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Types Of Home Door Locks

Posted by on Dec 14, 2015

Types Of Home Door Locks

Keeping your home protected starts with your door locks. For any homeowner looking to purchase locks for his or her home, the number of options available in the market today is overwhelming. Before settling on a specific type of dock locks, there are several security factors that one may need to consider. This article will explain the most common home door locks and the security features that need to be considered. The four most common types of home door locks include padlocks, knob locks, deadbolts and lever handle locks.
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Padlocks

padlocks3Padlocks are the only type of home locks that are normally not permanently fixed to anything else. Padlocks are available in different sizes, are easily portable, free standing, and are one of the most conspicuous types of door locks. There are two main varieties of padlocks: keyed and combination. Keyed padlocks have numerous alternatives to consider. They can be rekey-able or non-rekey-able. For non-rekeyable padlocks, you cannot change the key that opens it. For instance you cannot make it use the same key as your house. Combination padlocks feature one or more number dials that open the lock after entering correct combination. These types of locks are shim to open and easy to decode.

Furthermore, padlocks can be key-retaining or non-key-retaining. While a non-key-retaining padlock allows the key to be removed while the padlock is open, a key-retaining padlock does not. Lastly, padlocks may feature a shrouded shackle in their design. This added security feature is an extension of the body that makes it much harder for bolt cutters to cut the padlock.

DeadBolts

deadbolt lock3In general, deadbolts are installed on external door and contrary to padlocks they have few more options to consider. There are three main varieties of deadlocks: single, double, and lockable thumb-turn. The single cylinder deadbolts are the most commonly used variety of deadbolt. They use a thumb-turn on the inside to close or open the lock and a key cylinder on the outside. This type of deadbolt has one major weakness. If someone has access to the inside (for instance through a nearby window or even via the peephole by use of simple tools), he/she can open the door using the thumb-turn. On the other hand, a double cylinder deadbolt lock uses a key cylinder both on the outside and inside to close or open the lock.

The third type of deadbolt is a fusion of a single cylinder and double cylinder deadbolt, and is usually referred to as a lockable thumb-turn. The lock has a thumb-turn on the inside that functions like the normal single cylinder deadbolt, with one exception. You can lock the thumb-turn using a key so that it cannot unlock or lock the door. In a residential situation, this means that you can leave the thumb-turn in unlocked position while inside the house, and will function like a typical single cylinder deadbolt. When leaving the house, particularly for long period of time, you can easily lock the thumb-turn so that even if someone has access to the door from the inside, the lock cannot be unlocked. This variety of deadbolt offers ultimate security and flexibility in most situations.

Knob Locks

Knob locks are mostly installed in residential settings on all types of doors; exterior doors, rear patio doors, bedroom doors, etc. These locks feature knobs on both sides: one side has a lock while the other side has a key hole. However, it should be mentioned that knob locks should practically never be used as source of primary security on exterior doors. The shortcoming lies in the fact that the lock cylinder is contained in the knob rather than the door. This means that they can be easily broken off with a hammer entirely bypassing the locking cylinder.

Lever Handle Locks

lever handledLever handle locks are commonly used for inner doors in business settings. It is easier to open lever handle locks than it is to open the knob locks. This is mainly because they feature a large push-down style handle instead of a knob that you must grab and turn. Lever locks also frequently find application in situations where handicap accessibility is crucial. Frequently, excessive pressure is applied to the handle to force the lock, making them target of torque attacks. However, some levers are designed to be “clutch” levers meaning if excessive force is applied on them, they simply turn rather than apply pressure to the lock.

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