Homeowners Archives | Quick Key Locksmith

3 Ways to Extract a Broken Key From a Lock

by Quick Key Locksmith | May 17, 2024 | Business, Homeowners, Locksmith Tips

You’re arriving at your home after a long day of work. You’re excited to Key broken and stuck in the door? It happens!

What causes this breakage?

Sometimes this occurs due to normal wear and tear on a key over time. The teeth on the key get worn down and can make it difficult for the teeth to catch onto the lock.
In a hurry? Using excessive force can sometimes break a key in an instant.
Other times it can be due to the key being a cheap duplicate!

No matter the cause of your key breaking in the door, we can all agree that it’s a huge pain. The question becomes, how can you extract it and move on about your day?

3 Ways to Extract a Broken Key

Tweezers

This is usually the go-to tool when a key breaks off in a door for most people. Two things you need to be aware of is how far the key has broken off in the lock, and how wide/thick the tweezers are. Thin tweezers that open wide are ideal for the job. Too thick tweezers won’t allow you to position them along the sides of the key, while tweezers that don’t open wide enough will not be able to grasp it.

The last thing you want to do is end up pushing the key further in the locking mechanism. This method will only work if there’s a little bit of key sticking out. Pushing the key deeper is more likely to happen if this isn’t the case.

Jigsaw Blade

This is probably the most time-consuming method of them all and will most likely require a trip to your local hardware store. However, if available, use two jigsaw blades when trying to extract a broken key. Insert both blades on opposite sides of the key.

For this to be successful, the blades must be thin enough. Be sure the blades are also faced down so that they can hook the teeth of the key. After doing so, simply turn and pull.

If it doesn’t work the first time, try again!

Super Glue

This should be your last option if all else fails. While we do not always agree with this method, because it can end up making things worse, this is an option that can be pulled off if done correctly.

The trick here is to utilize something small like a match and glue it to the key. Mind you, this only works if part of the key is sticking out. After creating a firm bond between the two, try pulling the key out of the lock!

Extracting a key isn’t easy all the time. It depends on the type of lock and how the key is broken.

Contact Your Chicago Locksmith

Don’t feel like extracting it? Tried these methods and still came up short? Give us a call at 877-787-3399. With 24/7 service, Quick Key Locksmith & Security can get the job done fast and affordable when needed. Not only can we remove the key, we can also create a duplicate key.

5 Common Items to Store in a Home Safe & Why

by Quick Key Locksmith | Jun 1, 2023 | Homeowners, Safety & Security

You finally invested in a home safe, but you’re not sure what you should put in it and what doesn’t really need to go inside your safe. There are plenty of things you may believe are valuable enough to go into your home safe, but you also only have so much room. Let’s look at some of the common items to store in a home safe and why you should put them in your safe.

Is your Safe Fire Proof?

Before we look at the list of items, it’s important to consider the safe you have. A home safe should provide fireproof qualities. The most common reason you will need a safe to protect your belongings is likely a house fire. Yes, a break-in is possible, but many home safes are small enough a criminal could easily take off with them.

Even with a larger home safe that’s too heavy to move, it’s important to make sure it’s fireproof. With a fireproof safe, you gain many more benefits for protecting your most valuable things.

Five Common Items to Store in Your Home Safe

1. Important Documents

Birth certificates, social security cards, titles to property, insurance policies, home pictures, wills, and other important documents can all be store in a fireproof home safe. This will help to protect them in the event of a fire or another disaster. Anything you might need to rebuild your life, if something were to happen, should go in the safe.

Storing important documents in a safe also ensures you don’t have to worry about where they are. They will be in your home safe when you need them.

2. Important Keys

Yes, you probably have plenty of keys on your daily key ring that don’t belong there. Your keyring should have vehicle keys, house keys, and safe keys (if necessary). However, the rest of your keys, such as safe deposit box keys, keys to personal storage unit locks, and other keys you don’t use every day, should go in your home safe.

It’s also smart to keep a spare car key in the safe, just in case.

3. Valuable Jewelry

If you have a $100 bracelet, it probably doesn’t need to go in your home safe. However, if grandma passed down an heirloom worth $1,000 or more and you don’t wear it daily, this type of valuable jewelry can go into your safe. Any valuable jewelry can be stored in your safe.

4. Emergency Cash

Of course, it’s a good idea to have some emergency cash, gold, and silver in your home safe. Any physical currency you own that you don’t need to spend can go in the safe. Many people hold their emergency fund in cash or at least a portion of it, which should be stored in your safe.

5. Guns

While some home safes have room for guns, others will need to go in a gun safe. If you have room in your fireproof home safe, it’s a good place to store a gun.

There are many common items you can and should store in your home safe. It depends on what you consider to be valuable and what you want to protect the most. Make sure you consider all your items and protect the most important things in your home safe.

