Changing the locks on your home’s doors and windows is important for ensuring the safety of your family. Whether you are moving home or upgrading your home security, it may be time to consider new locks and here’s why…
• You have just moved into your new house
Moving into a new home is, of course, an exciting time. However, it’s also a big job that comes with a lengthy ‘to do’ list. One of the items on that list should be to change the locks. You have no idea how many copies of the house keys the previous occupants have made or who they have issued them to, so to be on the safe side, installing new door and window locks should be a priority.
• Keeping up with the latest in-home security
The whole point of door and window locks is to keep the bad guys out and your loved ones safe on the inside. Burglars are constantly figuring out ways to break through home security which is why new innovations are being developed to keep those bad guys at bay. Making sure you replace any outdated or old locks is vital to keeping your home secure.
• General wear and tear
Did you know that worn or rusted locks are easier to pick or force open by criminals? It is important to keep an eye on your locks and make sure that they are in good order to avoid your house becoming vulnerable to break-ins. That goes for keys as well. A weakened, rusted key could snap off in a lock. Imagine being stuck on your doorstep in the pouring rain? Not an ideal situation at all! Old locks can also become rusty and difficult for you to open. So, when it comes to ensuring that your home security measures are 100% effective, changing the locks on your doors and windows is highly recommended.
While living in Melbourne is quite safe (excuse the pun!), last year there was 28,337 burglaries in Melbourne. Thats equivalent to 3 per hour on average! Having a properly installed safe is your last line of defence against would be thieves. Here is 5 reasons to buy a safe you may not have though of.
1. Protect those important documents
A safe isn’t just for jewellery or gold! Important papers like Birth Certificates, Passports, Title deeds, Old photos and even USB flash drives with valuable digital information should all be kept in a safe. These items can be difficult, expensive or even impossible to replace, so lock them up!
2. Protects your belongings from workers you may have at your home
Many people these days have Cleaners, Nannies, Au Pair or Various Tradespeople working in their house. Sometimes occasionally, sometimes weekly or daily. While we usually only hire people we trust, keeping your valuables locked away in a safe gives you peace of mind knowing that they won’t disappear next time your plumber or nanny stops by!
3. Gives you peace of mind when you’re out of town
The last thing you need while away on a holiday or business trip is the worry of your valuables going missing in the event of a burglary. Having a correctly installed safe will ensure that your valuables remain in your hands, and not in the hands of even the most dedicated thieves!
4. Safes can protect from fire, not just theft!
Many areas of Melbourne a prone to bushfires in the hotter months. Something that a lot of homeowners forget is that in the event of a fire, time is of the essence, and trying to get valuable and sentimental items out of your home can risk a serious injury or worse – death. Let a quality fire safe protect your valuables so you can concentrate on getting your family to safety.
5. Keep electronics away from kids until their homework’s finished!
Perhaps a little extreme, but locking up your child’s iPad or game console can help ensure straight A’s when that report card comes around!
To learn more about what safe is right for you, check out our range here. Give us a call to arrange an appointment on 03 9068 8225 or email us at: admin@asguardlocksmiths.com.au
Thanks for reading!
The Asguard Locksmiths Team
In the market for a new Digital Lock?
**UPDATE 28/04/2020 – We are proud to announce we have partnered with Digital Doors Australia as a registered installer in Melbourne. be sure to check out www.digitaldoors.com.au for all your digital lock needs. Use code Asguard10 for 10% off you first order until 31/05/2020**
Over the last few years, the quality of digital locks has improved dramatically. However, the amount of choice available can be seriously confusing for many people unacquainted with the world of locks and door hardware. Keep reading to find out which Digital Lock you should or shouldn’t buy.
