Etobicoke Locksmith 519-489-2331

Locks Change Etobicoke

Top Tips About Locks You Must Know

Locks are used for securing your home and they must be properly maintained in order to get the best from them. All of them have mechanical parts devised to function together and even though their styles have been improved and made more efficient over the years, their basic mechanisms have remained the same.

There are different types of home locks; mortise, rim and tubular.

A mortise lock has a threaded cylinder that links its both sides and the mechanism is taken in by a box concealed by a cover plate. A rim lock makes use of a cylinder extending through the door hole from the outside while an internal cover plate and a latch secure it to the door. A tubular lock consists of spindles that link two sides of its mechanism and the key is typically inserted into the handle on its knob or cylinder.

The major component of a lock is a latch or bolt that extends from it to the door frame.

When the key is turned, the bolt is pulled back into the mechanism so that the door can be opened. Rim locks have one keyhole, typically on the exterior, while the owner makes use of a latch to open from inside. Mortise locks need doorknobs to use its mechanism as soon as the right key is put into the keyhole. Spindle locks may have keyholes on one or both sides. It is important to note that all of them have disks, pins or wards so that they can be prevented from being indecently opened. The right key gives the owner the opportunity to move the tumblers or pins from the closed position to the open position.

One of the widespread problems with locks is a key that abruptly refuses to open one that it already fits.

This can occur when the grooves in the key have deteriorated to the point that they no longer match tumbler pins or ward positioning snugly enough. This problem can be solved by getting a new key and a working key should be used as a template. When spindle locks stop working properly, the key may open from one side but may have problem in opening from the other side. This problem can be corrected by carefully removing the cylinders or knobs and a flashlight can be used to inspect its spindles. The spindles should be repositioned to realign them and the lock should be tested before replacing the key cylinders.

Service Areas

Locks Repair and Replacement Provide 24 Hour Services to Ontario areas including:

North York | Mississauga | Milton | Richmond Hill | Brampton | Etobicoke | Oakville | Scarborough | Vaughan | Thornhill |Cambridge | Guelph | Kitchener | Toronto | Hamilton | Waterdown | Caledonia | Burlington | Woodstock | New Hamburg | Waterloo and more..

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Mississauga Locksmith 519-489-2331

Locks Change Mississauga

Sliding Glass Door Locks – How To Make Them Highly Secure

Glass doors enable you to enjoy the view outside from your house. They bear similarly to a window in that aspect. Moreover, they can be used as functional doors or in the bathrooms for enjoying a shower. These doors are perfect for your house provided they are kept safe. Generally, safety is found to be an issue with most of these doors; however making them safer need not be a complicated problem. Although these doors are fitted with sliding glass door locks, they are not always found to be most appropriate for the doors. Also, in most homes, glass doors are arranged on the back, patio or side portions of the house, making the security of your home a huge concern.

If you use low-quality sliding glass door locks, it would be easy for burglars to break them open and enter your house since they can do the task without making much noise, thereby leaving you unaware of their presence in the house. This problem can be dealt with by using perfect and high-quality locks for glass doors. Majority of these doors come with a latch at the center which often fails to provide the required security. What you have to do to deal with this problem is to go for a model that has internal deadbolts.

These doors tend to be strong.

Installed sliding doors of glass with handles in your interior may not cause security problems; These doors will also have locks which require a replacement only if found necessary since the location of these doors is inside your home and not outside it. Some people buy substitution bars which can be extended along the complete sliding door stretch. It is very difficult to break open these doors. The materials used in the preparation of these bars are reinforced metals of high strength and duration. If you are very particular about privacy inside your house, you can use locks which require only a key to open them since there is no necessity of making them strong.

Another thing to be taken care of is the age of the lock.