Smart Locks vs Traditional Locks: Which is Safer?

by Quick Key Locksmith | Mar 9, 2023 | Homeowners, Locksmith Tips, Residential Locksmith

If you are considering new locks for your home or you’re in the process of building, you’re probably torn between traditional locks and smart locks. You are used to traditional locks and that is what you’ve always known, but you want your own to have the best bells and whistles and to have the security that is being featured today and in the future.

That is why you might be considering smart locks that put the latest technology at your side. Take a closer look at both traditional locks and smart locks to see the differences and how to know which is the safer route for your home’s security.

How traditional locks work

Traditional locks were always just considered “locks,” until smart locks came onto the scene. These are any locks that are not a smart lock and come in a variety of styles. These would be anything not automated and have to be manually engaged to work. These will be locks such as deadbolts, knob locks, mortise locks, and more like these rather than one that works electronically.

Most traditional locks work by using a key to open the door and are likely going to be made using rim locks, pin tumbler locks, or mortise locks. These types of locks work when a key is inserted and allows the device to do its thing, which involves everything from spring-loaded pins to cylinders that work together.

These have always been considered secure ways to lock something like your home, office, car, or safe. Deadbolts are most commonly used on a residential lock and are known for being secure. Today you can choose deadbolts with different grades or strengths for a more secure option, such as a Grade 1 deadbolt, or you can enhance them through different methods.

The best way to ensure a traditional lock is secure is having it used correctly, installed correctly, and choosing a more durable design and grade of lock.

Smart locks

Smart locks are a different type of lock, which you are going to be relying on technology since these are engaged electronically or remotely. They are the automated version of a traditional lock and require something other than a key inserted into the lock for the user to open something.

They are usually able to be controlled by your smartphone and have the ability to integrate with your other smart devices. This may sound more secure than someone picking your locks, but being online means it’s susceptible to being hacked.

To open something with a smart lock, you’ll have to use a cryptographic key to unlock your door. This is where the lock receives instructions to open. It has the functionality to send you notifications and alerts to your smartphone to monitor its activity, making you feel more secure as the owner. You won’t have to carry a key around unless you use a key fob, since mostly you’ll be able to use it from a device.

The security of smart locks are debatable since they can technically be hacked into, but traditional locks also have the potential to be physically tampered with too. Smart locks are still a newer concept and may still be early on in giving you the most secure lock for your home, despite giving you the ability to monitor the lock from your devices.

They will work with an existing deadbolt though which may make this a good in-between option for homeowners that don’t want to go with an all-in smart lock cylinder. You also have to consider what you would do if someone were to simply gain access to your phone if you were to lose it and it has your door unlocking abilities on it.

You may find that you prefer going with a traditional lock knowing that you can always add on or modify with more features to make them more secure while not risking hacking through an electronic option. Whichever way you go, talk to a Chicago locksmith to ask any questions you have and get the right fit for you. These are some of the considerations when deciding which type of lock you feel safer using for your property.

Rekey vs Lock Replacement: Which is Right for You?

by Quick Key Locksmith | Dec 15, 2022 | Business, Homeowners, Locksmith Tips

When it’s time to consider replacing your lock, it’s important to know the difference between rekeying and lock replacement. Many homeowners and business owners choose lock replacement over rekeying simply because they didn’t know rekeying a lock was an option.

In most cases, you have the option to rekey or replace your locks. Let’s look at what both are and why you might choose to rekey your locks over replacing them.

What is Lock Rekeying?

While it might seem self-explanatory, lock rekeying is the process of readjusting the internal parts of the lock to fit a different key. The goal is to change the design of the key needed to unlock your doors to ensure the old keys no longer work.

Without a trained residential locksmith, it’s very difficult to rekey a lock. When your locksmith rekeys your locks, you will keep the same locks you have, but they will not open with the old keys. you will need a new key, which the locksmith will also provide, to open the locks.

Lock rekeying offers a cost-effective way to change the key for your locks when you have lost your keys, a tenant moves out, or for any other reason.

Since you will use the current lock body and change the interior parts, it’s often less expensive than replacing your locks. While rekeying your locks is a cost-effective way to boost security, it’s only a limited security boost. If you want to gain even better security, replacing your locks is a better choice.

Why Choose Lock Replacement?

When you decide to replace the locks, you will actually replace the entire lock with a new one. This offers the ability to upgrade your locks to a more secure choice compared to what you currently have for your home or office.

Choosing the right locks means you need to consider the necessary factors. It usually starts with a look at home much you want to spend, along with the features you prefer. Some locks offer better security features and you can even choose smart locks if you want to gain some convenience features.

If you want to upgrade your locks to a very secure option, multi-point lock installation might be right for you. With a trained locksmith, these locks can be installed and will give you a more secure option since they lock in multiple places unlike single-point locks found on most doors.

With the ability to choose the locks you want and upgrade your security; lock replacement might be the right option for your needs. Compared to rekeying, lock replacement offers better security, but it will cost more. You will pay for both parts and labor when having new locks installed at home or at the office.

