So you need to buy a new lock. Perhaps you need more than one. Most people looking to purchase locks go to large, ‘Big Box’ style stores like Home Depot. The variety and sheer quantity of locks can be very overwhelming. In order to avoid an unnecessary purchase of a lock not ideal for your situation, it’s best to educate yourself on some of the critical methods of deciding if a lock is right for you before you buy. In this blog post I’ll detail some of the ways you should be thinking about purchasing a lock.
Price and Ratings
You’re searching for the best lock that you can get that serves your needs. Many locks advertise with a numbered security rating – as a rule, ignore this, as they are an industry scale without much use to the average consumer. Additionally, most self-applied “third party” testing is somewhat distorted and does not correspond exactly with the true reality of how the products work. For the most part, a higher price will equal a higher level of security – however there are definitely exceptions, especially when electronic locks are concerned. Smart locks are expensive but not always as secure as a cheaper manual lock. What your money should be going to is higher quality security pins, more durable material, and better construction – not buttons, add-ons, or branding.
Branding
Many top name brand locks don’t actually work very well. Other name brand locks that are lesser known might only be lesser known due to a higher price point – which can be associated with a better operating record. As a rule, it’s never really just about the brand name, it’s about how well a lock serves your specific needs. Often, locks that are cheaply manufactured in China are rife with poor construction and weak structure.
What to avoid with Doorknobs
These front door locks need to have deadbolts for the best amount of security – and if you have any glass nearby, a double sided deadbolt will be necessary. As a general rule you should never simply decide on getting the cheapest possible lock just because it’s less cash – this pretty much ensures that you’re not going to be getting a quality lock. The goal shouldn’t be saving money, it should be finding a quality lock. Always think practically, and avoid purchasing locks with fancy add-on purposes – don’t mix your purposes is what I mean to emphasize. Even if lock picking doesn’t work the first time, after a few attempts it might work, if not just cause harsh damage to the lock mechanism itself, so try to choose a proven quality lock. Also, don’t simply buy locks just because you saw a commercial; commercials are obviously slanted. Try to inform yourself via the internet beforehand of locks with fantastic consumer ratings so you can have an idea of what to focus on.
What to avoid with padlocks
Padlocks are almost always made of a lock body and a shackle – making it removable. Don’t ever buy a general purpose padlock, as too short or too long shackles will provide thieves the proper amount of pressure or leverage to break it more quickly. Buy a lock specifically for it’s superior construction appropriate for your situation. Don’t buy cheap padlocks – as a general rule of business, most companies increase their profit margins by using cheap materials and less complex construction – this results in a weaker lock. Additionally, if you’re adding multiple padlocks to each other, don’t combine identical locks. The strategy of combining locks is only proven to increase your security if you use different lock types. Think of it this way; if someone can break through one of the locks, there’s no reason they can’t do it twice.