If these sliding glass door locks are used for a long time; it is possible that they may break easily. If this is the case, then it is better to approach a professional blacksmith than handling the problem yourself. This is because although these may look simple, there are several things that you need to know while handling these devices, especially if you are inexperienced in handling them. Also, since these door locks are available at affordable rates, fitting them on your glass doors is easy in terms of expenditure. So, there is no need to worry about making your homes safer. You have to select good products from reputed suppliers. Don’t hesitate to spend the required amount of time in search for good locks.

Service Areas

Locks Repair and Replacement Provide 24 Hour Services to Ontario areas including:

North York | Mississauga | Milton | Richmond Hill | Brampton | Etobicoke | Oakville | Scarborough | Vaughan | Thornhill |Cambridge | Guelph | Kitchener | Toronto | Hamilton | Waterdown | Caledonia | Burlington | Woodstock | New Hamburg | Waterloo and more..

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Milton Locksmith 519-489-2331

Locks Change Milton

How To Install High Security Door Locks:

One of the most important aspects of home security are high security door locks. These locks can be found at just about any hardware store online or off line. Price may vary considerably by brand but all secure door locks have some of the basic components: solid, case-hardened steel cylinder guard, case hardened screws and a bolt that protrudes at least 1 inch from the edge of the door.

Upon purchasing your new door lock you should have noticed a template.

This template should be marked for different door thicknesses. Take the template and fold it, make sharp corners along the lines of your door size. You will then position the template about 6 inches above the existing door knob and tape it to the door. Once the template has been taped to the door take a sharp object preferably a nail and mark the bolt hole and a hole for the lock. Once your marks have been made remove the template.

Next simply close the door so that it will remain steady, using an electric drill and a hole saw slowly make the necessary hole in the door. It may be necessary to stop the drill several times as to avoid splintering the wood around the edge of the hole. Be sure once the small bit has pushed through the door go to the other side of the door and finish the hole.

Once you have made the appropriate size hole in the door you will then need to wedge it open.

Using a wood drill make the holes for the lock. Next slide the bolt assembly into the bolt hole. Make sure the bolt assembly is flush and mark the outline of the face plate. Using a chisel cut out a hole for the face plate. Be sure to chisel just enough area for the face plate. Attach the face plate and move on to the final steps.

It’s time now to insert the drive bar into its rightful place, keep in mind the drive bar may be too large so cutting may be necessary. Insert the guide bar and then the lock assembly. If the drive bar doesn’t want to turn rotate the assembly 180 degrees. If the rotation allows the drive bar to turn freely remove the lock assembly and install the retaining plate. Replace the lock assembly and using the available screws tighten your lock into place.

Service Areas

Locks Repair and Replacement Provide 24 Hour Services to Ontario areas including:

North York | Mississauga | Milton | Richmond Hill | Brampton | Etobicoke | Oakville | Scarborough | Vaughan | Thornhill |Cambridge | Guelph | Kitchener | Toronto | Hamilton | Waterdown | Caledonia | Burlington | Woodstock | New Hamburg | Waterloo and more..

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Oakville Locksmith 519-489-2331

Locks Change Oakville

Key Control or High Security Lock & Key Systems

What is the risk? Key control, or more accurately the lack of key control is one of the biggest risks that businesses or property owners face.

Without a key control system you cannot be sure who has keys or how many keys they have to your property. Not having a patent controlled key system leads to unauthorized key duplication, which leads to unauthorized access to your property or employee theft.

Most key control systems utilize patented keys and or cylinders, these lock cylinders employ very precise locking systems that can only be operated by the unique keys to that system. Because the cylinders and or the keys are patented, the duplication of keys can only be done by factory authorized professional locksmiths.

The key blanks and lock cylinders are made available only to those same factory authorized professional locksmiths. Procedures may be in place to allow you to contract with another security professional, should the need arise.

The control can be at the locksmith dealer level, at the distributor level, or at the manufacturer level.

All high security key control systems require specific permission to have keys originated or duplicated.

These procedures assure the property owner or manager that they will always know who has keys and how many. If an employee leaves and you get the keys back, you can be reasonably assured that no copies of your keys are floating around.

