The Best Lock for the Job

Choosing the best lock for your home is not only essential for your safety, it might also be an important part in successfully securing home insurance. Your insurance provider may ask you what kind of locks you have on your doors, and having high quality locks can actually save you some money on your insurance premiums. Even if you already have insurance, you can still make sure that your family, your home and everything inside of your home is safe with the right locks.

Spring Latch/Slip Bolt Locks

Slip bolt and spring latch locks are inexpensive and easy to install, but they won’t offer you the very best security. The way this type of lock works is that it simply locks the doorknob and keeps the spring-loaded latch from releasing from the doorframe. Something to keep in mind with this type of lock is that something other than the proper key can be used to release the pressure that keeps the spring in place, giving burglars relatively easy access to your home. It’s even possible for intruders to simply take a wrench or hammer to smash the doorknob. If you do decide to use spring latch or slip bolt locks for your home or business, it’s recommended that you get a protective metal plate to reinforce the wood that’s around the doorknob.

Deadbolt Locks

The reason that deadbolts are called deadbolts is that they have to manually be moved both in and out of place with either a knob or a key. The three essential parts of a deadbolt are:

• The bolt
• The outside cylinder that’s accessible with a key
• The thumb-turn

Regular horizontal throws are able to reach one inch into the door jamb and beyond the edge of the door. Make sure that whatever deadbolt you get is made from brass, bronze or solid steel. Avoid any type of die-cast materials since they can easily break apart.

One of the largest disadvantages of horizontal deadbolt locks is that someone can pry the door apart from the strike plate or the jamb. This can be avoided by opting for a vertical lock instead, which has a lock that is better able to resist being separated from the jamb. The way that a vertical deadbolt works is that the throw locks with a set of rings on the doorframe. The rings are positioned around the lock in a way that makes it practically pry-proof.

Learn More About Protecting Your Home

RBM Lock & Key is here to offer you a professional opinion and recommendation about which type of lock will work best for your home. Contact us today for more information about how you can best protect your home and your family.