Samsung SHP-DS510
Samsung Digital Lock
Of All of Samsung’s offerings. This is one of the few I would recommend. This Digital Lock functions similarly to the Lockwood Digital Deadbolt (below) with a couple of slight differences. The programming is almost identical, but it is also compatible with the included prox tags so you don’t always have to enter your code. A small reed switch fitted near the edge of the door allows the lock to sense if the door is open or closed for the auto lock feature. unlike the Lockwood lock which simply re-locks after a preset time period. This helps prevent damage to the frame when you need to have the door open longer than 15 seconds!
The DS-510 also fits into a standard 54mm hole meaning it should be compatible with most deadlocks on the market today. So if you are renting, replacing the lock with a standard deadbolt is simple and leaves no exposed holes in the door. The main downside to this lock is the keyway. It’s not standard (In Australia) by any means and this often means having a separate key for this lock. Usually, with a Digital Lock this means an easily misplaced key – not good!
The Lockwood Digital Deadbolt is easily the most popular Digital Lock available. A neat satin finish is available and the deadbolt fits easily into a standard (54mm) deadbolt footprint. Conveniently the keyway is a standard LW4 key way that can most likely be easily keyed alike to other locks in your home. A keyless version that allows the user to use a 9v battery to externally power the lock in the batteries goes flat is also available.
Zwave or Zigbee upgrade kits give the Lockwood Digital Deadbolt even more Smart Lock functionality. These kits make this Digital Lock a great choice for Airbnb hosts by giving complete control over access codes remotely.
The Lockwood 001 touch was Lockwood’s second foray into the home Digital Lock segment. Built on the companies tried and tested 001 Deadlatch this lock retains the internally keyed cylinder. Making this lock one of the few true Digital Deadlocks. To open the lock there is a choice of either code or card. Extra access cards can be ordered in packs of 10 and multiple user codes can be set if the lock is changed into “advanced mode”. However the default “simple mode” is sufficient for most home users.
The size is what lets an otherwise great product down. It’s quite large internally, measuring 109 x 123mm for the internal body. There are some extra holes or fixing points required over a traditional 001 meaning that there will be some patching and painting to repair if wanting to revert back to a keyed cylinder. Aside from these small issues, the 001 Touch is a great high-security Digital Lock.
Our rating – 8.5/10
Samsung SHS-P718
Samsung SHS-P718
By far the most expensive option on the list the Samsung SHS-P718 proves that most expensive doesn’t always mean best. On the surface, this lock looks great with lots of great features including auto wake up, intruder and fire alarms. A high-quality fingerprint scanner, RFID tag, password and override key provide multiple options for opening the door. Given Samsung’s reputation for quality consumer electronics it’s not surprising that this is a popular choice for customers in the market for a new digital lock.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good for the Samsung SHS-P718. It is by far the biggest lock on the list, coming in at a huge 387H X 85W X 61D. The required minimum door thickness of 38mm, therefore makes it incompatible with a vast majority of Australian doors which are usually a standard size of 35mm. If your door does happen to be compatible with the Samsung SHS-P718 you’ll find that it won’t easily retrofit in place of your existing hardware. And once it’s installed, there are no other products that will fit in place meaning that if it fails, you’re left with a lot of patching up to do or worse – a new door.
our rating – 4/10
August Smart Lock (2nd Gen)
August Smart Lock
The August Smart door lock is unique in that it isn’t an entire lock and rather an attachment for your existing lock. The August unit easily retrofits on the back on any single sided deadbolt without any drilling or chiseling. An App controls the lock and can be connected to Alexa, Apple and Google assistant to allow voice control. Geofencing and the ability to lock or unlock the lock from anywhere. August also offers other products including a keypad and doorbell system that integrates with the lock in the same app making this product extremely versatile. As with many of the locks on the list, the august smart lock is not a deadlock, and the app has had reports of reliability issues. Hopefully, these can be fixed by the developers in the near future.
our rating: 7.5/10
We hope these short reviews have given you some insight in to which product best suits your needs. For more information or for Locksmithing services and quotes in Melbourne, Contact Asguard Locksmiths on (03) 9068 8225.
