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How Often Should You Change Your Locks?

November 16, 2018 by kennyslockinc Leave a Comment

When was the last time you replaced your door locks?

If the answer to that question is “never” or “I can’t remember”, you are definitely not alone. But you could be taking unnecessary risks with your home security.

There are estimated to be 2 million house burglaries reported in the US each year. While you might think you live in a safe neighborhood, these statistics show that everyone is vulnerable to house burglaries.

So when should you change your locks? Read this short guide to find out the best times to get new locks.

Moving to a New House

When you move home, it can be a really busy and stressful time. There is always so much to do and loads of decisions to make, and it may not occur to you to think about changing the locks.

But do you really know who else has they keys to your new home? Contractors, real estate agents, and construction workers could have been given keys to your house.

If the house is not new, then you have no way of knowing whether all the previous occupants surrendered their keys. There could be literally dozens of people who own keys to your house. Which is quite a sobering thought.

The only way to have complete faith that only you and your family have access to your home, is to change the door locks.

Wear and Tear to Door Locks

Using the same door locks and door knobs over the course of a number of years is inevitably going to cause some wear and tear.

Every piece of equipment with moving parts at some point wears out. You may not actually know how old the locks are in your home or business, but if they are starting to wear out, they may not be as reliable as you think.

After a Break-In

If you have been unfortunate enough to have been the victim of a house break-in then after the chaos has died down, you really need to change the locks.

Even if the burglary was unsuccessful, a botched break-in may have resulted in the locks being damaged in a way that is not obvious to look at.

Has Someone Lost Their Keys?

If you, one of your family, or a roommate has lost their keys, you don’t know whose hands they might have fallen in to.

To avoid any doubt and to guarantee the security of your home, if a set of keys has been lost or gone missing you should change the locks.

Safety First

These are just some of the circumstances in which you should change your door locks.

The key message is – if you are not sure, change the locks!

Any time is a good time to think about renewing or upgrading the locks in your home. Electronic door locks and smart door locks are an also an advanced way to make sure your home is as secure as it can be.

So if you are considering changing your locks, contact us today.

5 Things Every Professional Locksmith Wants You to Know

October 8, 2018 by kennyslockinc Leave a Comment

We all depend on locks to protect us, yet property crimes total $14.3 billion. A professional locksmith can help you check the security of your home.

Many people gain a false sense of security from locks. However, they may not be doing the job you think they are doing.

Do you know these 5 facts about locks that every locksmith wants you to know?

1. Your Deadbolt Is Not Doing Its Job

It is common to discover that a deadbolt is not installed correctly. The contractor may have changed the height of the deadbolt.

If the door is hollow, that means there is no solid block of wood to provide strength to the lock. Another common mistake is not measuring from the bevel.

Measuring wrong can cause the lock to be up to a 1/4 inch off. This will cause your lock to malfunction. Even the best locks are useless if installed incorrectly.

2. New House? Get New Locks

Getting new locks is a small price to pay for security. You don’t know who the old owners gave keys to.

There is a master key out there floating around that can give someone access to your home. Replace the locks and start anew with handing out keys to your home.

3. “Do Not Duplicate” Keys Get Duplicated

That short little note is just a suggestion. It does nothing to actually provide increased security.

The note is used by landlords to discourage people from duplicating keys. This works for the majority of people, but not everyone.

It is not illegal to copy one of these keys. It is illegal to duplicate a “restricted” key though. These are keys that only the manufacturer can duplicate with special equipment.

4. Cheap Big-Box Locks Are Useless

The manufacturers of these locks are quality, but the locks are cheap. Look for a lock that is at least Grade 2 for some level of security.

5. Don’t Call More Than One

While we understand that you are in a state of panic. Please don’t call more than one locksmith out.

This is a waste of time for the ones that show up second or third and you may end up having to pay for their trip out. You may not have to call anyone, try this easy trick to get in your car.

Bonus: Always Try the Door

The most common mistake people make is to call a locksmith before ever trying the door. Then the locksmith shows up. Congratulations, you just paid someone $50 to turn the handle.