Whether you choose to rekey or replace your locks, it’s best to hire a trained Chicago locksmith to handle the job. Trying to do it yourself could result in disaster. Without proper installation of new locks, you might cause more harm to your security than good. Hire a professional and make sure your locks are either rekeyed or replaced properly.

Where to Install Security Cameras in Your Home

by Quick Key Locksmith | Jun 30, 2022 | Homeowners, Residential Locksmith

There are plenty of great ways to secure your home today. Installing CCTV security cameras offers one of the best solutions.

Not only will the cameras help to deter criminals, but they also give the police more to work with, if something does happen. You’ll be able to turn over video evidence of the suspect, which provides a better chance of recovery.

The proper placement of CCTV cameras makes a huge difference. You want to hire a professional to install CCTV cameras to ensure your entire property is covered. Let’s look at a few tips to help ensure your cameras are placed correctly around your home.

6 Tips for Security Camera Placement

1. Front Door

The first place you want to ensure is covered is the front door. Since about one-third of burglars come through the front door, this is a good starting point.

The front door is the most important place for a camera outside your home. You can place the camera on the second level of your home to ensure burglars cannot tamper with it. If you don’t have a second level, the camera can be enclosed to help protect it.

2. Back Door

If the front door doesn’t seem like an option for a burglar, they are likely going to try the back door. Homeowners may forget to lock the back door making it an easy entry point.

Installing a CCTV camera to cover the back door is vital. This is the second place you want a camera to ensure you can catch any criminals in the act.

3. Off-Street Windows

About just as many break-ins happen through off-street windows like the back door. A camera watching over these windows will help to decrease your chances of dealing with a break-in.

In some cases, the same camera covering the back door can also cover the back off-street windows. You can also take other steps to ensure your windows are secure to ensure burglars don’t see off-street windows as an option to get in.

4. First-Floor Windows

Any windows on the first floor need to be covered by CCTV cameras. These are the most vulnerable windows in your home. Since most burglars are looking to get in and out quickly, you want to make sure you have a security camera covering all first-floor windows.

5. Garage

If you have a garage, it’s another easy entry point for criminals. While most will choose a door or window first, the garage is vulnerable to criminals looking for an easy way in.

Adding a CCTV camera to watch the garage entry points will help to better secure your home.

6. Basement

If you have basement windows or any outdoor access points to the basement, they can be used to gain entry. While it’s not nearly as common as the other entry points, some burglars get in through the basement.

Typically, you can choose to place your CCTV cameras to watch over more than just one entry point. A security camera watching the basement windows may also be watching first-floor windows or the back door.

When you hire a professional, such as Quick Key Locksmith, to install your CCTV cameras, you’ll gain better protection. A security professional will know how to utilize a few cameras to gain full coverage of all possible entry points.

Best Smart Locks for Multi Family Buildings: Millennials Want Them!

by Quick Key Locksmith | Feb 16, 2021 | Homeowners, Locksmith Tips, Residential Locksmith

Smart home products are in high demand. Not just for homeowners, but for multi-family buildings as well.

In fact, lock manufacturer Schlage and Wakefield Research company found that millennials especially want buildings to have this technology available. In fact, the study shows that they’re also willing to pay more for technology upgrades on their building. To be more precise, 86% of millennials are willing to pay more.

Gen Y renters are more likely to rent apartments that have electronic access or uses technology within their buildings.

What Does This Mean for Landlords & Property Managers?

It means that you should consider enhancing your properties with these technological advancements. Not only are they cost-efficient, but they’re also scalable and allows you to collect higher rents!

Quick Key offers a variety of installation types to enhance your multi-family building and increase the number of tenants looking to rent from you.

The Best Smart Locks on the Market

The selection of the following smart locks on the market offers a perfect blend of security, convenience, and modern technology. Designed to replace traditional keys with keypads, mobile apps, or biometric access, these locks provide enhanced control and peace of mind for homeowners, renters, and property managers alike. With features like remote access, integration with smart home systems, and activity monitoring, today’s top smart locks make managing entry easier and safer than ever before.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

August smart locks allow you to control access to your home via your smartphone. It allows you to create virtual keys for guests visiting your home and allows you to track who enters and leaves.

Schlage

Schlage control smart interconnected locks use a cloud-based approach. From here, landlords and property managers can control access to units via an app. Residents can utilize a card, key fob, or smartphone to access their units as well. This type of lock protects against lock pickers and forced entry.

Yale Smart Locks

Yale Assure lock is one the most popular on the market. Residents can lock and unlock their doors utilizing their smartphone or entering a 4 – 8 digit PIN. Have a family? Download their app and create up to 12 PIN codes and disperse accordingly. If you desire the option to utilize a key to enter as well, this lock comes in both keyed and keyless versions with the touchscreen option.

These smart locks are not only great for multifamily buildings, but also for homes. If Millennials and the new generation are willing to pay higher rents to have this affordable technology on their apartments, why not make the investment?

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