Have you been shopping for just the right locks for your home or business? Once you begin, you’ll find out that there’s a nearly endless selection of types of locks ~ such as high-security cylinders, wall-mounted locks, pin-tumbler locks, bump-proof locks, lever-handled locks, deadbolts, padlocks, cam locks, rim locks, interchangeable core cylinder locks, mortise locks, doorknob locks, key-in-knob cylinder locks, combination locks, keycard locks, biometric locks, switch locks, and on and on. The most well-known reputable brands are:
- Ace
- American
- Arrow
- ASSA
- Baldwin
- Ilco
- Falcon
- Kwikset
- Master
- Medeco
- Primus
- Schlage
- Yale
Deadbolts, as any professional locksmith will tell you, are a solid line of defense when it comes to safeguarding your home. The reason they’re referred to as “dead” is because they don’t have springs to operate the bolt; that is, a deadbolt is operated by hand ~ with a thumbturn or key.
Expert locksmiths often recommend that you install deadbolts on all your exterior doors. There are a good number of deadbolts. The most common are: single-cylinder, double-cylinder, lockable thumbturn, and jimmy-proof.
- The single-cylinder deadbolt is your basic deadbolt lock, with a key cylinder on the outside, and a thumbturn on the inside to open or close it. These deadbolt locks are usually used on solid metal or wooden doors. The only drawback to this sort of deadbolt is that if there’s any access to the inside ~ such as through a window in the door, through the peephole, or through a window near the door ~ then a thief could open the door using the thumbturn.
- A double-cylinder deadbolt goes a bit farther. This deadbolt has a key cylinder both inside and outside the door. That means that if it’s locked, the double-cylinder always requires a key to open the door from the inside. It’s ideal if your door has any glass in it, or if your door has a window nearby, because an intruder who manages to break the glass and reach in won’t be able to unlock the door. Its one minor disadvantage is that you have to remember to keep an extra key available inside, so whenever people are home, in case of fire or any other emergency, everyone will be able to exit the house quickly and safely.
- The lockable thumbturn deadbolt essentially combines the features of the single-cylinder and the double-cylinder deadbolt. With a thumbturn on the inside, it works like a basic single-cylinder deadbolt, but it can also be locked with a key, so that the thumbturn won’t lock or unlock the door unless you have the key, also. Accordingly, the thumbturn can be left in an unlocked position while you’re home, but it will still work just like a standard single-cylinder deadbolt. Then, when you go away, particularly if it’s for an extended time, the thumbturn can be locked easily. This deadbolt will provide you with superior security and flexibility.
- A jimmy-proof deadbolt is a surface-mount lock, typically found at apartment houses and on double doors. A surface-mount lock means that the lock screws inside the door, instead of with an intricate drill pattern, the way a regular deadbolt does. A jimmy-proof deadbolt is well-liked because it requires only very minor door modifications. In this unique kind of deadbolt lock, the deadbolt interlocks with the jamb bracket. It’s therefore not prone to being pulled apart, and it’s also difficult to force it open from the outside.
These are all wise choices in deadbolts. There are also additional viable deadbolt types you should consider: rim, mortise, vertical, keyless, and digital.
- A rim deadbolt is a deadbolt that’s easy to install, as it’s bolted to the inside face of the door. The great thing about this deadbolt lock is that it automatically locks behind you when you close the door, so you won’t ever forget to lock it. Of course, if you misplace your keys all the time, you may not view this feature as an advantage. Additionally, some people think a rim deadbolt is clunky and unattractive.
- A mortise deadbolt is a deadbolt that’s not easily tampered with. Old-fashioned in style, this deadbolt is installed in a mortise or recess pocket, cut into the edge of the door. This lock offers extra resilience; but one negative aspect is that because you have to penetrate the door frame to make a large hole, it may somewhat weaken the structure of the door.
- A vertical deadbolt lock is bolted to the inside face of the door, but it’s placed on top of the door, making it impossible for a potential burglar to force it open by placing a bar between the frame and the door. This deadbolt is relatively effortless to install. One minor shortcoming to the vertical deadbolt is that it’s a bit unwieldy, so some folks view it as unappealing.
- A keyless deadbolt lock is mounted on the door’s inside, but it has a keypad instead of a keyhole. You type in your secret code rather than turn a key. Since you don’t use a key at all, there will never be a concern over losing it or having it stolen. Another benefit is that you can change your code as often as you wish to maximize your security.
- A digital deadbolt is a lot like a keyless deadbolt, having a keypad, but it requires electricity or batteries. With this deadbolt, be sure you keep the batteries perpetually charged, or your property will be totally vulnerable if a power outage occurs. One weakness to such an electronic device is that there’s a slight possibility that it may be hackable.
This is an overview of some of the most popular no-nonsense locks. The truth is, there are locks to fit every location and purpose. If you want to make well-informed choices about exactly the right locks for your place of residence or your commercial building, ask a local locksmith you can trust. If you’re anywhere in Chino, California, you ought to hire a reliable locksmith such as the mobile professionals on staff at Chino Fast Locksmith, where free consultations are available.
Article source here: SO MANY KINDS OF LOCKS! HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?