Professional Locksmith

Locksmiths are here to help you get in when you’ve managed to lock yourself out. The problem is, people forget just how delicate their security is.

A professional locksmith can tell you if your deadbolts are installed correctly. They can also help you install a new home locking system for your new home purchase.

No matter what you do, don’t call multiple locksmith services. This is inconsiderate of their time and business.

Let us help you secure your home with a locking system today.

5 Types of Door Locks to Consider for Your New Business

September 4, 2018 by kennyslockinc Leave a Comment

According to the FBI, annual business thefts add up to more than $3.1 billion in personal and property loss.

The primary ways in which burglars gain access to businesses is through a door or window. While some of these burglaries happen because of neglect, others happen because the burglar will force their way in.

With the above in mind, it’s important that you choose the best locks for your doors and windows.

Read this article to find out more about the top 5 types of business door locks available today.

1. Smart Locks

As you may know, our homes are getting smarter every day. From security cameras to other connected technologies in and around our home, the opportunities are endless.

But, if you’re looking for new tech to keep your business safe, have you thought of smart locks?

These locks come with digital number pads or touch sensitivity features.

Also, you should consider a lock that is compatible with other smart products in your home. For example:

Amazon Echo
Google Assistant
Apple HomeKit
Samsung SmartThings

Do your research and make sure you choose a model that fits in with all the other tech in your business.

2. Restricted Key Systems

Restricted key systems are another business door lock option you may want to consider. These specialized keys restrict access to your business as no one can replicate them.

With workplace crimes costing businesses more than $50 billion each year, it’s worth investing in a good security system. And, the locks you use are no exception.

With these systems, each lock and key is unique. If you end a contract and the employee returns the keys to your building, you can be sure they don’t have a copy.

3. Telephone Entry Systems

Telephone systems are great for individual businesses within a commercial building. This means that you can share your building with others and have full control over who enters and leaves.

Plus, it’s a great alternative for off-site managers and emergency access.

4. Master Keys

A master key allows the person using it to open various doors with one key. They simplify organizations and offer more security.

They also help you determine who has access to which rooms in your business.

You can have various types of master keys depending on your space. For example, if you have two offices, you can create master keys that open specific rooms. You can also offer keys that open every room in your building.

5. Intercom Systems

Many don’t see apartment intercom systems as commercial lock alternatives. But, these types of locks are great if you have an individual office space within a building.

It’s a great alternative to giving everyone a master key. Plus, they now come in solid, tamper proof stainless steel or brass.

Get in Touch to Find out More About Business Door Locks

The 5 business door locks above are great alternatives to traditional models.

That said, the one you choose will depend on the size and type of your business. It will also depend on the level of security your business needs and how much access you want to give your teams.

If you want to find out more about the various types of business locks available, contact us today.

We serve Dorchester and its surrounding areas. We also offer a 24-hour service in case of emergencies.

How Safe Is My Neighborhood? 4 Ways to Keep Your Tenants Safe

August 1, 2018 by kennyslockinc Leave a Comment

As Americans, we talk a lot about crime rates and neighborhood safety.

The good news is that–as a whole–crime rates around the country have dropped significantly since the 1990s. Even the most crime-ridden cities have seen a marked decrease in the number of violent crimes.

While these statistics sound good, you might still be left wondering, “How safe is my neighborhood?” How can you be sure that the area you’re moving to is safe for you and your family?

In this post, we’ll reveal how to tell if a neighborhood is safe–and what residents can do to make it even safer.

1. Stay Informed

Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, it never hurts to stay on top of what’s happening in the neighborhood.

Spotcrime.com is a useful site that pinpoints specific crimes in your community. You should also check with the National Sex Offender Public Registry to see if there are any offenders living in your neighborhood.

You might also check with the local police department or community center to see if they’ve noticed any trends in neighborhood crime. Have there been any recent reports of car theft, burglaries, or vandalism?

The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be.

2. Install Security Features

If you rent out properties to tenants, there are numerous things you can do to make them safer.

Encourage tenants to keep their doors and windows locked.
Install a home security system in every unit.
Install motion sensor lights around the property.
Keep trees and bushes neatly trimmed and maintained.
Immediately repair any faulty or damaged doors and windows.

By keeping your properties in prime condition and adding a few security features, you can do a lot to keep your tenant safe.

3. Start a Neighborhood Watch

Want an efficient and inexpensive way to make your neighborhood safer? Start a neighborhood watch!

Host a meeting to gauge community interest, including local law enforcement. In addition to putting up signs around the community, you might also suggest:

Assigning “window watchers” around the neighborhood.
Translating crime and drug prevention materials into locally spoken languages.
Sponsoring “clean up” days for abandoned or overgrown lots.

By getting everyone in the community involved, you can work together to make the neighborhood a safer place.

4. Replace the Locks

A final way to improve the safety of your residence or business is to regularly change the locks.

Check the landlord-tenant laws in your state to see what’s required when new tenants move in. If the deadbolt or door lock experienced any damage before they moved in, you’re responsible for replacing the lock.

Although you may not be thrilled at the added expense, it’s in everyone’s best interests. A professional locksmith can advise you on your best options for changing or rekeying locks on your property.

How Safe Is My Neighborhood?

We all want to feel safe and secure in our homes.

Rather than sitting there and asking, “How safe is my neighborhood?”, take these steps to make it safer for everyone.

Our blog is filled with more helpful tips for improving the safety of your home, business, or neighborhood.

If you need the services of a professional locksmith, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

Exit Devices: What Are They and Does Your Business Need Them?

July 6, 2018 by kennyslockinc Leave a Comment

One of the things you probably haven’t noticed when entering a business is the panic bar that many of them have.

These exit devices allow you to exit a building easily while limiting access from the outside. Panic hardware can be as simple as a bar across a door. Or, as complicated as alarms.

Fire exit hardware is a great safety feature to have on your business. But will require a professional locksmith to install.

Keep reading for some more information on this hardware.

Types of Exit Devices

There are several types of panic hardware.

Standard equipment is called an exit bar. You can find these in most commercial businesses. Some businesses use vertical rods to keep their doors locked. It’s essential to limit entry but still allow for ease of exit.

Businesses must comply with fire codes when installing their new fire exit hardware.

Mortise style locks are tamper proof. It will require a single latch point. Vertical rods are mounted on the doors you wish to use as fire exits. Two rods will latch on the door, at the top and bottom.

Concealed vertical rods will be hidden within the door and must be installed by a professional.

Why You Should Have Them

Panic hardware is essentially a safety feature.

After several terrible fires that slaughtered hundreds of people, American law changed and forced businesses to have well marked and easily accessed exits. Doors could lock from the outside. But they would need to be exited easily.

Modern doors can be pushed through. This ensures the safety of your employees and customers.

It is crucial to put alarms on your doors so that you alerted to potential danger the moment they are opened. Pick alarms that may detect fire and smoke. There are even alarms that you can install in the door system that can alert you to carbon monoxide.

Put Some Extras on Your Doors

When it comes to safety and security, it’s essential to choose a few extras to keep your doors effective.

Choosing entry alarms to alert you if the door is being opened is always a good idea. It’s also important to make sure you install an automatic door closer. This will force the door to close quickly, as soon as it’s opened.

There are also some key features you can choose from.

Restricted key systems will keep your keys from being copied. Master key systems will designate who can access specific parts of your business.

Choose a Professional Locksmith Company

Making sure your business can be exited quickly in the case of an emergency is essential.

When it comes to exit devices, you must determine what kind of locks you want on your door and how easily you want your business to be accessed from the outside.

Safety features like the panic hardware will give you peace of mind. And keep your customers safe.

If you wish to find out more about the types of commercial exit hardware your business could use, please contact us. Our professional locksmiths will provide competitive quotes.

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