Locks for sliding glass doors

Here in Cary, NC most homes, condos and apartments have a sliding glass door. This door usually opens out to a balcony, patio or back yard and often affords views of everything from a golf course to a neighboring building or even a parking lot! Ease of access is provided by this sliding door of glass as it opens wide enough to allow people, pets and furniture to come and go easily and at will.

As useful as these doors are, they can also be somewhat of a security problem. For one thing, the glass doors are almost always on the side or back of the property; out of view from the street. This gives crooks a little privacy to work at getting into your home or business as fewer eyes are on them from the back. Secondly, the large opening the glass door makes when it’s open is perfect for removing furniture, large screen televisions and other items of value.

What good is a lock?

Here at Cary Locksmith we are often asked “what good are locks on the sliding glass doors? All the burglar has to do is smash the glass!” While this point is well-taken, it is also not too likely. Smashed glass makes a lot of noise, and unless you live out in the “boonies” someone is bound to hear an unusual sound like that and either investigate, or call the police. In Cary, NC we have medium to high density living and working conditions that would allow people close by to notice and report such an incident.

Another deterrent to smashing your way through a sliding glass door is the possibility of injury. Shattered glass is sharp and it cuts easily. All it takes is an artery to be cut and death can follow rather quickly. Plus, blood left behind and trails of it are often tell-tale signs of just who was the culprit behind the break-in.

For locks to work you have to use them!

It kind of goes without saying, but for your sliding glass door to be and remain safe, you must use the lock on it! A vast percentage of illegal home break-ins happen when the door is either closed or open and UNLOCKED! Being lazy or forgetful is really no excuse as burglars know that many people simply won’t bother locking the door, so they are able to enter easily and very quietly. Bear in mind that simply locking your back or side sliding glass door will not guarantee safety, but it helps! The locks that are already on these doors will keep out some burglars but not all of them. For a higher degree of home or business security be sure and add a second lock to your sliding glass door and use it! Make the practice of locking your front AND back doors habit forming; it may just help you fend off an incident!

Additional locking devices

Good news! It won’t cost you the proverbial “arm and leg” to make your sliding glass door better secured. Cary Locksmith offers these helpful tips on better protecting your side or back glass door. These work for all budgets so just apply the hardware or methods that work best for you.

Broom handles; not just for witches!

No, we are not kidding; a broom handle that fits in the floor groove of the glass door is better than nothing. It is better than having just a lock, but not quite as good as a replacement bar made of reinforced metal that runs the length of the door. You can even have both as every bit of sliding glass door security counts during these times. One bit of caution; broom handles, PVC pipes and even 2 by 4s are fine but since your glass door rests on rollers, it is possible to maneuver the door up and down and back and forth and lift it off it the tracks. Repair persons do this all the time and don’t think for a minute that a burglar doesn’t know that.

Pin lock magic!

Pin locks are not magical, but they almost seem that way. They are easy to use, inexpensive to buy, and fast to install. Your pin lock can prevent your glass door from being opened, even if you forgot to lock it. You can always call a local Cary, NC locksmith to do the installation but any good handyman should be able to do the job for you, too. Just be sure that whoever does the drilling for it does NOT hit the glass or you will have a shattered door on your hands! Also, don’t drill too far into both doors or a burglar will be able to push the pin out from the outside.

Pin locks can be bought locally at home improvement stores, hardware stores and at retailers like Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy. You can find them online at Amazon, EBay and Craigslist, too.

If you are into DIY (do it yourself) work you can follow the instructions that came with the lock or see any of dozens of YouTube videos that are online.

Mortise locks

A steel mortise lock will cost you a little more than a pin lock but it offers greater security, too. These are actually installed into the door frame so you should use the services of a local locksmith pro for this. To save money you can always buy the lock yourself and use the locksmith expert to do the actual installation. Local stores carry these locks, but be sure to specify mortise locks for sliding glass doors, as there are many kinds. National hardware and home improvement stores offer great mortise lock selections and you can always order from Amazon or EBay where you can read reviews from other buyers of these locks

Remember to always lock your sliding glass door when you are away or at night. Add additional locks, bars and hardware to keep intruders out. You see your glass door as a convenient exit to the outside. An intruder sees your sliding glass door as a convenient entry to your home and belongings.

Aricle source here: Locks for sliding glass doors

DO YOU WANT A KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM AT YOUR HOME? LET’S LOOK AT SOME PROS AND CONS

Keyless door locks, often found in luxury automobiles and at commercial facilities, are growing more popular among homeowners today, too. There are many benefits to installing a keyless entry system at your place of residence. It’s important to go over the advantages and disadvantages before you decide what’s best for your home.

