An unlocked door is an invitation for theft. However, the wrong kind of lock for your door can also fail to keep a burglar out of your home.
Protecting your property, employees, or family starts with the right door locks.
Whether you’re protecting gifts to give to friends and family or you’re changing locks between tenants, different types of locks handle different security needs.
Today, we’re no longer limited to the traditional deadbolt or keylock when upgrading your door locks.
How do you know which lock is best for your residence or for your business?
With safety and purpose in mind, keep reading to learn about different types of door locks.
Knob Locks
Your first line of defense and the most basic door lock is the knob lock.
If you want to keep something in or out of a room, at the minimum you need a doorknob that locks.
Interior doors with “only” a knob lock are common. Bedroom and bathroom doors or office doors can adequately protect private things or information with a door lock.
For best protection, keep track of the keys that lock and unlock these doors.
In your home, make sure you have another way to unlock a doorknob lock. If a child mistakenly locks itself in a bathroom or bedroom, you’ll need another way to unlock the door if you can’t find the key.
Deadbolts
A deadbolt is an excellent next step to upgrade your exterior security. Many homes add a deadbolt as an extra lock near the doorknob lock.
However, the wrong deadbolt is no problem for the right criminal. Deadbolts have plenty of options, including these two critical features:
- Double or Single Cylinder. A single cylinder deadbolt has a thumb turn feature to unlock the door from the inside. A double cylinder requires a key to unlock the bolt from the inside or the outside. Double cylinder deadbolts are ideal if your door has a window that could break to gain access to the thumb turn for a single-cylinder bolt.
- Security standard. A cheap deadbolt won’t withstand an impact to dislodge the lock. Look for locks rated UL 437 to make sure your deadbolt can withstand prying, picking, and force.
After you choose your deadbolt, be sure to install it securely. We suggest a locksmith such as www.thebronxlocksmith.
Electronic Locks
If you really want to increase the level of security for your home or business, you might need an electronic or keyless lock.
There are no keys to worry about. Use a keycode, a remote, or a fingerprint to unlock your home or office.
Electronic door locks are ideal for businesses when you need to change the locks.
Rental property owners and real estate agents can benefit from smart locks.
You no longer have to change the locking hardware on every exterior door after a tenant leaves or when a home sells to new owners.
Change the code on an electronic lock in a matter of seconds.
Save time and money on changing locking hardware, and never worry about a lost or stray key getting into the wrong hands.
Anti-Ligature Locks
Protecting loved ones with the right door lock isn’t always about keeping people out or in.
Anti-ligature locks make it difficult for items to get caught on doorknobs and latches to prevent death by strangulation.
Accidental strangulation can happen if a child’s clothing becomes tangled around a door handle.
It’s also common for someone attempting suicide by strangulation to attach a cord to the doorknob or handle.
Anti-ligature locks prevent anyone from using a doorknob to aid in strangulation.
It’s an ideal lock for incarceration or mental health facilities. The flat design of anti-ligature locks makes it impossible to use a door handle in a dangerous way.
If you like the idea of an anti-ligature lock, read more now.
Chain Locks
A chain lock could be the last line of defense for your door if someone breaks through the doorknob lock and the deadbolt. Chain locks fasten inside your door.
They don’t require a key to unlock. Slide the chain or bolt across the closed door and fasten it in the track on the door.
If your door comes open, it will only open as far as the length of the chain.
This space isn’t big enough for someone to get into your home. Plus, the chain can’t slide back through the track to release until the door closes again.
A chain lock is vulnerable to a set of bolt cutters. A swing bolt lock is a good alternative to the chain lock. It performs the same security function, but it’s tough to get through it with cutters.
Padlocks
You probably don’t want to lock your home or office with a padlock.
However, for storage sheds, fences, or other equipment storage, the right padlock is the perfect lock.
When storing equipment or protecting an enclosed area, make sure you choose padlock that can withstand bolt cutters or a forced attempt at breaking the lock.
A circular padlock offers better protection than a standard padlock.
Because of the enclosed design, it’s difficult to pick or cut a circular lock from a storage facility or fence.
The Right Door Locks Provide the Best Security
Your bathroom probably doesn’t need an electronic door lock to pro
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