Choose the Best Home Door Lock

Choosing a good home door lock is important to the safety and security of your family. It’s a choice you don’t want to overlook, so consider the following when making a decision regarding locks:

Use Deadbolts
The best locks have a set with a latch lock and a deadbolt, or combine the two into a latch/deadbolt lock. Deadbolt locks must be locked with a key and have a positive latch. They are much harder to break into once they are latched, and resist “bump keys” that are highly effective break-in tools on standard cylinder locks.

Look for the ANSI Grade 1 Rating
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) sets standards for many products, including door locks. There are particular performance, strength, and security standards for different types of locks, but if they earn grade 1 rating, they are the most secure of that type.

Other Features to Consider
A key control lock with keys that cannot be duplicated at a hardware store is a good way to avoid having a key get into the wrong hands. Security strike plates that have heavy gauge metal on the plate and long, three inch screws, make the lock much more secure. Look for a 1” throw on the deadbolt at a minimum for a home door lock.