Most systems have cylinders that will retrofit existing hardware, keeping the cost of acquisition lower.

Some systems employ different levels of security within the system, still giving patented control, but not requiring ultra high security where it is not needed. These measures are again aimed at cost control.

Most systems can be master keyed, some will coordinate with existing master key systems. There are systems available that allow interchangeable core cylinders that will retrofit existing interchangeable core systems.

Locks Change Oakville can help you select the system most suited to your needs.

Service Areas

Locks Repair and Replacement Provide 24 Hour Services to Ontario areas including:

North York | Mississauga | Milton | Richmond Hill | Brampton | Etobicoke | Oakville | Scarborough | Vaughan | Thornhill |Cambridge | Guelph | Kitchener | Toronto | Hamilton | Waterdown | Caledonia | Burlington | Woodstock | New Hamburg | Waterloo and more..

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North York Locksmith 519-489-2331

Locks Change North York

What Are Security Door Locks

Well, the term high security has no precise meaning. Some manufacturers take advantage of that fact by arbitrarily using the term to promote their locks. Door locks to be considered high security locks should have features that offer more than ordinary resistance against picking, impressioning, drilling, wrenching, and other common forms of burglary. The most secure locks should also provide a high level of key control. The harder it is for any burglar or an unauthorized person to have a duplicate key made, the more security the lock provides.

Underwriters Laboratories Listing

Its always good to buy the best door locks which have UL (Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.) symbol on its packaging or on the face of the cylinder. A UL listing (based on UL standard 437) is a good indication that a door lock or cylinder offers a high degree of security.

To earn the UL listing, a lock or cylinder must meet strict construction guidelines and a sample model must pass rigorous performance and attack tests.

Here are some of its requirements:

• All working parts of the mechanism must be constructed of brass, bronze,stainless steel, or equivalent corrosion-resistant materials or have a protective finish complying with UL’s Salt Spray Corrosion test.
• Have at least 1000 key changes.
• Operate as intended during 10,000 complete cycles of operation at a rate not exceeding 50 cycles per minute.
• The lock must not open or be compromised as a result of attack tests using hammers, chisels, screwdrivers, jaw-gripping wrenches, pliers, hand-held electric drills, saws, puller mechanisms, key impressioning tools, and picking tools.

Key Control

Another important factor in lock security is key control. The most secure locks have patented key blanks that are available only from the lock manufacturer. At the next level of key control are key blanks that can be cut only on special key machines. This type of key control greatly reduces the number of places where an unauthorized person can have a key duplicated. The least secure locks use keys that can be copied at virtually any hardware or department store.

Lock and Key Patents

One feature of a high-security locks for home is that it provides a high degree of key control. That is, there is restriction on who can make a copy of the key. Such locks are used in situations where you don’t want just anybody to be able to run down to the local hardware store and make copies. One way of restricting copies is by having a patented lock or blank. That allows a lock manufacturer to decide who may copy its keys.

Service Areas

Locks Repair and Replacement Provide 24 Hour Services to Ontario areas including:

North York | Mississauga | Milton | Richmond Hill | Brampton | Etobicoke | Oakville | Scarborough | Vaughan | Thornhill |Cambridge | Guelph | Kitchener | Toronto | Hamilton | Waterdown | Caledonia | Burlington | Woodstock | New Hamburg | Waterloo and more..

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Toronto Locksmith 519-489-2331

Locks Change Toronto

High Security Locks – Are They More Secure?

Everyone has heard the term “High Security Locks”, but what does that mean? What makes a lock high security and are they worth the extra money that you will pay for them? For this article I will discuss mechanical locks.

Let’s take a look at what makes a high security lock.

High Security Locks must be physically secure, this means that they must be made of high quality material such as hardened steel, stainless steel or boron steel. They must be able to withstand physical attacks such as drilling, prying and hammer attacks and they should have either a Grade 1 or 2 ANSI rating I discussed this in a past article. Most will be UL rated and listed.

