Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Wooden Door Jamb Is Split

Everyday, I see door jambs that are split. If your door jamb is split, you will see a crack running up or down your door, emanating from the lock strike. This means that somebody has kicked you door in. If you own a new home, you can visually inspect your door to see if there is some unevenness in the paint or wood. This will tell if a split door jamb has been repaired. It must be noted here that, if a split door jamb has been put together using only wood glue, the jamb has lost integrity. Not that it had much to begin with anyway!

Consider asking your locksmith or handyman to install door jamb armor. Door jamb armor is a strip of painted metal that can be installed over the cracked wood in your jamb. Once this armor has been set in place, it is held there by extra-long screws which enter the jamb deep enough to sink into the stud behind the door jamb. This kind of installation not only properly repairs you door, but makes it more difficult for burglars to gain entrance into your home by kicking in the door.

Some companies sell what they call wraps that are installed under your locks and give the door more integrity. However, if your door is going to be seen by company, then I would not use wraps, because they never look good installed.

After you have your door armor installed, you can install an Exit Security Inc. Ring Bolt on the inside of the door. This device is said to hold up against 800 pounds of push force.

You can find door jamb enforcers at any local hardware store. Just go to the lock hardware section and ask the salesperson for help.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Consider Doberman Security Products For Home Security

Doberman Security Products sells an exhaustive line of personal alert devices. They make affordable security alert devices for home, office and business. For the home, these would be great devices to protect you against home invasion. Simply place some of Doberman's devices on your doors, or use motion sensors. In the event your home is invaded, the alarms will alert you. Doberman also carries products for businesses. Check out their site! http://www.dobermanproducts.com/home_security.html.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

My Deadbolt Key Turns But Nothing Happens

If your key just spins around in your deadbolt without activating the bolt, then the tailpiece of the deadbolt is probably broken. If your lock is a Kwikset deadbolt, the clip that holds the tailpiece may have been thrown due to lack of lubrication. There is also a chance that the clip has shattered, though more than likely the clip just slipped off. Here is what to do:
  1. Remove the deadbolt. If it is a Kwikset, it can only go on one way.
  2. Check the clips and tail piece. If the clip is still barely in place, then the clip just needs to be pushed back into place. Shoot it with WD-40. Reinstall.
If you have any other brand that does not use a clip, you will notice that the tailpiece has been sheared off at the cylinder. Deadbolts are east to install. Go to Lowe's and ask the attendant to give you a deadbolt and have him match it to your old key.

Often, Kwikset clips come off because of lack of lubrication. Sometimes it is caused by a poorly placed drilled hole in the latch area. If you suspect that the installation holes were improperly drilled, buy a new type of deadbolt that utilizes a different style tailpiece. Go to the locksmith store and request a US Lock or LSDA deadbolt. These can be keyed to Schlage or Kwikset/Callin. Whereas Kwikset requires a near perfect hole cut out in order to work smoothly, the LSDA and US Lock residential deadbolts are designed to operate even if the doors are not drilled dead on.

My Door Knob Unlocks Itself! Testing The Kwikset & Callin Lock For Integrity

If your house doors have Kwikset or Callin locks, do know that, over time, the return springs break. Of course, if you turn your knob it will spring back into place because the latch spring is activating; but it will be a weak return and anybody will be able to open your door even if you lock it. If you suspect that your house lock is unlocking itself, or becoming unlocked when it is locked, here is a simple test you can conduct.
  1. Lock the knob or lever.
  2. From the outside, try to open the lever or lock by turning it hard and quickly form left to right about ten or twenty times. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
  3. If the return spring is broken, the lock will unlock itself, allowing you to enter.
The danger in this is that your lock will be locked when you lock it, and you will think you are safe; but quick jiggles will unlock it from the outside. Any stranger who discovers this will have easy access to your home and you will never know it.

Just take your key down to the hardware store, ask the man in the lock department to provide you with another lock and ask him to key the lock up to your old key.While you are there, ask him to show you how to remove and install the new lock.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Callin Residential Lock Latch Locks Up - Remove and Replace

Callin makes a beautiful lock. However, the latches are prone to jamming in such a way as to render your door inoperable. No matter what you do, whether you unlock it with the key or turn the inside and outside knob or lever, the door simply will not open. Here is what you can do:
  1. Have a flat head screw driver, a hammer, and a pair of vice grips ready.
  2. First, try to pry the door away from the jamb. Be careful not to go to far with this or you will mar your door and jamb, necessitating cosmetic repair. If this works, then remove the lock entirely and replace the latch with a new Kwikset latch from the hardware store.
  3. If the door is too tight, remove the interior screws of the lock and remove the inside knob/lever. The outside knob will be locked into place because the latch is jammed. If you can remove the locking spindle (that is the tube-looking spindle that has a hole in the end which the interior knob turn-button inserts into) then you can remove the knob. I cannot in words describe how to do this. But there is a catch either at the 12 or 6 o' clock position underneath the spindle that is spring loaded. Turn the spindle half way between left and right with the tip of a 32 regular Phillips driver, lift up on the catch and hold it there, and slip the spindle out. If you are lost at this point, destroy the lock spindle where it joins the lock body. Just pry it apart. Just get the outside knob off!
  4. Now you have to deal with a jammed latch. This may take some time. With your flat head driver, carefully destroy the latch so all the parts and guts come out. You may need a hammer to get started. Just use your flat head driver to pry the latch apart. Once all the parts are gone, you should be able to use a small driver to pry the latch back. The door should open. 
  5. This may take you from 15 minutes to one hour or more. Replace the lock with another Callin, but buy an optional Kwikset latch.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Unlocking a Bathroom Door - Residential

Thanks for your question! There are 2 possible ways to open this lock. Insert an ice pick, or other slim straight probe, and push in straight until the lock "pops". If this doesn't work, you will need a tiny flat-head screw driver. Insert exactly straight, EXACTLY, turn slowly until the driver seats into the slot and then turn to unlock. This can be tricky. Go in straight and seat the flat-head driver!