What to Do When Safe is Jammed

Have you ever experienced the problem of a jammed safe? You know that this can take some time to figure out, if you figure it out at all. Why put yourself through the frustration when we are just a phone call away at Des Plaines Locksmith. Safes are designed to keep your valuables safe. However, they are also designed so that you can get to them when you need to. Opening a safe is far more complex than they would have you believe on television. Opening a jammed safe takes the right know-how from someone who has experience working with safes.

Don’t Batter It!

Your safe might be different from your neighbor’s safe. Some are built to last, while some are just a place to store your items. When you force your way inside of a safe, you may no longer be able to use it due to the damages that you may have created. If you want to be able to go on using your safe, you have to proceed with caution. No one knows better than our locksmiths just how frustrating a jammed safe can be. You are no longer able to gain access to your art, jewelry, documents, guns or cash. When you need access quickly but aren’t able to get inside, this can further contribute to your frustration. If there is an emergency, you might need to get to your safe in a hurry but when it is jammed, you are not able to do so. Perhaps you store birth certificates in your safe and need them but aren’t able to get them out because the safe is jammed. If you need to get to a firearm due to a burglary, when your safe is jammed, you won’t be able to access it; this can be dangerous. Just remain calm and don’t act out of frustration. When this is the case, many people will batter their safe trying to open it. This will only add to the problem. There is definitely a better way to deal with this type of problem and it is usually to simply call a locksmith.

Ask for Professional Help

Getting the professional help that you need from a local Des Plaines, IL locksmith might seem expensive but in the scheme of things, it would be more expensive to replace your safe if you damage its locking mechanism. This is why it is so important to select the right locksmith service to handle the job for you. It isn’t as easy to find a safe shop as it is a locksmith. In most cities, such a shop doesn’t even exist and it is often the locksmith that is called upon to assist with jammed safes. A professional locksmith will come to your location and not require you to bring a safe to them. A professional locksmith usually offers mobile locksmith services, which makes it easier for you to have your service needs taken care of. If you have something that you need to get out of the safe in a hurry, you can trust that our locksmiths will be there in a hurry to assist you with your problem. With our 24-hour locksmith services, we can assist you with a jammed locked any time of the day or night. A professional locksmith is familiar with the most up-to-date safes and how to open them. Using the services of a locksmith is not only convenient; it is also effective. Always ask the locksmith company you are contacting if they offer safe opening to ensure that they do not arrive and are not able to address your concerns. You’ll still be charged a service fee.

When you contact a locksmith to open your safe, they will ask you for some specific things, which you will do well to have available. They will need the model of the safe and the name of the manufacturer. If you have maintenance performed on your safe, they will want the receipts or any warranties you may have. They might ask you to describe the exact problem you’re experiencing. You’ll need the serial number, brand name and proof of ownership.

Electronic Safes

It would be in your best interest to let the locksmith company know what type of safe you have. If you have an electronic safe, let them know. Many businesses and homeowners use electronic safes. These types of safes are also called digital safes. This is because they provide maximum security. However, they can malfunction and jam. However, the locksmith will need to determine if the lock is actually jammed or if you’ve just entered the incorrect code. Has someone else changed the code? This is something that happens because the person who changed the code didn’t tell the other people with access to the safe.

There are some that are designed with built-in locking capability. This locking mechanism will sometimes activate when there have been too many attempt to enter the safe. It is sort of like when you enter your password on a computer and you are eventually blocked. Perhaps you’ve visited an ATM and continue entering the incorrect code, it may eventually lock you out. This is just a way of protecting the owner of the safe in the event that someone is trying to break-in. It helps to further protect your valuables.

With an electronic or digital safe there might be a short in the circuitry of the safe that will not allow you to open it. Maybe there is a problem with the power source or battery. A diagnosis from a professional safe technician will enable you to gain access inside again.

Tips

Maintenance on your safe will often keep it from jamming. You can do this on your own by lubricating it. Routine maintenance will enable you to keep your safe in good working condition for longer. If you’re not keen on the maintenance of your safe, allow a locksmith to handle it for you.

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It happens to all of us some time. You find yourself in a predicament with locks and keys. It is never convenient and it’s always infuriating. But don’t waste your time worrying! Just pick up your phone!

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If you just realized you’re locked out, no matter where you’re stranded in Des Plaines, IL, don’t fret. Des Plaines Locksmith is coming to the rescue!

Residential, automotive, commercial, or emergency ~ any locksmith service from simple to complicated, when it comes to hiring the right locksmith, Des Plaines Locksmith is first-rate!

