HOW TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT LOCKS FOR YOUR NEEDS

There are so many different types of locks and keys. Once you start shopping, you’ll find out for yourself the overwhelming number of a locks that exist. If you’d like to track down the most effective locks for your specific needs, then you’ll have to do an in-depth evaluation of each lock you’re considering, asking yourself the following questions:

• Who will use the lock?
• Where will you install the lock?
• What are the surroundings like where you’ll install the lock?
• What level of security do you seek?

Here’s an overview of some popular locks and their security features.

Knob locks are normally used as the main source of security for exterior doors at your home. (Sometimes they’re also installed along with deadbolts, which provides extra security.) A knob lock by itself isn’t fully secure, because the lock cylinder is in the knob itself, instead of inside the door. One shortcoming is that a thief can break off a knob lock from the door with a hammer. It can also be forced open using pliers, or with a wrench behind the knob, bypassing the lock cylinder.

Deadbolts are arguably the safest locks you can get for your home, as any expert locksmith will assure you. Accordingly, when you install deadbolts, you’ll be exceptionally secure. They’re referred to as “dead” because there aren’t any springs to operate the bolt; a deadbolt is operated by hand - that is, using a key or thumbturn.

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

A single-cylinder deadbolt is the standard deadbolt we all imagine, with the key cylinder on the outside. On the inside, you use a thumbturn to open and close it. It’s usually used on a solid door, made of wood or metal. The one disadvantage to a single-cylinder deadbolt is that if there’s any potential access to the inside - through the door’s window or through the peephole (something a criminal can do easily) - then the door can be opened with the thumbturn.

The solution for this negative aspect can be a double-cylinder deadbolt, which has a key cylinder both inside and outside the door. If your door is locked, the double-cylinder requires a key to open it from the inside. This deadbolt lock is good if your door has a window, or if there’s a window close by the door, because it prevents an intruder from breaking the glass and reaching in to unlock the door. Its weakness is that it isn’t safe if there’s a fire. Therefore, if you use a double-cylinder deadbolt, be sure you always leave a key readily available when you’re home. That way, in case of fire, everyone will be able to make a fast exit.

A jimmy-proof deadbolt is a surface-mount lock, which you’ll most often see at apartment houses and on double doors. Those who like this deadbolt prefer it because it necessitates minimal door modifications. The way this deadbolt lock functions is that it interlocks with the jamb bracket, which keeps it from being pulled apart or forced from the outside by a burglar. A surface-mount lock means that the lock screws into the inside of the door, rather than having a drill pattern, as a traditional deadbolt does.

The lockable thumbturn deadbolt mainly combines the properties of the single-cylinder and the double-cylinder deadbolt, providing extraordinary flexibility and security. It has a thumbturn inside, which works just like an ordinary single-cylinder deadbolt, but it can be locked with a key, so it cannot unlock or lock the door. Thus the thumbturn can be left in an unlocked position when you’re at home, but it will operate like a regular single-cylinder deadbolt. When anyone goes out, particularly for a long time, the thumbturn can be locked easily, so that even if a trespasser manages to gain access to the door from the inside, the deadbolt itself cannot be unlocked.

Lever handle locks are used frequently at commercial buildings on interior doors. If you desire accessibility for the disabled, a lever lock is exactly what’s required, because they are easier to open than knobs. Obviously, the push-down handle does not have to be grasped and turned, the way a knob does.

A rim latch lock has a surface-mount latch lock on one side, with a rim cylinder on the other. A rim latch locks automatically when the door closes behind you, making it popular at apartment buildings.

Rim cylinder locks are another efficient way to augment your security. You’ll see these locks a lot on commercial doors, on any entry glass door, and at some apartment complexes. They’re typically used in rim latch locks, mounted on the door’s inside. Rim cylinder locks have a long metal piece extending out from the lock’s back, running through the door into a locking mechanism on the opposite side.

Mortise-cylinder locks are threaded, screwing into mortise hardware mounted inside the door. This lock is held in place by a set screw, and the lock mechanism is activated by the cam. Mortise cylinders come in several lengths, with many options for the cams, depending on the hardware you use.

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

A wall-mounted lock is mounted in the wall, just as its name indicates. One familiar example is a firefighter's box-style lock, which is customary at larger businesses, providing emergency access to the keys to the building. A wall-mounted lock can be any small safe, for storing important items. A wall-mounted lock has an alarm sensor, allowing for networking into the facility’s security system, so any unauthorized access will be detected instantly.