SolveYourProblem: Home Tips Article Series
5 Steps To Changing Your Locks at Home

Changing locks in your home sounds so simple, and it can be if you know what you’re doing. Of course there are on the market different styles of handles, and certain styles have different locking mechanisms. Each style has its own unique function, so if you’re going to change your lock, know what type works best and why. Read on and learn a little about how to change a basic lock, and other style issues and uses.

You need to know what you’re using your lock for before changing out the lock. Here are a few styles that you’ll want to consider.

Free through Passage Handles. If you need to change the handles in your house for a closet then you won’t have to fool with locks on this one. It’s free through exactly as the name sates. You can buy them in a knob type handle style, or a lever type that is very popular. Of course make sure that you don’t need one a lock before purchasing a free through handle. Any medications that are stored will need to be locked if you have small children around.

Privacy Door Knobs. Commonly used in the areas of a bedroom or bathroom where privacy is most desired. The lock on these doors are made where you can unlock the door from the inside by turning an extra switch, or just by turning the knob.

Entrance Locks. This type of lock is very popular for a garage door or anywhere that you’ll want limited access to areas that might have dangerous chemicals, or sharp machinery or tools. The style is not totally secure because if it’s used on fencing around a pool someone can hop the fence, and get right into the area you’re trying to keep closed. Consider enclosing any area like this with a much taller fencing system for better security.

Decorative Door Knobs. These types of knobs are used for spicing up the look of your house. Popular places for placement are on French doors. You can use them on pantries too as long as you don’t have anything in there that’s hazardous. There’s no lock on these, so make sure that you’ll use them in the correct way. Handles can be placed on both sides of the door, but you’ve got a choice of having them only on one side too. A cap in a matching color is on the other side with fake trim.

Security Single Deadbolt Lock. This lock is good for any entrance door to the home, such as a front or back door. You can put them on interior doors that lead from a garage to inside of the house too. It’s advisable to use this type of lock with doors that don’t have glass panes or side lights. It would be very easy to enter by just breaking the glass and reaching in to turn the knob. It has one cylinder on the outside. You’ll enter by using a key from the outside of the door.

Security Double Deadbolt Lock. Use this type of lock when you want extra strength and security for you doors. This deadbolt lock can be locked from the inside or outside of the door using a key. Other types of locking mechanisms can be added for security such as a chain too.

Decorative Deadbolt and Latch Set. This type can be made as either a knob or handle type. It’s a deadbolt lock and a door latch in one. You can use the two configurations by themselves too. It just depends on your needs.

Now that you’ve got an idea about the different types of styles and their locking mechanisms you’ll need to figure out if the door handle that you’ve got now is appropriate, or if you just want a new style of lock and handle to replace the older one.

Considerations for changing your lock are below. If you’re upgrading your lock these are a few tips that will come in handy when doing it.

1. Latch plate. The latch plate hole might not be deep enough for a better quality latch. The latch plate is on the interior part of your door. Open it and remove the existing latch plate.
2. Try fitting the new latch plate into the old hole. If it doesn’t fit flush with the hole, you’ll need to chisel out the old hole to a deeper depth.
3. Check to make sure that the plunger for the deadbolt matches up with the hole in the door frame. The lock won’t do any good for security if the holes don’t line up.
4. For extra security add longer screws to the pre drilled areas on the plate.
5. Readjust if needed for security purposes.

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