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How to Choose the Best Residential Locks

If you want to be sure you’re able to provide your loved ones with the best level of security possible, you can do this by researching the types of home locks that offer maximum security. When you’re in the market for the best locks, you can go to any hardware store but it wouldn’t matter where you go; you should have some idea of what it is that you are looking for. You might not want to buy the same type of locks that you currently have. Perhaps you notice that your current locks may not be the best suited for your needs due to someone almost breaking them. There are some locks that no longer offer the best level of security possible and have been replaced by newer locks made with more durable materials. Your job is to make sure you know what types of locks these are. You can certainly get the help you need by contacting a local Des Plaines locksmith, such as, Des Plaines Locksmith in Des Plaines, IL. We want you to know what you should look for in a sturdy, dependable lock. That is why we wrote this article; to educate consumers on what to look for when buying residential locks.

Be On the Lookout

There is obviously a reason why you are interested in finding new locks for your home. Obtaining the best locks means that you’ll have to sacrifice some of your time in order to perform the necessary research needed to find the best residential locks. There are some locks made that only keep the door closed and they don’t necessarily offer the best level of security. This type of lock is generally used for a specific area of your home, not intended for use on your exterior doors. There is a set of numbers on locks, which were placed there to identify the level of durability a lock has. This is no longer the case since it has been discovered that the ones conducting the test, are not as accurate as they should be.

Does Price Matter

If you’re wondering if you have to spend a lot of money to get the level of security you want for your home, just remember that in most cases there is some truth in the expression “you get what you pay for”. In the case of locks, price absolutely does matter. When you want to maximize your home security and you are considering a smart lock, you will likely be making an investment. This type of lock isn’t cheap but it does prove effective in improving the quality of home security. The technology that goes into developing a smart lock is what you are actually paying for.

Even if you’re not in the market for a smart lock, you can still get a sturdy, dependable lock; just expect to pay for it. You’re paying for the materials and parts associated with the overall design of the lock. A really good and dependable lock that is also strong is made with good materials. The type of materials and the security pins included is what makes a one lock more effective than another type.

Information About Lock Brands

Some of the more well-known and reputable lock brands include, Schlage, Kwikset and Medeco. Although you may have heard of these brands, you may not know just how dependable or unreliable they may or may not be. Simply because you are aware of a lock brand doesn’t make it the best on the market.

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HOW TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT LOCKS FOR YOUR PURPOSES

When you start shopping for locks, you’ll soon find out that there is a virtually endless selection of lock and key styles and types. When you have to find the right lock for each of your particular needs, you want to be certain that they’ll prove to be the most effective.

Do your research. Evaluate each lock you’re considering thoroughly, and ask the following:

• Where will you install the lock?
• Wherever you’ll be installing the lock, what are the surroundings like?
• What level of security do you require?
• Who will be using the lock?

Here are some popular locks and their security features:

Deadbolts are the most superior locks you can install at your place, as any expert locksmith will tell you. Anytime you put in deadbolts, you’ll definitely be adding an extra level of security. They’re referred to as “dead” because there aren’t any springs to work the bolt; a deadbolt is operated by hand ~ which means you have to use a thumbturn or key.

There are four standard deadbolts: single-cylinder, double-cylinder, lockable thumbturn, and jimmy-proof.

A single-cylinder deadbolt is the usual deadbolt we all normally think of, having the key cylinder on the outside. On the inside, a thumbturn is required to open and shut it. It’s generally for a solid door, made of metal or wood. The one disadvantage to a single-cylinder deadbolt is, if there’s potential access to the inside ~ that is, through a window on the door, or even through the peephole (something a thief can easily do) ~ then the door can be opened with the thumbturn.

One way to rectify this flaw is the double-cylinder deadbolt, which has a key cylinder both inside and outside the door. If the door’s locked, the double-cylinder requires a key to open it from the inside. This sort of deadbolt is perfect if your door has any glass in it, or if there’s a window close to the door, since it prevents an intruder from breaking the glass and reaching inside to unlock the door. Its weakness is that it isn’t safe in case of fire. So if you choose a double-cylinder deadbolt, always leave a key accessible to anyone at home. That way, if a fire occurs, everyone will be able to exit fast.

The lockable thumbturn deadbolt is a combination of the best features of the single-cylinder and the double-cylinder deadbolt, providing exceptional security and flexibility. It has a thumbturn on the inside, which operates as a basic single-cylinder deadbolt does, but it can also be locked using a key, so that it can’t lock or unlock the door. Therefore, the thumbturn can be left in the unlocked position while you’re at home, but it will function like a regular single-cylinder deadbolt. Whenever you leave, the thumbturn can be locked, so that even if a robber gets access to the inside of the door, you can’t unlock the deadbolt itself.

