Author: vc_locksmiths

Garage door craziness: Part II

Sometimes lockouts happen that could have very easily been avoided. One thing we’ve seen is that homeowners who don’t like carrying a lot of keys rely solely on their automatic garage door openers as the only method of getting into the house. An easy idea. Why bother with the other keys? This idea falls flat if you come home to a power outage. You either have to wait it out or get a locksmith.

Also, we don’t recommend you ever leave a spare car key inside the car itself. If the car is stolen and there is any piece of mail or other items, such as an owner registration card with your address on it, the thief not only has your car, he has access to your house. The same risk to home security occurs anytime you ever use valet parking.So, take the extra step and carry a house key. It will save you a hassle when the summer storms come along and knock out the power.

And don’t forget to return the favor whenever they are away.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Keys and neighbors

Forgetting your key can be SUCH a frustrating feeling. You feel so hopeless as you stand there realising what you’ve done. Before it happens again, consider giving keys to neighbors that you trust. This idea has a lot of merits to it.

The key is safe in someone’s home, unlike keys hidden in fake rocks or under doormats that are pretty easy to find. ( Please, don’t do this. Fake rocks look…fake. And what intruder isn’t going to check under the mat or over the door frame?)

Friends or neighbors with keys can also be helpful beyond lockout crises. Have someone you trust check the house periodically if you are going to be away for an extended period. This way, a broken pipe, failed furnace in winter, or other mishap won’t go unnoticed and leave you with a huge mess when you get home. Similarly, ask them to check for packages and mail. Anything left outside is nothing but a big “VACANT” sign on your home.

And don’t forget to return the favor whenever they are away.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Different doors, different locks

If you are looking to keep your home as secure as you can, make sure that every lock is appropriate to the door style you have. Every external door should have a solid, heavy duty deadbolt that is resistant to drilling or hammering.

In particular, if you have an external door with windows, you have a specific security issue because the glass can be easily broken, allowing an intruder to reach through and unlock the door. In this case, you should have a deadbolt that has some kind of removable thumbturn or key.

When the turn or key is removed, the deadbolt cannot be opened. (Note: be sure that the key is kept nearby in case of the need for an emergency exit, but not within reach of a thief’s hand. Too often homeowners place them on a nail or hook right near the deadbolt.

As a final note, contrary to what one might think, front doors are frequently the door used for break-ins. Don’t assume that door is protected just because it is more visible.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Garage Door Craziness: Don’t do this!

Today, we’re talking about automatic garage door openers. All too often, homeowners assume that because their garage door relies on a remote to open the door, this particular entrance to the house is secure. As a result, they assume they either don’t have to place a lock on the door from the garage into the house, or they never need to lock the door. Why bother, since no one can open the garage door?

Think twice. There are cases of other signals causing doors to open. While this is uncommon, why take the chance? A bigger risk is a hurried homeowner forgets to hit the remote to close the door as they rush away. Or perhaps they forget that all automatic garage doors are required by regulation to have lasers that stop them from closing if anything blocks the way. We’ve seen blowing snow or leaves trigger the door to re-open as the car is driving away.

The takeaway? Get a solid deadbolt put on the door into your house and use it. It doesn’t take much to add this simple layer of security.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Keys – time to move on?

Keys can be a pain. You lose them, you give them to a partner who is now an ex, or you forget to take one with you when you walk the dog. The concerns never end.

Consider replacing at least one external door lock with a keypad system. There are many different types on the market, and some now even let your phone do the locking. These have a number of advantages. The most obvious is that you almost entirely eliminate the chance of locking yourself out of the house. Clearly, this is the biggest benefit to a keyless system. However, you also add new layers of security because you can provide a different code to each person who will ever need to access your house. If, for some reason, you no longer want someone to be able to get in, you can just change the code and avoid the awkward request to “get your key back.”

Make life a little easier with a keyless system. They are an affordable investment and will make your life a lot easier.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths

Locksmiths and Fraud: Some cautionary thoughts

If you are in need of a locksmith, whether it’s a 24-hour on-call emergency because you’re locked out, or you are looking to re-key or add security to your home or business, be judicious in your selection.

Some things to check:

Ask for an estimate over the phone. If this is an emergency call, call someone else if it seems too low or too high.

Ask about licensing and professional registrations or membership in a professional association. If they seem to have no positive answers to these questions, look for another service.

Don’t give a credit card number over the phone as a pre-payment.

When the truck arrives, does it have the company name, location and/or telephone number marked? Be wary of unmarked service vans.

In short, don’t assume that all locksmiths are professionally trained or even legitimate. There are scammers in every field, and this business isn’t immune to them. Use common sense when appraising a service near you.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths to learn more about our licenses and experience.

Automotive lockout – What can be done?

Locked out of your car? In case you’ve never considered it, there are solutions beyond towing the car to a dealership. Mobile locksmiths can be the answer.

These technicians have a truck that brings along everything they need to address almost all situations. But just because they are mobile, this doesn’t mean you can be sure of their professional reputation. Mobile locksmiths, even if they don’t have a physical office, should still carry licensing in states or provinces where it is required.

The truck should carry an identifiable and specific name, including the region/city they service, and contact information.

Contact us at Valley Cycle Locksmiths