These locks should have keys and keyways that provide “Key Control”.

This is usually accomplished by the manufacturer designing a keyway that is very unique and has a utility patent. The utility patent will describe how the key and keyway function together, it will describe how the key activates the pins or discs and if there is any other mechanism in the keyway that the key will activate. This utility patent is how the manufacturer and its distributors will control the keys. These are not keys that you can have made in a big box store, you will have to have them made by the manufacturer or its distributors and you will have to provide some identification and the original lock codes.

Here are the major points of high security locks:

• High measure of key control
• Patented key, keyway and/or lock mechanism
• Constructed of high quality materials
• Pick resistant
• Highly resistance to drilling, prying and hammer attacks

So, are these locks worth the price?

The answer to that question relates to what you are protecting. If you put a padlock on an outdoor shed then you probably do not need a high security padlock. However, if you are securing thousands of dollars of electronic equipment then yes the protection you get is worth the higher price. For businesses, hospitals and universities or colleges, high security protection should be the normal course of action.

What about your house, do you need high security locks on your house?

Again, look at what you are protecting. No, not your stuff, you are protecting your family, there is nothing more important to protect than that. So ask yourself: is your family worth the extra price that you will pay?

Service Areas

Locks Repair and Replacement Provide 24 Hour Services to Ontario areas including:

North York | Mississauga | Milton | Richmond Hill | Brampton | Etobicoke | Oakville | Scarborough | Vaughan | Thornhill |Cambridge | Guelph | Kitchener | Toronto | Hamilton | Waterdown | Caledonia | Burlington | Woodstock | New Hamburg | Waterloo and more..

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Guelph Locksmith 519-489-2331

Locks Change Guelph

Difference Between Re Keying and Changing a Lock

If you’ve ever lost your keys to your house, you may be concerned that someone may find them and use them for illegal entry if they also happen to know who lost them and where you live. In such a case, you would call a locksmith to have your locks re-keyed, but you would not be changing your locks because there is no need.

If you were changing your locks you would be replacing all the hardware and, obviously, that is not the important feature for your security. You would only need to have new keys made for the lock or locks to be different from any you’ve lost. This is what is called re-keying.

There are also other instances when you would choose to re-key rather than change locks.

Such examples would be when buying a new home to make sure that any keys that may still have been kept by prior owners or may have been given to their family members will no longer be useful for entry to what is now your private domain and not theirs. Of course, if the locks of your new home are damaged or have been weakened due to age, then it is recommended to have the hardware changed as well, and this would involve changing the locks.

If you have recently moved into a home that was occupied by someone else before you, you will want to have a locksmith come to your new home to examine all the locks in your house. This is something every new homeowner who is not moving into a newly constructed home should do as matter of common protocol. A locksmith will be able to evaluate your needs to see whether the existing locks are adequate for your security and to determine whether you need re-keying or whether you need to have some of the locks changed.

Guelph Locksmith provides 24 hours London locksmith services.

Their services includes: automotive, residential and commercial and are available 7 days a week year round. 519-489-2331

Service Areas

Locks Repair and Replacement Provide 24 Hour Services to Ontario areas including: Cambridge | Guelph | Kitchener | Waterloo | Hamilton | Waterdown | Caledonia | Burlington | Woodstock | New Hamburg and more..

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Woodstock Locksmith 519-489-2331

Locks Change Woodstock

Magnetic Locks

Magnetic locks, like electric strikes, use electromagnetism to control the locking mechanism. They rely on electric power, whether from a building current or a battery, and as a result they’re as dependable as a refrigerator, TV, or bedside alarm clock (though like any other household appliance they can also be vulnerable to power failure). But because no key is needed to operate magnetic locks, mag-locks can’t be picked – and you’ll never be locked out because you’ve lost the key.

The core of a magnetic lock control system is an electromagnet made of advanced metal alloys.