A jimmy-proof deadbolt is a surface-mount lock, frequently used at apartment houses, primarily on double doors. Folks who choose this deadbolt prefer it because it necessitates minimal door modifications. This deadbolt works is that it interlocks with the jamb bracket, preventing it from being forced from the outside or pulled apart by a burglar. A surface-mount lock means that the lock screws into the door’s inside, rather than having the drill pattern of a conventional deadbolt.

Knob locks are the typical locks you see on most exterior doors, and your major source of security at home. Sometimes, they’re also installed in addition to deadbolts for enhanced security. A knob lock alone isn’t fully secure, since the lock cylinder is within the knob itself, instead of inside the door. One drawback is that a crook can break off a knob lock from the door using a weighty object, such as a hammer. It can be forced open using pliers, or by bypassing the lock cylinder with a wrench behind the knob.

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WHAT LOCKSMITHS DO

So you need a new lock for your residence. Or you have found out you need to install panic bars at your commercial property. Perhaps you need a new transponder key for your vehicle. As you start to search, you are told that a locksmith would be your best bet. You have heard of a locksmith before, but you really don’t know what they do. Perhaps you think they only duplicate keys. In reality, there is a wide range of services that locksmiths can offer. There are residential, commercial and automotive help that locksmiths can provide. Here is a brief overview of what locksmiths can do for you.

What does a locksmith do?

To start, let’s explain what a locksmith is. A locksmith is a professional who works with locks. Those locks can be located on doors, cars, windows and even safes. Locksmiths can install, repair and replace locks that come in just about anything, including cars and apartment buildings. A locksmith can also assist you if you find yourself locked out of your home, safe, car or business. The profession of “locksmith” is an old one, it dates back many centuries.

So what do locksmiths do? Locksmiths are part of the skilled trades. They can install, replace, repair and adjust all types of different locks. Since locks are an elemental part of security measures, locksmiths are also security experts and are often up to date on the latest security measures available. That is why commercial businesses will call locksmiths to consult on security matters.

What types of services do locksmiths offer?

It is a common misconception that locksmiths only duplicate keys or provide lockout services. While it is true that this makes up a bulk of their business, there is actually a wide range of solutions that locksmiths can offer.

• Window and Door Locks. Locksmiths can install and repair window and door locks on your home, car and in your office. Locksmiths can supply the necessary hardware, and ensure it is properly fitted and installed
• Safe Services. If you need a safe for your home or business, please call your local locksmith for help. Locksmiths can install safes, as well as service them and unlock them (if you find yourself locked out of yours). If your safe needs repairs, a locksmith can handle that as well.
• Access Control. If you are a commercial property owner, you may have a lot of people coming in and out of your property. A locksmith can guide you through your access control options. These options include keypad access, keyless entry systems, card entry and many more.
• Auto Locksmith. Some locksmiths are trained automotive locksmiths. This means they are able to work with all makes and models of vehicles. If you find yourself locked out of your vehicle, these locksmiths can help. In addition to lockout services, they may also other help, such as if your key gets stuck in the ignition, transponder key duplication, transponder key reprogramming, and providing a new key for your vehicle if necessary.
• 24 Hour Emergency Locksmith. Another service that locksmiths offer is 24/7 emergency assistance. This means that if you are locked out, need break in repairs, or have lost your keys, you can call these locksmiths at any time for help.

If a locksmith has been called in to provide help in a commercial setting, they often become the locksmith on record at that property. In some cases, customers request the locksmith keep a copy of their keys on file in case of emergency. The locksmith may also be given security access codes to keep on file.

Security Help

Locksmiths are able to provide you with a security consultation for your home or business. As the duties become more specialized, locksmiths become more qualified to provide you with solutions to your security problems. This can be a great thing as some locksmiths provide free consultations. You can take advantage of this and ask all the questions you would like. You can even ask if it would be possible for a technician to come out to your property, so they can look around and assess the areas where increased security measures are needed.

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SIGNS BETTER SECURITY IS NEEDED

Do you need better security at your home or business? Sure, a little extra protection is always nice, but how can you tell if you really need better security? Maybe you don’t quite feel as safe as you once did. Or, an incident may have taken place in your neighborhood or commercial location which made you question whether your safety (and those of your loved ones or staff) is now compromised.

