Analyze the Effectiveness of Your Locks

You might not think it is necessary to check the locks of your home as long as you haven’t had any break-ins. This isn’t necessarily true. Regardless of whether or not you’ve experienced a break-in, you should still analyze your locks to make sure no one is ever able to effectively break-in. An unsuspecting victim of a home invasion may not be aware of the fact that their home has even become a target of a would-be robber. You may be one of those unsuspecting victims yourself. This is all the more reason for you to seriously analyze the condition of your home locks. Don’t make it any easy for a would-be burglar to break-into your home. Your objective should be to make it as difficult as possible for someone to get inside. Burglars will generally take the route of less resistance. Therefore, if they suspect that you have sufficient security, they will likely go elsewhere.

Here are some things to consider when you begin analyzing the locks of your home.

Deadbolt locks

Deadbolt locks are the most durable types of locks that are made today. If you have a door with a regular knobs or lever locks, you will still need an extra layer of security to protect you from break-ins. This is why most locksmiths will insist on your having a deadbolt lock installed on these types of doors. If the deadbolt lock is going to be effective, it must be properly installed. If the hole that the bolt goes into is not deep enough, it will not fully engage thus making it ineffective. If the bolt is not extended all the way, the deadbolt lock that you just had installed will not do what it is designed to do, offer maximum security. This is why it is important to rely on the services of the preferred San Bernardino locksmiths at Locksmith in San Bernardino for your lock security needs.

• Window locks

When you have a window installed, the window comes with a standard lock that latches. If you have a door that slides and can be accessed from both inside and outside, you’ll have to make sure that you have another lock that cannot be accessed from the outside. It is easy for a burglar to break-in if your only lock is on the outside of the window. Don’t make it easy for them to do so, get the right type of locks for your windows by consulting with a certified locksmith in San Bernardino, California.

• Sliding Glass doors

Do you have sliding glass doors? If you do, you have to consider just how easy it might be for someone to break-in, especially if it is a standard patio door. Many of these types of doors are found toward the rear area of your home, where no one can see them, which gives a would-be robber more time to manipulate the locks on your door. Once again, a simple latch is used to secure these types of locks. Not only are they flimsy and easy to break, they are often incorrectly installed and can be taken out of the frame outdoors while the door is still locked. If you have a sliding glass door, you’ll need another type of lock to better secure your home. Sometimes just a door pin alone can boost the amount of security your home has and decrease the ability of your door being taken out of its frame and opened.

• Gates

When you have a gate around your home that can lead to the back, secure it with another lock. The same lock that is used for your home locks can also be keyed for the gate. There are some keys that are specifically made for gates. Don’t just use the key that is provided to you when the gate is installed. Make sure that the lock attached to your gate is strong and durable enough to keep out intruders.

• Moving

Anytime you are moving into another home, whether it is an apartment or house, have all the locks and codes changed. Even if management from an apartment complex tells you that the locks have been rekeyed, give yourself peace-of-mind by having the job done yourself. When you move, you’ll likely have to hand out keys and provide access codes to contractors. Make sure you get all of the keys back and change the codes on the locks that require them. Even when you misplace or lose a key to your new place, be cautious and have the locks rekeyed.

• Update Locks

If you moved and have been putting it off, maybe now is the time to update your locks before something happens that you’ll regret later. Consult with a professional locksmith to determine which types of locks are better than your existing locks. A professional locksmith will also be able to tell you which manufacturers offer the best quality of locks. In some cases, it is true that you get what you pay for. When you buy a $10 lock compared to a $20 lock, most often, the $20 lock offers a better level of security. When you have new locks installed, make sure you keep them lubricated and secured to your doorframe.

Analyzing your locks means taking a long hard look around your home and finding the locks that may no longer work to keep you and your loved ones safe and doing something about it. It is no good simply to analyze the situation if you have no intention of doing something to improve the situation. There are hundreds of homes broken into every year, make sure you do not become the victim of a home invasion by taking every precaution that you can now. With a few simple changes to your locks, you can greatly improve the quality of security for your home. Don’t wait until someone has already broken into your home before you get the help that you need. Act now.

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