When electric power activates it, the bolt slides in or out, up or down, along its U-shaped channel to lock or unlock the door. Some mag-locks also incorporate timing mechanisms that allow them to operate only at certain times – during business hours, for example. Others have “transaction memory,” which can record every use or attempted use. This function can be especially valuable with locks that use number-pads rather than coded cards: if an unauthorized person tries to gain access using incorrect codes more than twice, for example, the lock can automatically set off an alarm.

Magnetic locks work only with DC current, usually 12 to 24 volts.

Many systems utilize batteries to provide the power, but others are wired into the building’s AC current, which is converted to DC by an internal transformer. Because the locking mechanism relies on the electromagnetic charge, mag-locks fail if the power fails, and the lock will open: they are fail-safe, meaning that they stop working if the power goes off. (Locks using AC power, like electric strikes, remain locked when the power goes out: they are fail-secure.) The best mag-lock designs use batteries, with converted AC current as a backup, or the reverse: they use the building’s AC current (converted to DC) with batteries for backup.

Whatever their power source, while access from the outside requires electric power, most magnetic locks can be opened from the inside without electricity, making egress in an emergency safe and reliable. One typical exception is in high-security applications like prisons, where both ingress and egress are controlled.

Magnetic locks are designed to read a variety of different coding mechanisms such as smart cards, proximity readers, and keypads. That versatility makes them ideal for both institutional or business use and for home use. If an employee is dismissed, for example, his or her magnetic code can be immediately deactivated, so that that single smart card no longer works. If a lock uses a numbered keypad, the coding can be changed quickly and easily, with the new code given only to those authorized. For home use, each family member can be given a different access code, making it easy to track when a delinquent teenager finally got home! The code can also easily be changed or deactivated if needed – in the case, say, of an intransigent former boyfriend or girlfriend, or an unfriendly divorce.

Another benefit of electromagnetic locks is that they’re silent.

When you are “buzzed in” to an apartment building, that buzzer signals that AC power is being used – it’s the sound of AC current passing through an electric strike. But if you hear only the soft click of the bolt being released, it’s the silence of DC power, most likely using a magnetic lock. Generally, though, the AC strike lasts only as long as you hear the buzzer; after that, the door relocks. For home use, the silent magnetic lock is generally preferred.

Bear in mind that, as an electric appliance, magnetic locks must be properly installed to ensure that they’re not susceptible to fire. Although Do-It-Yourself aficionados can install their own battery-operated mag-locks, it’s always best to use a professional installer, who will also know the local safety codes that must be followed.

Now, for those who worry about these things, the power consumption of a magnetic lock – even one using AC power and a transformer – is so minimal as to be unnoticed on your Con Ed bill. And there’s no reason to fear having a “residual electromagnetic aura” hanging around your front door: you won’t!

Service Areas

Locks Repair and Replacement Provide 24 Hour Services to Ontario areas including: Cambridge | Guelph | Kitchener | Waterloo | Hamilton | Waterdown | Caledonia | Burlington | Woodstock | New Hamburg and more..

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Saint Mary’s Locksmith 519-489-2331

Xpress Locksmith St Marys.

You May Be Surprised at What’s Available

When you need to get into a home or a vehicle that you have accidentally locked yourself out of, you probably think of a locksmith first? However, there is much more to this respected profession than just getting people back in their cars or homes. It’s about safety, security, and access.

Lockouts Are a Very Common Problem

While you may feel a little bit miffed at yourself when you lock yourself out of your home or car, you are certainly not alone. Unlocking vehicles and homes are two of the most common locksmith services. Before you decide you want to break a window or crawl through one and risk injury, you should call an experienced locksmith to get you back inside. This will help prevent damage to your locks, as well, that is usually encountered after someone with no experience tries to open a lock.

