Kwikset Kevo Deadbolt

Locks have been around and continue to be as long as certain things and properties would need protection and security. Since the first lock that was invented, the lock industry took many turns as locks have evolved along with technology during the years. Nowadays, the online world has created a new demand. Customers want their homes to be more interactive. Moving into the technological age when it comes to security is inevitable.

With the beginning of a wide range of smart devices, different innovations can now be incorporated. Everything your home can now be controlled from anyplace and anytime. It is unquestionably an intriguing marvel, yet is it secure? In recent years, more and more smart locks have appeared in the market with no sign of slowing down or stopping. The following will show where this type of innovation started at and where it might be going, do we really have the need for these types of locks? What such locks can offer as an improvement over the traditional locks? And more!

Kwikset and Unikey have joined forces together to make the Kevo line of deadbolts. This deadbolt will replace the existing traditional deadbolt on your door without any modifications. A locksmith Salem will be able to assist you with the installation. The Kevo is a smart lock that uses smartkey cylinder technology from another line of Kwikset locks. The cylinder will be used for manual override in case there is a particular reason why the remote feature won't work. If you don't have a Smartphone or it is not with you for some reason, the Kevo can also be opened using a FOB. In order to unlock the Kevo, either your Smartphone or the FOB has to be within close range with the lock as it works using Bluetooth technology. Aside from the manual key override feature, the Kevo comes equipped with a standard thumb-turn on the interior side. In addition, it allows you give access to other people through the Smartphone which normally will be limited for 24 hours.

The Kevo deadbolt has the ability to recognize the location of the user whether if the user is inside or outside of the structure. Using such data will help the Kevo system to keep intruders from accessing the premises.  That way if your key is just on the opposite side of the entryway, an intruder won't have the capacity to gain access through the deadbolt and have it opened.

The Kevo also has an access history feature where it will notify you through the smartphone when it was accessed and by whom. In order to unlock the Kevo by tapping it, your Smartphone simply needs to be in your pocket. However, when it comes to the key fob option, the fob would need to be placed closer to the deadbolt itself. The system will also send you notifications to the phone regarding people who accessed your home and when the batteries are starting to run low.

Popular Lock Systems

When you first walk into your local hardware store looking for a new lock for your home, it can be overwhelming at times. Most local hardware stores are fairly big in size. In most local hardware stores such as Home Depot for example there are two distinctive lock segments. One section for hardware such as cylinders, re-key kits, keys, latches, lock bolts, and other things related while the other section would dedicated to locks.

On the off chance that you are searching for a door lock for your home, when you come across the lock section you will notice it will host 3 different brand names Schlage, Kwikset, and Defiant. Every lock brand area will normally has the traditional lock handle sets and a deadbolt in few different colors and styles. Usually on the door section there will be more choices available which include specialty feature locks such as key-less entry and smart locks, and other unique types of locks.

After concluding the major brands you can choose from when going to your local hardware store, know you have several types of locks to choose from as well such as electronic locks, deadbolts, knobs, and handle-sets. However, when it comes to picking the top brand, it will come down to Schlage and Baldwin. Although the locks by these brands are not as secure as locks by Medeco and MulTlock, for residential settings it should provide decent security.

Bellow Schlage and Baldwin you have Kwikset at the lower quality level and Defiant which would be in the bottom. When it comes to quality, the meaning goes to the construction and hardware quality as well as the security level of the cylinder. When you go to your local hardware store, just for the comparison sake, pick up identical lock sets from Schlage and Kwikset, you will immediately feel the difference in weight. The additional weight you feel in the Schlage is strong construction with metal parts. The Kwikset utilizes less metal, and when it comes to their Smart-Key patented lock, plastic.

Cutting Edge Locks

When it comes to home security, many lock manufacturers took the next step to introduce unique type of lock systems that incorporate many features of today's technology. These types of lock systems intended to not only increase the security of your home, but also make it more interactive and user friendly. The following are few lock systems that are available in the market in which display some of today's modern security lock systems.

The touch-screen deadbolt by Schlage is a smooth sturdy deadbolt that comes in different metal tone alternatives, and in addition having the most elevated standard of home security, ANSI Grade 1. Its unique mark resistant touch-screen guarantees that any burglar wouldn't have the capacity to see the code previously entered by any household member. The deadbolt comes with 3 different modes that would help increase security - Tamper, Forced Entry, and Activity. These features will trigger alerts anytime the handle is accessed.

