Choose the right lock for your home

Even with the most advanced home security system, your home will not be fully secure if you don’t have proper locks for your doors and windows. A good lock is a crucial step towards keeping the bad guys out of your home.

Padlocks
Padlocks come in various sizes and are one of the most easily recognisable types of lock. Depending on the type of house, the most common type of locks are the padlocks. 
According to Mande R Nkwebe, the head of administration at A&S Electronics Ltd, there are multiple padlocks that have one key. These save you the bulk of keeping so many keys and you only need one key to secure your whole home. 
She says: “There are alarm padlocks, when the wrong key is inserted, other people are sensitive to the movement and will be alerted. However, those who are sensitive to the movement are easy to copy, most of the time is not true. The integrated lock system is a padlock with six keys that do not have security features and can not be duplicated. Once you lose all the keys, they can only go to a new system.”
Knobs
Knob locks are usually installed on exterior doors in addition to deadbolts. They should, however, never be used for security on external doors because the lock cylinder is in the knob itself and not the door. In any case, they can be broken off the door with a hammer or bypassed using pliers.

Dead locks
According to Bruce Nkuba, the marketing executive ASSA ABLOY Uganda Ltd, deadbolts have a deadbolt, which cannot be moved to the open except by rotating the lock cylinder with the key. The deadbolt can, therefore, make a door more resistant to entry without the correct key. They may be used in conjunction with a night latch (a door lock that is operated by means of a knob on the inside and a key on the outside), to increase security.
He adds: “They come in three primary varieties: single, double, and lockable thumb turn. For double cylinder bolts, it is strongly recommended that a key is left on the inside when people are present to ensure a safe exit in an emergency. All deadbolts that we sell have a removable cylinder that can be easily replaced. However, avoid bolts from vendors since they are easier to rekey than others.”

Lever handle locks
Lever handle locks are often used for inner doors in commercial settings. They are easier to open than knob locks because they have a larger push down style handle than a knob.
Emmanuel Genza, a technician at A&S Electronics Ltd thinks the lever handle locks are more friendly to the physically handicapped if they have to access the place as they just have to push. Once a lot of force is applied on them, levers just clutch.

Furniture locks
These cover a variety of locks including cabinet, desk, and sliding door locks. They usually come in two styles; push button and bolt style. 
Nkuba explains: “Push button style has a rod that locks and when unlocked, the lock pops out retracting the rod. The device is re-locked by pushing the lock back into its shell.”
They are commonly used in filing cabinets and sliding doors. Furniture locks can be installed onto existing hardware that may not already have a lock installed.
Bolt style furniture locks have a piece of flat metal that extends out the side of the lock to secure the device. Often, bolt style locks are found on desks, cabinets, and drawers but can also be used in other devices.

Numbered keypad lock
The numbered keypad lock saves a homeowner the responsibility of lending out house key copies to relatives. “A number keypad lock is a more secure method of locking your home because it provides added accessibility and convenience. It allows one to share the keycode with friends and family. Be careful however because key codes can be forgotten, and some keypads are vulnerable to weather damage,” says Genza.

Finger print lock
Fingerprint locks are extremely secure give a classy, ultramodern and luxurious look. However, only those with recognised fingerprints are able to access and open the door. In case of danger, no one can rescue you. Like the keypad lock system, fingerprint locks are also vulnerable to weather.

The biometric access control lock
According to Genza, these are often used by people with offices in their homes. They help control access to some places and can be programmed not to let in a particular person in a given period of time. They allow about 30,000 log-ins and outs a day. They can also be programmed to detect thumb print, face, card or code for access. The log ins and outs can be wired to a Local Rea Network to send data to a database to monitor the place. 
There are also electric locks that are programed to use a card or key or both. The system should be uninstalled in case the homeowner loses both of them. 
“Having secure doors is important but sometimes intruders could still break into the house using alternative ways such as windows. To maximise security, consider installin.

Security locks
Your home security starts right from the fence. One must be secure enough to know there is an intruder even before the intruder gets into the house. There are burglar alarm systems that can be used to secure your home. Some people install audio and video intercom interfaces to act as barriers before one can access a home entrance. There is a panel that controls the sensors. 
There are watch out door alarm systems that can be installed on the fence. “These sense motion and operate at an angle of 90 degrees at the area they are installed. However, they are pet-free and do not trigger the alarm in case of cats, dogs or birds to minimise false alarms.”
The beam sensors are usually installed in pairs parallel to each other. So, when a person or object crosses the beam, the reflection of the light is distorted to trigger the alarm in case there is an intruder. 
Nkwebe adds that when there is no movement or object in the path of the light beam, the light pattern is static and the sensor remains in stand-by mode. While they are being installed, the home owner must ensure that the whole house parameters are covered.”

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