How to Select the Best Deadbolt Lock for Your Home

A deadbolt lock can provide a lot of security for your house. If you are considering purchasing one for your home, you need to know what to look for as well as the ways in which intruders try to defeat deadbolt locks in order to make an informed decision when buying one.

Here is how a deadbolt lock works. As in you turn the key inside of the lock's cylinder, the connecting tail piece initiates the bolt mechanism. The bolt then either extends or retracts. If you are on the inside of the door, you can push on the thumb turn and twist to make the bolt either extend or retract.

Deadbolt locks are all pretty basic and basically contain the same parts. These include the bolt assembly, cylinder guard, cylinder, thumb turn, tail piece and mounting screws. In addition to basic deadbolt locks there are also some that are considered high security that contain special parts.

One example of a high security deadbolt lock is the Abloy Dislock. The deadbolt has adapter rings and also a bolt assembly protector. The assembly protector goes in between the cylinder and bolt assembly. There is a hood that covers the inner parts of the assembly. The cover helps to protect the deadlock from being picked.

Burglars and intruders have several ways in which they attempt to pick deadbolt locks. It is important to be aware of these so that you can make an informed choice when choosing deadbolt locks for your home.

One way to try to get through a deadbolt lock is to saw through it. Bolts made of brass or other types of soft metals may be susceptible to a hacksaw sawing through them. You should select a deadbolt that comes with either a hardened steel insert or steel bolt.

An intruder may also try to jimmy the deadbolt lock. They will place a pry bar between the door frame and door next to where the extended bolt it and wiggle the bar back in forth. This may dislodge the bolt from the strike plate. One preventative measure for this is to make sure you choose a deadbolt lock that comes with a longer bolt. This makes it harder to jimmy the lock. The bolt should also have at least one inch of throw.

A burglar may also try to clamp a wrench to the cylinder in an attempt to twist the cylinder off the door. To protect yourself form this, select a deadbolt lock with free spinning and tapered cylinder guards. They are harder to wrench off.

Lock picking is another possibility, but that takes a lot of skill. Most burglars are looking for easier ways to break and enter. However you can select deadbolt locks with high security cylinders to help protect yourself from lock picking.