To Key or Not To Key: Basic Home Security Questions

Whether you’ve gotten locked out of your home or are thinking of improving your home security, a residential locksmith in Houston will be able to help. Here are a few ways in which locksmiths can help you do more than just get back inside your home if you’ve lost your keys.

Rekeying and Replacing Locks

If you are considering having your locks changed, first think about exactly why. In some cases, you might be able to have them rekeyed instead, which means you don’t have to replace the entire lock mechanism and hardware. You can have your locks rekeyed if you like the look or style of your lock and just want to make sure older keys can’t be used in it. Even if you’ve never personally loaned out any of your keys, contractors or maintenance workers might have master keys that will open your door. Rekeying can give you control over exactly who can enter your residence.

If your lock is not operating properly, a locksmith can determine its condition and whether it was installed correctly. In the process of examining the lock, the locksmith will usually clean and lubricate it, and sometimes that takes care of any problems.

Of course, locks do simply break or wear out, so sometimes you just need a new lock. Calling a residential locksmith in Houston can save you the risk of running into installation problems from doing it by yourself. Locksmiths can also make a personal recommendation based on your design and security needs, so you can make the best selection from their extensive hardware options.

Deadbolts and Door Jambs

When it comes to the security of your home, you need to consider your doors and door frames as well as your locks. When burglars force their way into people’s homes, it’s usually the door or door jamb rather than the lock mechanism that breaks.

Door strikes, also called strike plates, are metal plates mounted on the door jamb, with a hole or holes in them to receive the latch or bolt when the door is closed. If the door jamb is made of wood, a metal strike plate can make it more resistant to force. Your door plates need to be installed with screws of sufficient length to secure the plate to your door jamb or frame, preventing a burglar from kicking or prying the strike plate loose. A locksmith in Houston can check out the structure and condition of your door, its frame, and how it’s built into your wall and then recommend the proper hardware to make your entry more secure.

Deadbolts can be operated with either a knob or a key that turns to engage the bolt. A deadbolt mounted near a glass pane can be less secure, since a thief could simply break the glass and reach in to disengage the bolt. In cases like this, consider using a double-cylinder bolt instead, one that requires a key to disengage, or consider using a different type of exterior door without glass panes near the locking mechanisms.

As a homeowner, you might be faced with a dizzying array of choices when it comes to home security. Before you even start thinking about alarm systems, however, call a residential locksmith in Houston to make sure you’ve got the basics covered.

John Trinh has been writing for 10+ years. He first delved into the world of writing when he wrote his first article for his university's paper.