Lock and Key Type
When you think of locks and keys you probably picture pretty basic options, like traditional knob locks. However, there have been many upgrades to lock and key security in the past decade, allowing for many types of locks that meet a variety of security needs. An expert locksmith keeps up-to-date in all of the advances in lock and key technology to best serve their customers, and has hands-on experience with the installation and servicing of many different types of locks.
Types of Locks
Knob Locks
Knob locks are most commonly used inside residential homes and apartments. This is the best use for them as they are vulnerable not only to tampering and picking, but can also be easily forced off the door. You don’t want to have only a knob lock on your exterior door without a deadbolts accompanying it. Knob locks are a simple spring lock that involves the cylinder and pins in the knob itself. They are prone to wearing out over time from use, but a high-quality knob lock can do its job for a while.
Lever Handle Locks
Lever handle locks feature a turn knob lock on one side and a keyhole on the other, and are found in both commercial and residential settings. However, they should never be installed on the exterior of any building. You probably have never seen one on the outside of a building and may have wondered why. Because of their lever-handle design, which allows for easy accessibility and is actually a requirement for a building to be accessible for differently-abled people, these locks can easily be forced open by smashing the handle with a hammer or other blunt tool.
Deadbolts
Deadbolts provide an added level of security to your residential or commercial property, as a support for your current locks. They can quickly be installed by a locksmith on most doors. It’s not possible to open a deadbolt unless you use the right key, and the hardware is solid enough that they are not easily forced. Most deadbolts that people have on their home entrances are single cylinder, which have a turning mechanism on the inside of the door and a keyhole on the outside. A step up from single cylinder deadbolts are double-cylinder deadbolts, which have a key on not only the outside of the lock but also on the inside.
Padlocks
Padlocks are a detachable type of lock that usually consists of a metal loop that attaches to a ring to hold whatever it is locking in place. They come in many shapes and sizes for different applications, from locking bikes to racks to ladders. Of padlocks requiring a key, there are two types of padlocks: those that can be rekeyed (meaning the lock can be changed) and those that cannot.
Mortise Locks
Mortise locks are even more secure than deadbolts, and are often installed on apartments and other residential buildings that need higher security. Mortise locks are more secure because they include hardware that is installed into the body of the door itself. Then the lock is affixed onto the hardware. Many old-fashioned doors feature mortise-style locks built into the doors, but a drawback is that replacements can be expensive and difficult to install. Many mortise locks feature an elegant style that can be an additional bonus when considering whether or not to install them.
Electronic Locks
Utilizing the latest in digital technology, this type of modern lock is used mainly in commercial settings to provide a higher level of security than your standard lock. Instead of traditional keys, electronic locks utilize pin numbers or swipe cards as their “keys.”
Biometric Locks
Biometric locks feature some of the most advanced security available for locks on the market today. Biometric locks are also known as fingerprint locks because they use fingerprints as a key. Specific fingerprints are coded into the device and only those particular people can access the lock. Biometric locks have the added bonus of letting you know exactly who accessed your property and at what time. Many have additional security features depending on the brand and price level.
Smart Locks
Smart locks are the latest in lock technology that has come along with the prevalence of smart phones. Instead of using a key or even a pin or card, smart locks are usually opened utilizing a smartphone app.
Types of Keys
Keys are usually made to fit their lock types, so there isn’t as much of a variety of separate key categories to mention. But here are the types of keys you should know about.
- Standard Keys: Standard metal keys are what is generally produced for most locks. They are usually created by a machine and are fairly easy to duplicate.
- Tubular Keys: In a tubular key, the pins inside are arranged into a circular pattern. The key is also tubular shaped. They are used for doors on which more complicated security is required.
- Key Cards: These are used in electronic locks, and are usually about the same size as a standard credit card. They are swiped through the device and contain identifying information that links them into the electronic system. They are often seen in hotel rooms and hospitals.
- Master Keys: Master keys are able to open several different locks, and work as a kind of skeleton key. There are master key systems which involve tiered layers of security for different master keys.
- Transponder Chip Keys: These specialty automotive keys have been used on newer vehicles for the last few years. Transponder keys are a type of electronic keys that activates the ignition to start the car when it is inserted.