Home safety is essential for a safe residence. And the most basic form of security in the home is none other than the locks on their doors. That’s right, while your home may have all the latest alarms related to a high-tech home security system, the main line of defense of your home remains the exterior door locks. Bearing this in mind, it is important not to neglect the maintenance and updating of your locks. While door locks are not something that should probably change very often, there are certain incidents that justify such an update. This publication will take a look at some of these incidents.
A locked door is the main line of defense against an intruder who wants to break into your home. By having reliable home security, it is best to be proactive in replacing the locks. Replacing a door lock is a small cost that can cost much more if it is not done before the lock malfunctions. To avoid costly calls to professionals late at night, keep an eye out for signs that padlocks need replacing.
Main reasons for changing door locks
Door locks are not like other aspects of home maintenance that need a regular update. For example, you will not have to change them every one or two months, as you would with the filter in your HVAC system. You will not have to change them as regularly as the light bulbs in your hallway. They do not need maintenance every three months or 3,000 miles like your car. No, instead, the frequency with which you must change the locks of your doors must be dictated in certain incidents. Here are some of those incidents that require a lock change:
You moved: Perhaps the number 1 reason to change the blocks is when he occupied the occupation of a new residence. While receiving the keys to the house at the time of closing, it is not known how many additional copies of the key are floating around. For this reason, it is much better to be sure than to regret it.
Lose the keys: whether you have lost them or stolen them, it is important to change the locks as quickly as possible. That’s because you simply have no idea where your keys will end up. Let’s say, for example, that an apparently good Samaritan gives you back the keys. Still, it must be a priority to change the locks since you never know if that person shot himself and made copies of the key to his house.
Divorce: Most people strive to ensure that divorces and breakups are friendly, especially if there are children involved in the situation. But the fact of the matter is that emotions are high during these difficult times, so much so that people do not always think clearly. In that sense, it is not uncommon for people to enter the house when they know that their former partner will not be around and claim some of their possessions. We would imagine that he would not want to go home to find many of his precious possessions missing.
Theft at home: Another reason why you should change your locks is if you have been a victim of a home burglary. However, in a situation like this, you are not necessarily concerned that the spare copies of the key fall into the wrong hands, you should be more concerned about the potential damage to the existing locks and the lapse in home security that has just occurred. That said, if you’ve been the victim of a robbery, a phone call to your local locksmith should be one of the first calls you make, perhaps only after a phone call to the police and your insurance agent.
Lock damage: locks are like anything else in the house: they require a little maintenance to stay effective. And while we strongly recommend keeping locks as part of your routine, it’s also worth noting that locks will eventually fail or be damaged to the point where they are the responsibility of home security. If that is the case, be sure to replace them immediately. It would be a pity to be a victim of a house robbery simply because the locks on their doors were no longer an effective line of defense.
Worn locks: worn or rusty locks are a serious weakness in home security. Old, worn locks are easier to open and break and are more difficult to open legitimately with a key as time passes. If your door lock has severe fogging, rust, or other visible signs of wear, it may be time to replace your lock. If your lock is increasingly difficult to open with the key, especially on cold nights, you should replace or repair the lock immediately to avoid an inconvenient malfunction that may leave you locked.
Other situations: There are other situations that can justify the replacement of the blockade. For example, if you live with roommates, be sure to change the locks from time to time after the old ones leave and the new ones move. The same applies if you regularly give the key to repairers or contractors to make improvements in the home while you are at work.
You never know if these professionals are taking an inventory of the prized possessions of your home and making copies of the key at the local hardware store at your lunch hour. Finally, you can also choose to change the locks after a major life event or purchase, simply because you want to equip your home with the latest and safest technology. For example, if you recently had a baby, you may want to do everything in your power to keep the child as safe as possible. Changing your current blocks with the latest and the best can help you achieve it.
As you can see, when it comes to door locks, there really is not a timeline on how often the locks should be changed, just certain incidents and situations that warrant it. In many of these situations, you should think about changing the locks on your doors as insurance, as preventive measures to protect your home from the unknown and unexpected. But in other situations, changing the locks on the doors is a high priority.