Lock Upgrading – The wise decision.
What stops your treasures and valuable keepsakes being stolen?
We are often not aware that locks wear out. We are also not aware that the locks we use daily to guard our possessions may be faulty. Over the years we learn to interact with them to make them work. We know the knack to getting them to work correctly.
There are many reasons that locks, like the wiring in our homes need regular check ups, even lock upgrades as lock technology advances.
I have locks that have been on my door for 30 years and they still operate like new, why would I want to get new ones?
Because the home and contents insurance policy uderwriters you pay for annually for might have decided that those locks are not fit for purpose any longer. It is not their responsibility to tell you your property is insecure. Should the worst happen and you decide to make a claim against the insurance. Then they will tell you.
Lock upgrades, lock renewals and lock upgrading is something you should think about on a regular basis.
Time to think about lock upgrades
The average lifespan of a lock is 7 years
Most locksmiths and manufacturers advise that door locks should be changed once every seven years.
Most people will find this surprising as most locks on UK doors are 10 years old, in a lot of cases a lot older.
Try to think of it from a point of view of a laptop or other technology in your home. If you use the laptop constantly for several years the chances are the hard drive is likely to be filled up with unwanted residual files that will slow it down, heat has played a slow havoc on thinning heat paste, also spillages and dust accumulate.
The top of the range laptop that was the bee’s knee’s when you purchased it 5 or 7 years ago, is now a long long defunct dinosaur that needs upgrading.
The same rules applies to locks. They wear out slowly, every time you place a key inside them. The metal of the key entering the cylinders or pushing up levers is all adding extra wear an tear.
Locks also fill up with dust and other debris. They become less precise, sloppy and worn over time.
The environment plays a huge part in the life of a lock.
Unfortunately the closer you live to the sea the less life your time locks are going to have. There are marine locks available, however they are still going to be subject to a lot of the elements, more so than inland locks.
If you live in an exposed area also your locks are more prone to extremes, sometimes just a bit of fresher air can effect them. Especially cold air.
There is a top position to be had by every lock manufacturer. They are trying to out smart the burglars and make the ultimate lock that every consumer will need on their property. The prestige would be well worth the research and development time taken.
The flip side to this is the fact that locks have to be kept within a certain price range. Most people require an elite lock at a standard price for the lock to be a must have for every home or business.
Lock upgrades might not be as expensive as you imagine and peace of mind is priceless.
Lock Upgrades – The four questions you should be asking yourself.
What age are my locks?
Do you know for sure that your locks are less than seven years old?
To you they may still seem fine and be in a good state of repair. They may last another quarter of a century. People often do not usually bother about them unless they are faulty. Quite often they own a £300k property that is secured by a £7 lock.
If your locks are older than 7 years old, are they still insurance compliant. The only way you are going find out is by seeking professional advice and possibly getting lock changes or lock upgrades done professionally.
Insurance companies do not generally have strict rules for locks on houses until you try to claim for a loss. It is always difficult to find out the hard way the locks were not up to the insurance companies standard and you missed the memo.
Are your locks faulty or showing signs of wear and tear?
If a lock is sticking, not working how it used to, feeling loose or displaying any signs of wear and tear, it is recommended to have it looked at by a locksmith.
Failing that do it yourself, but make sure it is repaired or changed before it is too late and you suffer the consequences .
Damaged locks can make burglary easier.
Another negative of defective locks is it can also leave you locked in or out of your property making you suffer the ignominy of needing an emergency repair.
The majority of people do not think of using a locksmith until a lock is damaged or not working.
Many locksmiths offer an emergency service to ensure that lock replacements and lock repairs are done as quickly as possible.
The problem being for the property holder is an emergency locksmith will charge you more than a normal hours locksmith for lock upgrades. Lock upgrades
Have you lost your keys?
Missing keys are not always a major cause for concern. It is easy to think I will get another cut the next time I am passing the key cutter. Then they don’t. They forget about it and over time it is a distant menory.
Then they lose the only key they had for that lock.
When losing keys it is important to know if they are just misplaced or they were stolen. If they have been stolen, there’s always the chance that they have been stolen for a reason. Someone wants access to your belongings.
Lock changes or lock upgrades would be highly recommended to people who are down to their last key or those that have keys stolen.
Has something substantially changed in your living arrangements?
If you have been through a divorce, separated or even having a certain time apart from a former partner.
You may have taken sole ownership of the property where you had a flat mate or lodger in your home who has recently left, you should consider changing your locks.
This also applies to parents who have seen their children fly the nest but are not yet ready to give them a key for looking after them in older age.
Even if the departure seemed friendly, there is no knowing what might happen in the future, it is always best to take precautions. Lock changes or lock upgrades may be necessary.
Call a locksmith today. We will conduct a full audit on your security.
Lock upgrades may not be necessary but peace of mind is always a bonus when you want to sleep soundly in your bed at night. Lock upgrades might also help you sleep better.
Unrivaled quality – A £7 lock on a £300k home – Andover locksmith
Extra key cutting available but not directly from our mobile locksmiths
Find us on Facebook / Meta