PRO: Just put in a code. All you have to do is recall a string of numbers, and push the buttons on the keypad to unlock your door. With some keyless systems, you can also use a key for locking the door as you exit, and then use the keypad upon your return. Some will allow you the convenience of using a smart device, so you can monitor your property remotely.

When all you have to do is remember the code, then you won’t ever have to make spare keys for the house cleaner, your kids, the dog walker, your friends, and so forth. Give the code to folks you trust, and show them how to use the keypad system properly.

CON: You could forget the code. Just as you can be locked out because you forgot your keys, you can also be locked out if you forget your code. To be safe, you must choose a complicated code, and avoid anything obvious like your birth date; however, this will prove to be a problem if you often have a difficult time remembering things.

SOLUTION: Choose a code that’s an easy mnemonic for you, but unknown to anyone else.

CON: Your code might fall into the wrong hands. Anyone you give your code to ~ or anyone who looks over your shoulder and memorizes your code while you put it in ~ could tell a person you don’t know. Heaven forbid, someone could turn against you in the future, and break in.

SOLUTION: Choose a new code every 30 days.

CON: The keypad can wear down, actually revealing the code. As the years go by, the buttons will wear down from frequent use, so you could leave dark marks on the numbers you choose over and over.

SOLUTION: Make sure your hands are clean so you won’t get grime on the keypad. Clean your keypad periodically. Furthermore, keep on changing your code, at least once per month.

PRO: In the long run, it’s cheaper. When you consider the normal circumstances that arise regarding keys and locks ~ such as moving into a new place; welcoming a new tenant or roommate with their new key; blocking access from an ex-spouse; and so on ~ the fact is, overall, a keyless entry system is likely less expensive than all the lock changing, rekeying, and duplicating of keys that you’ll be doing over a lifetime.

CON: It’s more costly up front.

SOLUTION: It’s possible to make payments for a keyless entry system over time.

PRO: You won’t have to hide a spare key. There’s no longer any need to hide an extra key in a fake rock, or beneath a flower pot on the porch, or under the mat, or over the door. Professional thieves can easily locate keys in these predictable hiding places.

CON: A hidden key is a relief in a crisis, but you’re not going to enjoy this advantage any more.

SOLUTION: Choose a keyless system that offers you the option of also using a key.

PRO: You’ll have superior security. Because our private data must remain confidential, there’s rising concern over fraud and identity theft. Accordingly, keyless entry systems are becoming more sophisticated, some even adding biometrics if you have the budget ~ locks which ask for information distinctive only to the individuals you’ve approved for entry. Thus an eye scan, fingerprint, or handprint is required. In the near future, innovations could make more sophisticated biometrics an option ~ including such choices as DNA sampling, ear scanning, voice recognition, or heartbeat recognition! Many systems already offer you the added bonus of syncing with your smart device so you can monitor everything remotely.

CON: In an emergency, rescuers cannot get in, because they won’t know the code. And, if you have biometric features as part of your system, which allows access only to certain people, that will make it inconvenient if you ever forget to add a particular person to your list.

SOLUTION: Install an alarm system and connect it to your keyless entry system. Then you’ll be able to give specialized instructions to your alarm company to keep on file for following if an emergency occurs. Also, with remote smart-device capability, you can monitor and change features at will.

PRO: It’s easier for the children. If you have kids who get home from school before you, and they often forget their keys, a keyless remote entry system is a great solution. Your child simply has to remember the code.

CON: Your kids might forget the code, or, they might tell the code to people they shouldn’t. If you have the kind of keyless entry system that automatically alerts the authorities whenever an incorrect code is entered too many times, you might have the police arriving at your doorstep way too often.

SOLUTION: Purchase a keyless system with the option of also using a key.

PRO: Some keyless remote systems will remain on even in a power outage. An indicator light or message will come on to remind you when the battery’s getting low so you can replace it.

CON: You have to keep looking to see if the battery is okay. This is an inconvenience, particularly if you’ll be gone for a long time.

SOLUTION: Be in the habit of periodically checking your battery power. Battery backup is essential, so your home will be secure even if there’s a power failure. Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to check up on your home periodically, or sync to a remote smart-device system.

PRO: Because keyless locks are digital, they’re safer.

CON: A criminal could guess your code or hack the system.

SOLUTION: Buy a keyless entry system that will automatically alert the police if an incorrect code is entered too many times. If you’ll be on an extended vacation, let authorities know ahead of time.