Installation of New Locks

Another of the locksmith services is the installation of new locks. This may be in your home or office. Many locksmiths are contracted for lock replacement after a tenant moves out or when an employee leaves their job. Even though keys may state, “do not duplicate”, you don’t know if the employee or tenant managed to get a key made or not. It’s always best to change the locks. It’s a simple enough process and definitely worth your peace of mind.

Key Duplication

There are many times that you may need an additional key made for a lock. Make sure you use a reputable locksmith. You wouldn’t give your keys to your home to just anyone. You certainly do not want someone making an extra key to your front door so they can visit while you’re away.

Other Locksmith Services

A locksmith can make a key for a lock that has no key. You may find you need additional locks in your home or office. They can rekey old locks, to save you the costs of replacement. You may wish to have a lock installed on a trunk, locker, shed, or other important idea.

With the newest technology of keyless entry systems, key cards touch-pads, and even bio-tech systems, locksmiths must stay current in order to stay competitive. The more services offered by locksmiths, the more customers they will get. This means more for their bottom-line.

Choosing the Right Locksmith

You’ll want to choose your locksmith carefully. Ask your friends and family members which one they recommend. If you must start calling around to different locksmiths, you may want to look for ones that have a toll-free number. This could help you identify the company that is business legitimately.

If you only need lockout service, get the price quoted over the phone. Make sure you tell them what type of vehicle you have and where you are located. This will help ensure there is no misunderstanding when they arrive and you will have an easier time getting the company to stick to its quoted price. Most will want to see your vehicle registration and a form of identification. If they don’t, it should be your first red flag that the company may not be quite reputable.

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Kitchener Locksmith 647-866-0956

Kitchener Art Of Opening Locks

The job of a locksmith involves a bit of art and a bit of science. It is a highly specialized profession that not everyone can master. Extensive training and practice are involved in becoming proficient in locksmith.

The trade of a locks manufacturing is both about art and science.

It is the art of designing and manufacturing locks and their keys. The science involved is in the assembly of locking systems. The art has evolved greatly from its early-recorded history in Egypt thousands of years ago. Now, the work of locksmiths involves the installation of hi-tech security systems and high quality locks.

An individual requires extensive training, practice and dedication to become a proficient locksmith. The tools of the trade may have a long history but are becoming more advanced every day. With increasing crime rates in our cities it is becoming a competition between burglars and locksmiths as to who can outdo the other. Locksmiths are busy securing our homes and offices and unscrupulous elements are busy breaking-in!

Good Kitchener locksmiths today offer the quick supply and fit services and other measures of securing a premise. A locksmith needs to be constantly updated about new systems which are increasingly more complex. The systems installed in large businesses and corporations can be especially challenging.

Commercial establishments require a locksmith service which is very detailed, serving a multi-level security plan which is devised after a study of various risks levels, required security hardware and a company’s security policy. Locksmiths here will need to install and maintain a system providing various stages of security. So, the art and science is no longer confined to a simple lock and key.

In multi-layered security systems, whether in a home or office, the locksmith will require to have specialized skills and additional tools. A competent locksmith will have the know-how for providing customized security solutions to customers. Some locksmiths ensure that they remain mobile in service vehicles to be able to come to the assistance of their clients at really short notice.

A prompt and quick response from a locksmith is essential in emergencies.

Even in a non-critical situation a fast turn-around time saves a lot of hassle for someone struggling with the loss of key or other related needs. Locksmiths today even go in for specialization in specific aspects of the trade. These can be home security, industrial or investigational locksmiths, to name just a few options.

There are proper locksmith training schools for those interested in joining this challenging profession. Many locksmiths though acquire excellent skills while learning everything on the job. Locksmiths today are also security consultants whom people reach out to in virtually every city. In this twin role, locksmiths weed out the need for property owners to retain two professionals.

A reputed locksmith service will have certified and insured technicians with the highest levels of integrity, honesty and dedication. Being friendly and having good communication skills is also important for a locksmith. Service engineers from a locksmith company will also need to display a comfort level with all kinds of brands in locks.

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