Differences in Door Locks

How much do you know about the locks on your front door? Believe it or not there’s a lot of variance among door locks and the quality of lock on your door could make the difference in deterring a home intruder. There are a ton of options out there so maybe it’s time to reassess your situation, change your locks, and really find out what will suit you and your family’s needs best. Here we’ll look at some of the different options available and hopefully you can find the right balance security, budget, and ease of use for you and your family.

Deadbolt Locks Deadbolts have been a common facet of home security for decades and represent one of the better and more standard options for a front door lock. This mechanism is ‘dead’ because it needs to be manually moved by either a key or knob from the inside of the home. The idea is a solid piece of cylindrical metal that slides in and out of the door jamb. These are less susceptible to lock-picking because of the weight and present a high level of security for the price and ease of installation. However, one thing to note is that a deadbolt is only as strong as the door jamb that it connects to. If you are relying on a deadbolt it may be a good idea to reinforce your door jamb to prevent brute force entry. Knob Locks Knob locks are regular fixtures in most homes and represent a mid level of security. Knob locks are favorites for many because they are cheap, easy to install, and easy to use. Of course, there are a lot of different brands with increased security measures out there but the mechanism remains the same. Knob locks consist of an internal lock that prevents the door knob from turning when locked. These can be susceptible to lock picking, though this can be offset with advanced security keys. However, knob locks are susceptible to brute force break ins and should usually be reserved for low security areas or in addition to another locking mechanism on the front door. Electronic Locks Electronic locks are quickly becoming the industry standard for high security front door locking mechanisms. Electronic locks are usually coupled with a deadbolt that is operated by an electric current triggered by either a keypad or access card. One of the great perks of electronic locks is the ability to customize it and integrate it into a home security system. There are a lot of different options available that can be custom programmed to suit your needs. One of the main cons of electronic locks is that they are more expensive than their counterparts and also can be difficult to setup and configure. That being said the level of security they can provide surpasses their counterparts and the fact that they can be integrated into a home security systems means that they can piggyback on the perks of your security system.