Des Plaines Locksmith remembers when times were more innocent and interaction between neighbors, family members and co-workers was much more prevalent. Nowadays, it seems that more people keep to themselves and don’t want to get involved for fear of reprisal or possible legal action if something was to go wrong. So what’s the solution? You can’t be too trusting and you certainly can’t go through life being paranoid and always looking over your shoulder!

Learn to be aware!

People with bad intentions find it easy to take advantage of folks that are seemingly unaware. If you go about your business with no clue about the persons around you or the location you may suddenly be in then you make it easy for someone to hurt you, steal from you, or otherwise take advantage of you. We’ve all seen shoppers leaving their purses unattended or wide open in the shopping cart while going to fetch a can of green beans at the other end of the grocery aisle. There are countless stories of home invasions or burglaries that took place because the resident didn’t bother to lock the door or close the window.

Whether you are here in Des Plaines, IL or anywhere else in the world you can greatly enhance your security by simply taking basic precautions like locking doors, closing drapes, keeping track of your keys, watching wallets and purses better and being more aware of the people and surroundings that you are exposed to. It’s a lot like crossing a street. When you were a child your parents taught you to stop at the crosswalk, look both ways and then proceed. Would you call that paranoid thinking or just common sense?

When at home

Whether you live in the “inner city” where crime is usually higher or in the more affluent neighborhoods of Des Plaines, IL or Greater Chicago you can be much safer by learning to lock your doors and windows whether you are home or not. Set your alarm when away for extended periods, use a lock on your garage door when on vacation and close windows, drapes and shades at night or when it’s easy to see inside during the day. Burglars and sex predators are known to “scope the joint” before making their moves to see your times of coming and going and also to discover just who lives in the home along with the overall layout of the house.

It’s also a good idea to trim trees, bushes, hedges and shrubbery so that it’s not so easy to hide behind or to spring out of when watching or being aggressive to residents. Kidnappings still take place and human trafficking is at an all-time high so it’s best to take precautions especially when children or elderly are at home.

At your business

Many of the same precautions we mentioned above also apply to being safer at your business. Of course, you can’t keep the doors locked all the time; your customers and vendors wouldn’t appreciate that at all (nor would your accountant!). You can be sure that you are aware of suspicious looking or strange acting people, unusual activity, suspicious packages or strange looking mail deliveries. Keep your cash and other valuables locked up in a safe and have your office/store locks changed regularly so that you can keep better control over keys and their distribution among your staff and clients.

Rekeys and lock upgrades

You can apply this advice both at home and at your Des Plaines, IL business. Call a full service locksmith shop and have your door locks rekeyed, change out or upgrades. Any of these options will greatly increase your security as well as give you added peace of mind without costing you a lot of money in the process.

By rekeying your door locks, you cancel the ability of all old keys to work and are able to start fresh by having new springs and pins in the locks plus a new set of keys for your family members or employees. Rekeying also allows your locksmith to remove any remaining master pins that can cause your locks to wear out sooner or to be picked easier by intruders.

Lock upgrades include adding a deadbolt for a strong second line of protection. It also can include installing high security locks that are impervious to lock picking, lock bumping, prying, smashing and even lock shooting! High security locks are not expensive but their construction and installation can greatly extend your lock protection whether they are installed at home or at your business.

Choose a locksmith

We recommend that you choose a local Des Plaines, IL locksmith BEFORE you need one. Whether you want better home security or enhanced protection for your business, having a full service, licensed, bonded and insured lock professional on call 24/7 is a good thing to have! Most people wait until AFTER they need a technician to call for one. This gives you little time to ask questions about pricing, response times, mobile assistance, 24-hour service and other pertinent facts.

All locksmiths are NOT the same and you’ll want to work with a responsive, professional crew that has the experience, skill and training necessary to handle any locksmith need or service and on a 24/7 basis, too. When you find the shop that you feel you can work with, enter their telephone number into your smart phone, tablet and any other mobile devices that are in your household. Do the same for your business managers and partners. Making these few, simple adjustments to your home and business environments can go a long way towards making you and your close associates safer and better protected.

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DEADBOLTS: HOW TO BEST SECURE YOUR HOME

Are you shopping for just the right locks for your home? You’ll soon find out that there’s a seemingly countless list of locks. We all want to keep our household safe and sound ~ a sanctuary of privacy where we can completely relax. When it comes to deciding which locks will most efficiently give you reliable security, any locksmith professional will affirm that deadbolts are a very successful, reasonably priced way to secure your place of residence. In general, locksmith professionals agree that deadbolts are the optimum locks for your home.

