5 Problems Associated with the Use of Cheap Locks

Many buildings in the St. John’s and surrounding areas have poorly designed lock hardware installed. Use of poor quality and cheaply designed locks result in a number of common problems for users. Often these products are used by handymen and cheap locksmiths. Most of the products sold at the retail level are cheap poorly designed but sometimes mass marketed products. Hiring a cheap locksmith who uses these locks and hardware may end up costing you more in replacement, damages and loss from successful burglary and trouble of lock failure.

Here are five problems associated with the use of cheap locks:

1. Jamming

When a lock fails to unlock because it is a poor quality or aged product it leaves you locked out and in need of a locksmith immediately. This can be a costly experience both in emergency locksmith service fees and replacement parts and in the costs associated with interrupting you daily activities or the operations of your workplace.

Should the lock fail to lock properly it can leave you stranded at home or your office or workplace until it can be repaired and the property be secured again.

2. Weak Structure Vulnerable to Forced Attacks

Cheaper locks are often designed with fragile structures that can be hammered, bent and cut easily. Cylindrical locks designed without a strong internal shield can be vulnerable to a through-the-door attack or can be displaced easily during a physical attack allowing a burglar to gain access to the property.

3. Vulnerability to a Through-Keyway By-pass

Many locks found locally are designed with a security vulnerability to a low skilled by-passing technique using a very thin screwdriver or similar tool. These locks are quite common on homes in St. John’s and surrounding area and sometimes business properties.

4. Vulnerability to Forced Rotation

Many storefront doors are vulnerable to a forced rotation of the lock cylinder exposing the mechanism of the lock. Other cylindrical lock sets are vulnerable to a forced rotation to retract the latch-bolt.

5. Lack of Basic Security Features

Cheap locks often lack basic security features such as freely rotating outer shells, internal shields, or dead-latches for spring loaded latch-bolts. When these features are present they are sometimes inadequate to prevent a successful burglary attempt.

6. Frequent Battery Changing for Electronic Locks

Cheap keyless locks with motorized deadbolts use up battery power quickly and require frequent battery changes. In most situations better made electronic or alternatively mechanical pushbutton locks are a better option.

Contact us at Mobile Locksmith St. John’s for quality hardware installations and security assessment of your properties hardware and entry points.