The Goji Smart Lock is a cutting edge screen based lock system the features Bluetooth capabilities, a camera that captures images of guests at the door, Personalized Display settings and also transferable access through Smartphone. It offers complete customization including eKeys, warnings, and approved users. On the off chance that you lose your Smartphone, you can contact customer support of the company 24 hours a day or using their website to get access. This lock can be setup by mounting it to your entryway and coordinating it with your home WIFI system. The battery is said to keep going for a long time – and you will get an instant message if the force or Wi-Fi goes out.

If you were impressed with the above security products, you will be able to contact your local locksmith in Salem and inquire regarding these products and if they will be a good fit for the security of your home. Most locksmith companies are offering installation services for such cutting edge lock systems, so you won't have to stress about it.

Locks To Re-key or Replace

A legitimately secured door by a lock is your first layer of guard against intruders. Obviously, that layer of protection is not extremely solid in case you're not certain who has keys that will access the lock on the door.



There could be many reasons that might dictate changing the locks at your home -

• Recently moved in the place.
• You lost or misplaced the key.
• An intruder broke into your home.
• Your bag which had your keys inside got stolen.
• The existing locks on the door are malfunctioning.  
• The existing locks are of a lower grade and you are looking for something more durable and reliable.

The trouble of changing a lock is different depending on the type of situation. Some of the times, the job may seem straightforward which would make you to believe you can do it yourself. However, on most other jobs, it would be best to call a professional Salem locksmith as you would not want to take risks with the security of your home.


Re-keying VS. Replacing 

On the off chance that a new hole or modification to the existing one would need to be made on the door, a special template along with a special saw would need to be used in order to properly install the lock. Most likely such a job would require the skills of a professional locksmith.

However, if the lock on the door is in pretty good shape, having it re-keyed might be a better and less expensive option. Re-keying the locks involve changing the pins inside the cylinder with a different set of sizes than the existing ones. Once the lock has been through the re-key process, a new cut key which will match the new sized pins will now be used in order to operate the lock on the door.

A locksmith in Salem will most likely be able to re-key your locks for a lower cost than it would take to replace the entire unit. Even though most certain you will need the help of a professional locksmith to have the locks re-keyed, it would still most likely be more cost effective than buying new locks and changing them by yourself. Another situation where a locksmith would most certainly be needed in order to re-key the existing locks would be if you lost the key to the locks. In such situation, special tools in which only a locksmith would have will be required in order to remove the cylinder from the lock to have it re-keyed.

Preventative Lock Maintenance

It's that season of year once more where it gets freezing cold outside. It seems as every time the winter season is at its pick, locksmith in Salem tend to get a lot of emergency calls of people that got stuck in the cold outside their home or vehicle in a circumstance that otherwise could be avoided.

Locks are for the most part made of metal, and when they are in extreme cold weather conditions, which happen consistently overnight, combining with humidity, they will tend to freeze.

Salem locksmith companies often get calls from people who broke their keys inside the lock that is on the front door of their home or even inside their vehicle's door lock.

In order to avoid these types of broken key situations we recommend doing some small testing first. On the off chance that the surface is obviously cold, or you suspect it might be due to recent cold weather conditions, continue carefully. When you put your key in, give it a slight turn, if you feel any sort of resistance, do not proceed!

If you can, or beforehand, go to your nearby hardware store and get some De-icer spray bottles. This is a consolidated de-icer and lubricator for the locks as a preventative maintenance. Its main use is for de-icing a vehicle's windshield, but will work on other surfaces as well.

On the off chance that you know you're going to face some bone chilling temperatures, using De-icer spray bottle even before would help prevent from the lock to bind and potentially break the key when forcing it open. Consider it radiator fluid for your home security, or as essentially as the item that will keep you from harming your locks.

In case you are experiencing extreme cold weather temperatures or you are foreseeing them happening, know that your locks are not the only ones that can malfunction. Your vehicle's ignition and even other component related to locking mechanism at the door can get frozen as well. In this case you might need to utilize more de-icer within the lock components as well. The work will help you prevent any future damage to the lock or key in cold weather temperatures.