Consider your options. If you live in Cary, North Carolina, and you want to learn more about keyless entry systems, make an appointment with a reliable professional, such as one of the mobile locksmith residential specialists on staff at Cary Locksmith, where free consultations are offered.

Aricle source here: DO YOU WANT A KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM AT YOUR HOME? LET’S LOOK AT SOME PROS AND CONS

Everything You Need to Know About Master Pins in Locks

Any property that has a master key will have locks with master pins installed. In saying that, there seems to be a bit of uncertainty about what that entails. So before we go any further, let’s clear up a bit of confusion.

Also known as wafers, master pins are installed in a standard lock to allow for the use of a master key. Inside your lock there are stacks with multiple key pins – in order to get both master and standard keys working without getting in each other’s way, the master pins are fitted above the standard key pins. Adding a master pin means adding more shear lines to a lock, giving users more options to open it.

Now, this is the part that often seems to confuse people. While master keys can work in all locks with master pins installed, they are not necessarily what you would be looking for if you wanted all locks to be opened by a single key. Keying all locks alike tends to be the most common procedure. In this case, the exact same bottom pins are placed into each lock cylinder, enabling you to use a single key to operate all locks – basically, no master pins or master keys are required when you key all locks alike.

You can probably guess why locksmiths don’t recommend master pins for all doors. With more chambers installed in a lock come more unlocking options; with more unlocking options, it becomes easier to the lock open. Even someone with a limited knowledge of locks and keys can learn to circumvent a lock with master pins in it because of the way the chambers are fitted inside. If you are considering getting a master key for your property, we would recommend talking to a locksmith first and investigating your options further.

Can a locksmith install a master key, and master pins, to your doors? Yes. Should you have these in your property? Well, it depends. There are many cases where these are not the best choice, but we wouldn’t rule them out completely.

Essentially, master pins should be reserved for indoor locks – never external ones. They are fine in the case of a school with multiple classrooms, hotel with various suites, or commercial building with a range of access restrictions, where it is considered a legitimate security procedure to have a special key that opens every lock. They are there to ensure you can quickly open separate doors during an emergency – be it a fire, flood or any other urgent situation.

Given how easy these are to tamper with, though, we would recommend you avoid installing master keys and master pins into a residential property. If you are looking for something similar, you will probably benefit more from getting your locks keyed alike.

With that said, as long as you keep your master pins indoors, you should be fine. Any locksmith who knows the ins and outs of master keying will be able to tell you that cutting a key to open these is not something an amateur can do. For instance, a 5-chamber lock with master pins fitted in them will have several thousand different key combinations – meaning that it is nearly impossible to cut a second key to operate the lock unless you are a qualified locksmith with specialist equipment on-hand. Remember too that thieves are looking for a quick getaway – an indoor master keyed lock is less likely to be pried open as your petty criminal will want to get their loot and get out in a jiffy.

How can decide on the best lock for my property?

Whether you are considering getting a master key for your commercial property or you are considering rekeying your residential locks, a local locksmith will help you choose the best security for your property. As long as you hire a credible professional, with licensing and insurance backing up their knowledge and wisdom, you should be able to make a sound security investment. Keep in mind that not all locksmith businesses are equal – some may offer a full range of automotive, residential and commercial services, while others may focus on a single specialist area. For full peace of mind, make sure to hire a local business with a verifiable address and solid client references in your area. Asking for recommendations can help you find the right professionals, and calling your chosen lock and key services provider is always a must. Make sure to ask the person on the other line for a full cost breakdown for your lock installations before settling on their services. Many businesses offer consultations and price quotes at no additional cost, and you can usually trust locksmith services to be affordable.

Also, be wary: some scamming operations will list an address that doesn’t exist, won’t give you a full business name on request (choosing to answer all phone calls using a generic term like “locksmith service” instead) and will likely make a number of unverifiable claims (this is why you should treat any boastful adverts with a sense of scrutiny).

For those of you living and working in Cary, NC, the licensed and insured team at Cary Locksmith is always at your disposal. Call us to get a better idea of the lock and key solutions we are able to provide. We are more than happy to help you select the right installations for your property, be it residential or commercial.

It doesn’t matter whether you live in Cary, NC, or anywhere in the world – finding the right locks and security for your property will make a great deal of difference. It is an essential part of property maintenance, as well as an important way to safeguard your most valued assets. Make an informed decision about your security by discussing your options with a lock and key services provider in your area, so you too can benefit from durable protection. Whether a master key is the option for you, or you need a full upgrade, you should be able to trust a credible locksmith professional in Cary to get everything in top working condition.

Aricle source here: Everything You Need to Know About Master Pins in Locks