#Deadbolt and door knob set driver#
#Deadbolt and door knob set manual#
#Deadbolt and door knob set upgrade#

However, unlock doorknob locks, they are not spring-loaded and can not be shimmed or slipped.

#Deadbolt and door knob set manual#

Deadbolts extend a manual bolt into the doorframe. If your door doesn't have a deadbolt, this should be one of the first things you add. If you have a lightweight or hollow door that can easily be broken with force, no other preventative security measure matters.Ĭonsider upgrading your door to solid wood or steel. It doesn't matter how good your locks are or how many you have.

#Deadbolt and door knob set upgrade#

Upgrade Your DoorĪ weak point that many don't consider is the door itself. If your lock can thwart them long enough they will leave in search of an easier target.Įven if your doorknob lock is not your only means of securing your door, you shouldn't skimp out on it. While most criminals do not actually pick locks, it can still happen.īurglars don't like to spend a lot of time at the scene of the crime. The first obvious thing you can do to better the security of your door is to get a better primary lock. Let's cover five easy ways to beef up the security of your door. The great thing is, you can upgrade your security in other ways. When the gap between the pins and the shear line merge, there is no longer any obstruction to the shear line, and the plug can rotate.Ī doorknob lock is a good first step, but it won't do much to protect you, your family, or your property.

#Deadbolt and door knob set driver#

So we understand the components, but how does a lock actually work?Īs we can see from the animation below, when the correct key is inserted into the plug, it raises the gap between the key pins and driver pins to the shear line-that is the gap between the plug and housing. The Springs: Used to force the pins into the plug of the lock and helps read the key.The Driver Pins: Responsible for holding the lock closed by blocking the shear line.The Key Pins: The bottom set of pins that are cut to different heights to match the cuts on a key.The Shear Line: The physical gap between the plug and housing.The Plug: A small cylinder that rotates within the housing when the correct key is used.

The Lock Housing: The outer shell of the lock that contains the rest of the lock's functional components.The pin tumbler lock is composed of 6 primary components. Most exterior doors knobs will have a pin tumbler lock cylinder, so let's take a closer look at how these pin tumbler locks work. Here is an excellent video explaining how the deadlatch works and how easily it can be bypassed if not set up correctly.ĭoor Lock Mechanism: The Pin Tumbler Lock This can result from too large of a strike plate or a misalignment. If the hole in the doorframe allows the deadlatch plunger to extend fully, it will not lock the primary bolt. While the deadlatch is compressed, the primary spring bolt will become locked and can no longer be manipulated.īut, for the deadlatch latch to work properly, the strike plate must be installed correctly. When the door is shut, and the primary spring bolt is pushed into the door frame, the deadlatch will remain held in by the doorframe. The deadlatch is a spring-loaded secondary bolt that sits behind the primary and larger spring bolt. That being said, many doorknobs have a secondary locking mechanism built into the latch assembly called the 'deadlatch' or 'deadlocking plunger.' This is why exterior doors should at minimum use a deadbolt as a primary security measure. Additionally, the lock cylinder only keeps the handles from turning and not the bolt from retracting.Īs a result, these locks are vulnerable to slip and shimming attacks, such as bypassing a lock with a credit card. However, this slant makes the doorknob vulnerable-even when locked. They can also utilize low-security privacy locks, such as those on bathroom and bedroom doors, that can be unlocked in emergencies with small tools like a screwdriver or a paperclip.Īdditionally, some doorknobs contain no locking mechanism and function only as a doorknob.įor convenience, the end of the bolt is slanted on one side, which allows you to push the door closed without manually turning the handle to retract the bolt. The most common type of lock found on exterior doors is pin tumbler cylinders that use a traditional house key to lock and unlock. Meanwhile, the outside knob or handle typically features a lock cylinder that requires a key to engage and disengage the locking mechanism.ĭoorknobs and handles can contain a variety of different locking devices. The inside knob or handle typically includes a thumb turn that allows you to engage the locking mechanism with your fingers. The common door lock will have two knobs or handles-one on the inside of the door and one on the outside. Let's cover the anatomy of a door lock and its terminology in detail. Most doorknobs consist of 6 main components.