HOW TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT LOCKS FOR YOUR PURPOSES

When you start shopping for locks, you’ll soon find out that there is a virtually endless selection of lock and key styles and types. When you have to find the right lock for each of your particular needs, you want to be certain that they’ll prove to be the most effective.

Do your research. Evaluate each lock you’re considering thoroughly, and ask the following:

• Where will you install the lock?
• Wherever you’ll be installing the lock, what are the surroundings like?
• What level of security do you require?
• Who will be using the lock?

Here are some popular locks and their security features:

Deadbolts are the most superior locks you can install at your place, as any expert locksmith will tell you. Anytime you put in deadbolts, you’ll definitely be adding an extra level of security. They’re referred to as “dead” because there aren’t any springs to work the bolt; a deadbolt is operated by hand ~ which means you have to use a thumbturn or key.

There are four standard deadbolts: single-cylinder, double-cylinder, lockable thumbturn, and jimmy-proof.

A single-cylinder deadbolt is the usual deadbolt we all normally think of, having the key cylinder on the outside. On the inside, a thumbturn is required to open and shut it. It’s generally for a solid door, made of metal or wood. The one disadvantage to a single-cylinder deadbolt is, if there’s potential access to the inside ~ that is, through a window on the door, or even through the peephole (something a thief can easily do) ~ then the door can be opened with the thumbturn.

One way to rectify this flaw is the double-cylinder deadbolt, which has a key cylinder both inside and outside the door. If the door’s locked, the double-cylinder requires a key to open it from the inside. This sort of deadbolt is perfect if your door has any glass in it, or if there’s a window close to the door, since it prevents an intruder from breaking the glass and reaching inside to unlock the door. Its weakness is that it isn’t safe in case of fire. So if you choose a double-cylinder deadbolt, always leave a key accessible to anyone at home. That way, if a fire occurs, everyone will be able to exit fast.

The lockable thumbturn deadbolt is a combination of the best features of the single-cylinder and the double-cylinder deadbolt, providing exceptional security and flexibility. It has a thumbturn on the inside, which operates as a basic single-cylinder deadbolt does, but it can also be locked using a key, so that it can’t lock or unlock the door. Therefore, the thumbturn can be left in the unlocked position while you’re at home, but it will function like a regular single-cylinder deadbolt. Whenever you leave, the thumbturn can be locked, so that even if a robber gets access to the inside of the door, you can’t unlock the deadbolt itself.

A jimmy-proof deadbolt is a surface-mount lock, frequently used at apartment houses, primarily on double doors. Folks who choose this deadbolt prefer it because it necessitates minimal door modifications. This deadbolt works is that it interlocks with the jamb bracket, preventing it from being forced from the outside or pulled apart by a burglar. A surface-mount lock means that the lock screws into the door’s inside, rather than having the drill pattern of a conventional deadbolt.

Knob locks are the typical locks you see on most exterior doors, and your major source of security at home. Sometimes, they’re also installed in addition to deadbolts for enhanced security. A knob lock alone isn’t fully secure, since the lock cylinder is within the knob itself, instead of inside the door. One drawback is that a crook can break off a knob lock from the door using a weighty object, such as a hammer. It can be forced open using pliers, or by bypassing the lock cylinder with a wrench behind the knob.

You will often observe lever handle locks on inside doors at commercial facilities. If you must provide accessibility for someone who’s disabled, a lever lock is what you need, since it’s much easier to open than a knob is. The push-down handle doesn’t have to be grasped and turned, the way a knob does. The only minor problem is that you can catch your sleeve on the lever.

Cam locks are for mailboxes, cupboards, and filing cabinets. They’re available in numerous lengths, with various kinds of tailpieces (“cams”), which interface with another lock mechanism.

A rim latch lock has a rim cylinder lock on one side, and a surface-mount latch lock on the other side. You’ll frequently notice a rim latch at an apartment complex, since it makes the door lock automatically as it shuts behind you.

Mortise-cylinder locks are threaded, screwing into mortise hardware mounted on the door’s inside. The lock remains in place with a set screw, and the lock mechanism is activated by a cam. Mortise cylinders come in different lengths, with a number of choices for the cams, depending on the hardware you seek.

A wall-mounted lock is, of course, mounted in a wall. One recognizable example is a firefighter's box-style lock, often routinely installed at larger businesses, which permits emergency access to the building’s keys. A wall-mounted lock can be any kind of safe, for storing crucial items. A wall-mounted lock includes an alarm sensor, allowing networking into the property’s security system, meaning that any unauthorized access will be instantly detected.

The rim cylinder lock is an effective way to increase your security along with a deadbolt. You’ll spot this sort of lock on an entry glass door, at some apartment buildings, and on commercial doors. They’re often found in rim latch locks, mounted on the inside of the door. A rim cylinder lock has a long metal piece extending from the back of the lock, and running through the door into a locking mechanism on the opposite side.

There are so many locks ~ each manufactured to fulfill a specific purpose. To decide on which lock is best for each requirement, bring all your questions and concerns to a reputable local locksmith company.