Consumers have many options when it comes to door locks. Home safety is a booming industry, and there are many options available. This article attempts to break down the categories of locks, to help consumers make an educated decision.
A Privacy Lockset is one of the most basic types of door locks. These locks are the types most commonly found inside of houses and interior passages where privacy is important, but security is not. These locks either have a lever or a knob on one side which locks the door. They have a tiny hole on the non-locking side which can be used to pick the lock in emergency situations.
The locks used on exterior facing doors are very different. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to use an interior lockset for this, because of safety concerns. Instead, most people use what is called an Entry Lockset. On one side of the door handle, there is a button switch. On the other side, there is a keyhole for a substantial key.
An addition that can make an exterior door more secure is a deadbolt lock. In a deadbolt, the “throw”, which is a metal slug, extends into the door frame. For most people, this variety of lock represents all the safety you’ll ever need.
Although they are not as common, there is a second variety of deadbolt lock, called the surface-mounted deadbolt. The name is fairly self-explanatory. Rather than being inside the door, the surface-mounted deadbolt is attached to the door from the outside (although it is on the inside surface). This can be an option for people for whom serious construction is not an option.
In door lock terminology, manufacturers often refer to what is called a handset. A handset is essentially a combination of different locks which are paired and sold together as a complete solution. Most times, handsets have a lockset and a deadbolt.
Yet another option for an additional layer of safety and security exists for homeowners to take advantage of. This option is the night latch, which is essentially a secondary locking mechanism that automatically latches when the door closes. These locks can provide an excellent solution for homeowners looking to supplement their security.
I hope that these explanations have helped to illustrate the main types of door locks. It is important for consumers to understand their options in order to maximize their safety, and one of the greatest impediments to understanding is mis-information. Homeowners must take an active role in maintaining safety as a priority in their own homes.
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment