Category Archives: Locks

Articles and information pertaining to locks

Not all locks are created equal

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Anyone who has spent more than five minutes in their favorite local hardware lock section knows the choices available can be overwhelming. After all, the choice you make will determine the security and piece of mind you and your family enjoy in your home. So how can you choose the best lock for your home? In this article I will discuss the various types of locks available and describe the differences and applications. Armed with this knowledge, you can then make the best choice when deciding on the right locks for your particular needs.

Not all locks are created equal. The American National Standards Institute or ,ANSI, rates locks on 3 common standards, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3. These ratings are based on a range of performance features. ANSI rates how well the locks resist forceful entry tests, and whether their finishes hold up well over extended periods of time.

  • Grade 1 locks are heavy duty commercial locks.These locks are typically not a good application for home use.
  •  Grade 2 locks are designed for light commercial use but would provide good protection for homes as well.
  • Grade 3 locks are rated for light residential use. Grade 3 locks are what you typically find at your local hardware store. (along with a lot of locks that carry no ANSI rating at all)

Most locks sold to homeowners are grade 3 locks or have no ANSI rating at all. ANSI graded locks often cost a little more than locks that dont have an ANSI rating or no rating at all but the added security is well worth the money.

There are certain companies who offer high-security locks. A high-security lock is one that provides a high level of security to most types of attack such as drilling, sawing, wrenching, picking and bumping. In most cases, these high security locks will be more expensive and will carry an Underwriters Laboratory or UL rating. High security locks will have two or more means of protection. They contain hardened drill resistant inserts and have patented keys. Medeco, ASSA and Mul-T-Lock are a few examples of high security locks.

Whether you choose to install Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 or even high security locks your local locksmith can provide you with the locks, installation and information you need to secure all the things that matter most to you.

I hope this article has been helpful in deciding which lockset is the right choice for you.

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Stay safe Citrus county!

http://www.1ablelocksmith.com

The dangers of a Double Cylinder Deadbolt

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For many years my wife and I served as volunteer firefighters. As you can imagine, the training involved in becoming a firefighter was extensive. Each and every class always started the same way. Safety, Safety, Safety. It was drilled into us from day one and it stuck with us as we entered each and every burning building.

You may wonder what an old firefighters training has to do with deadbolts. The answer to this question just may save you and your families lives.

Imagine this very real and very possible scenario. You and your family are sound asleep in your beds when the smoke detector (please tell me you have one!) goes off. As you are waking up you smell smoke and as you open the bedroom door you see flames engulfing your living room. You immediately race to the kids room to wake them up and get them out. (If you have an elderly person who may only get around by wheelchair, or is on oxygen this scenario gets even worse). As you run down the hallway the flames are getting hotter and spreading into the kitchen. The family struggles to find shoes and perhaps a coat to go out into the night and escape the flames and smoke. The kids dont want to leave behind the beloved pet, stuffed toy, barbie doll and you must keep pushing them to hurry and get out. You finally get them up and moving toward the door as the smoke burns your eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Tears are running down your face from the smoke making it hard to see and time is running out.

Not a pretty picture is it? It is at that moment that you will be thankful for this article and the advice it offers. You see, if you get to that door and that door has a double sided deadbolt, you now need to go back to where ever you keep your keys, because without that key you cant get out through the door.

We never recommend installing double-sided (keyed on both interior and exterior sides) deadbolts. Some homeowners desire double-sided deadbolts when there is glass in the door or in close proximity that would allow a potential intruder to break the glass, reach in, and unlock a single-sided lock. Other than the fact that a key must be used to unlock the door from the interior, double-sided locks provide no greater security than a single-sided one.

Ultimately, of course, the choice is yours. We just thought you’d like to know…

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We though you’d like to know….

Stay safe Citrus county!

http://www.1ablelocksmith.com

Rekey VS. Replace locks

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Did you know that your door knob locks and your deadbolt locks can be rekeyed cheaper than they can be replaced? We here at 1 Able locksmith are on a mission to save our neighbors here in Citrus county Florida money. That is why we tell our customers about our rekey services.

1 Able Locksmith gets several calls a week asking us to replace locks because the keys have been given to someone who shouldn’t have a key. We tell our customers that if the locks are functioning properly, we can rekey the existing locks so that the lock will no longer work using the old key. This saves our customers money over having to purchase and install new door locks while providing the security of having new keys for your old locks.

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We thought you’d like to know…

Stay Safe Citrus county!

http://www.1ablelocksmith.com