Residential locksmith specialists worth their salt will tell you to install deadbolts on all of your exterior doors. The reason they’re called “dead” is because they don’t have springs to operate the bolt. That is, a deadbolt is operated by hand, using a key or a thumbturn.

Here are 4 of the most well-known deadbolts:

The most popular deadbolts are: single-cylinder, double-cylinder, jimmy-proof, and lockable thumbturn.

1  The single-cylinder deadbolt is the deadbolt lock that we typically imagine when we think of a basic deadbolt. Used on a solid metal or wooden door, a key cylinder is installed on the outside, with a thumbturn on the inside to open and close it. The one downside to a single-cylinder deadbolt is that if there is any possibility for access to the inside (through a nearby window, or through the peephole), then the door could be opened by a thief using the thumbturn.

2  A double-cylinder deadbolt is one way to remedy this drawback. It has a key cylinder on the door’s inside as well as on the outside. Therefore, if the door is locked, a key is necessary for opening it from the inside. A double-cylinder deadbolt is great if your door has any glass, or if you have a window close to the door, because it prevents an intruder from breaking the glass and reaching in to unlock it; but the disadvantage is that to provide security in case of a fire, you must always keep a key inside, accessible to anyone who’s at home, so that, in case of an emergency, every person will be able to get out quickly and safely.

3  The jimmy-proof deadbolt is a surface-mount lock, which you’ll often see on double doors, and most commonly at apartment houses. A surface-mount lock means that you screw the lock into the door’s inside, rather than with an intricate drill pattern, the way a conventional deadbolt does. A jimmy-proof deadbolt is preferred by many property owners because it requires minimal door modifications. In this style of deadbolt lock, the deadbolt interlocks with the jamb bracket, preventing it from being pulled apart or from being forced open from the outside.

4  A lockable thumbturn deadbolt is a most advantageous deadbolt, one that will give you superior security and flexibility. It’s actually the perfect combination of the features of a single-cylinder and a double-cylinder deadbolt. The way it works is that it has a thumbturn on the inside, which works like a single-cylinder deadbolt; and, it can also be locked with a regular key, to keep the door from being unlocked or locked. This means that you can leave the thumbturn in an unlocked position while you are home, but it will still operate just like a single-cylinder deadbolt. When everyone is away, especially if you’ll be gone for an extended time, you can lock the thumbturn. Thus, even if a robber does gain access to your door, the deadbolt still can’t be unlocked.

There are numerous additional good deadbolt locks:

Besides the four above no-nonsense deadbolt locks, there are also five more first-rate deadbolts, which any dependable residential Des Plaines locksmith technician will likely advise you to buy: mortise, vertical, rim, keyless, and digital.

1  A mortise deadbolt lock is a traditional lock, which you install in a mortise or in a recess pocket, which is cut into the door’s edge. This makes it very difficult for a criminal to tamper with it. This lock is tough and resilient. One negative aspect is that, because you have to penetrate the door’s frame to create the hole, it could slightly weaken the structure of the door itself.

2  The vertical deadbolt is bolted on the top inside face of the door, which makes it impossible for a burglar to pry it open by sticking a bar between the door and the frame (which can be done on some horizontal deadbolts by an experienced crook).

3  A rim deadbolt is also bolted to the inside face of the door, but the benefit of this type of deadbolt is that it locks automatically behind you when you close the door. That way, you’ll never forget to lock it. Both the rim deadbolt and the vertical deadbolt involve relatively easy installation procedures. One minor point to consider regarding both the rim deadbolt and the vertical deadbolt is that they’re a bit ungainly, not quite as attractive as the standard deadbolt.

4  A keyless deadbolt mounts on the inside of the door also, but you’ll use a keypad rather than a keyhole. Instead of putting a key in, you’ll enter a passcode. You won’t ever have to worry about misplacing your key again, or stressing out over your keys being stolen. Moreover, for excellent security, you can change your code as often as you like.

5  The digital deadbolt is like a keyless deadbolt, using a keypad instead of a keyhole; but it’s different in that in order to work, a digital deadbolt requires batteries or electricity. If you get a digital deadbolt, you must make it a habit to check on the power level periodically. In case of a power failure, keep the batteries charged at all times so your property will remain secured.

To choose exactly the right deadbolts for your home’s needs, bring all your questions to a reputable local locksmith you can count on. If you live anywhere in Des Plaines, Illinois, it would be smart to hire a mobile residential locksmith professional on staff at Des Plaines Locksmith, where free consultations are available.

Aricle source here: DEADBOLTS: HOW TO BEST SECURE YOUR HOME