oil flows back to the last tank through speed-controlled valves when the spring pushes the door to close again. What are the advantages of a closed door? The door closer’s significance is automatically closing the door and protecting the frame and body (smooth closing). More importantly, the door closer has become an essential part of the intelligent management of modern buildings. Door closers are mainly used in commercial and public buildings, but they can also used at home. They have many uses, the most important of which is to close the door by limiting fire and ventilation in the building. · Fireproof · Convenience · Privacy · Safety · Hygiene · Maintain room temperature · Energy-saving and emission reduction · Sound and noise control

Happy Spring! Did you know: AA Lock & Key maintains a retail shop, three licensed Locksmiths and two fully stocked service vans. Available Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00. Locksmith facts: 29.8% Of Locksmiths maintain a retail shop 49.1% Are mobile only 9.2% Are in house school, hospital or Institutional 11.9% Other

AA Lock & Key was proud and humbled to have received the 2022 Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award at the GNACC Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet. We thank everyone for your support.

Our Tenth Give Back to the Community Donation

We are growing! Please join us in welcoming our new team member Chris McCord, we are thrilled he has joined us. Once Dave & Dan pass along their years of training and expertise we hope to allow Dave a few extra, well-deserved days off. As always, we look forward to continuing to provide top notch security solutions to our customers. Yours in safety and security, Dave & Debbie

Our Ninth Give Back to the Community Donation