The need for safe locks in our homes can’t be wished away, especially with escalating levels of crime in our neighborhoods. Choosing the right lock for your home may not be an easy task, since there is so much to choose from. The guidelines below will surely come in handy.
Always Install Locks that Have Deadbolts
The first thing you should do is to look for locks that have deadbolts. There are quite a number of deadbolts including keyless deadbolts, double cylinder deadbolts, and single cylinder deadbolts. The brilliant thing about deadbolt locks is that they are very strong and cannot be easily dismantled. Ensure that the bolts are well extended into your walls for that extra resilience. Deadbolt locks are a sure way to dissuade potential burglars from trying too long.
Choose Locks that Have ANSI Grade 1 Classification
The most durable and safe locks adhere to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, which are developed and upheld by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association Inc. (BHMA). In selecting locks for your home, you will certainly be more assured of security if your purchase meets the ANSI standards.
Your Locks Should Have Key Control
Another important consideration when buying safe locks is that of key control. Key control implies that you as the homeowner have control over the number of copy keys that can open your lock. The conventional trend has been that any locksmith can make a copy of your keys. A number of burglaries have been traced back to copied keys, and this is therefore quite risky.
Key-control locks have keys that are impossible to copy anywhere. The only people who can do this are designated locksmiths and the manufacturers themselves. While it may cost you some money to maintain records with the manufacturers or locksmiths, the expense is worth it compared to a burglary.
Install Locks that Have Security Strike Plates
While all door locks come with strike plates, not all of these plates are effective in securing your home. In fact, the weakest point in the lock and door combination is the strike plate. For this reason, you must purchase a reliable security strike plate separately.
Security strike plates available in the market are made from heavy gauge metal plates, and they are meant to be fitted beneath the lighter strike plates that come as part of the locks. The security strike plates come with three inch screws that enable you to not only affix the plate onto the door jamb, but also on the wall framing. The screw holes on these plates are staggered such that the screws will penetrate into different wood grains. This greatly adds to the resilience of the installed lock.
In purchasing your locks, you can also inquire about those that have anti-drill features in the form of hard steel chips (placed in the lock’s housing). These steel chips destroy drill bits, which may breach a lock otherwise.
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