How to Choose a Deadbolt Lock?

To make sure your home stays secure is a huge task. And of course, there are many home security products around to take your home security to next levels. Be it installing a security camera, an alarm system or a complete surveillance system with monitoring services, there is so much you can do to beef up security. However, most experts agree that having a deadbolt lock installed is the first step in this process.

So, if you don’t have a one installed on your front door and other door that serve as entry points, you are missing out the biggest and the most vital component. A properly installed lock with reinforced strike box and beefed up door jamb is pretty resistant to forced entry. It is also an inexpensive way to instil peace of mind without spending thousands of dollars on other products, that work great too but only when combined with a good old deadbolt lock. In a nutshell, these locks are your first line of defense when it comes to home security.

Coming back to the point, how to choose a good lock? This may feel a bit overwhelming and you are not alone. There are different types of locks around and to choose the best hardware and locks to protect your family and home can be a little unnerving, not to say confusing. Our customers often come to us with this dilemma. So, we decided to compile our thoughts in this blog post.

1. Always choose ANSI Grade 1 lock. This is the highest rating for commercial and residential locks.

2. These locks come in three models: Single cylinder, double cylinder and keyless

Single cylinder deadbolt lock

These locks can be locked or unlocked from inside of the door by using a thumb turnpike, but require a key to operate from outside. There is one caveat with single cylinder locks though. If your entry door has glass panels or it is located near a glass window, a burglar can reach inside to unlock the deadbolt by simply breaking the glass.

Double cylinder deadbolt lock 

A double cylinder lock needs a key to work the deadbolt from either side of the door, which means you need a key both from the outside and the inside of the door. 

Double cylinder works best with door with glass? Not so fast

A double cylinder lock may provide more protection in case you have glass doors. But that doesn’t mean they are always a great option. These locks prevent you from making a fast exit in case there is an emergency. For example, if there is a fire in your building, you will end up wasting precious time in looking for a key (unless you have kept it handy) and then using the key to open the door to move out. What if you can’t find your key in time or at all? Yes, it can have devastating consequences. This makes a single cylinder lock more practical and useful in most situations.

And if you have glass doors, there is still no reason why you can’t install a single cylinder lock. You can use reinforced, tempered glass on your front doors or windows. And logically, if a burglar succeeds in breaking the glass, it doesn’t matter what kind of deadbolt you have on your door. The opening in the shattered glass would be sufficient for a burglar to enter your house.

Keyless deadbolt

Single cylinder locks are great, but they could be a problem with kids who can easily leave the house without your knowledge. Installing keyless deadbolt locks may resolve this problem. Since you don’t require a key, you don’t have to keep a tab on your keys all the time. These locks can be operated with the help of fingerprint scan or passwords.

3. Make sure your deadbolt lock is installed properly

Well, this is a fact. A poorly installed lock, even the best quality ones, with weak door jamb and weakly fastened strike plate can do a lot of damage and compromise your home security. Here are a few basic tips to make sure your lock does what it is supposed to do, which is to provide you maximum security and prevent burglars and other unwanted visitors from getting in using force.

• Evaluate your lock and see if your strike plate need reinforcement. In case it is attached to the door frame with small screws, replace them with longer screws (3-inch screws) for better attachment.
• The deadbolt must extend fully and to one inch into the strike plate cavity.
• Don’t ignore the door jamb and reinforce it by fixing a piece of metal strip.

It would be wise to remember that no lock provides you fool-proof or 100% security. But installing sturdy locks on your doors definitely lays the foundation of a secure home. You can keep making it stronger by adding other elements as we mentioned above, such as security camera, digital peephole and CCTV systems. If you are not using keyless deadbolts or high security locks, you must also take some basis security precautions such as getting your locks rekeyed from time to time. Anyone in possession of your spare keys can use them to gain access. Lock rekeying will eliminate chances of anyone using spare keys.

If you are looking for a professional residential locksmith in Kyle, please contact us at (512) 634-8090. At Kyle Locksmith Co. can help you all kinds of lock and key services. Our licensed and insured locksmiths are available 24/for lost keys and home lock out. Need help with selecting and installing the right deadbolt lock for your property? Or need help with lock rekeying or getting one key for the entire home (master key system), we can help boost your home security in a lot of ways. Just give us a call and our people will come over to get an assessment and offer best recommendations.