Author: Robert Vallelunga
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Best Smart Locks for Sliding Glass and Patio Doors
There are finally good keyless options for sliding glass and patio doors. The best smart lock for a sliding door is the Lockly Guard, which mounts on the door frame and adds fingerprint, code, and app entry without drilling the glass. For a simple keypad, the PAWPAE works well, and the Lockey C150 is a…
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Door Barricade Devices & Recommendations
The Best Door Security Devices | Types of Door Barricades | Our Evaluation Criteria | Detailed Product Reviews Standard home locks don’t make your door safe from a would-be intruder. You can secure a front door from the inside by using door barricade devices (or door braces). These devices secure entry doors that open inward…
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How Does a Door Closer Work
Door closers work by balancing two forces. The first force is a spring, which wants to pull the door back into a closed position. The second force is hydraulic fluid. It is used to dampen the motion of the spring to prevent slamming. Refer to our article: How to Adjust a Door Closer if you’d…
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When to Replace a Door Closer
When your commercial door has started to slam or close too quickly, a quick inspection that reveals the door closer is leaking oil immediately tells you that the closer needs to be replaced. It is important to replace failed door control devices as quickly as possible so that you can remain in code compliance and…
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Replace Your Car Key by VIN
A locksmith can replace your car key from the VIN. Give us the year, make, and model, the VIN, and proof of ownership. We look up the key code, cut the key, program the chip if it has one, and mail it, usually shipping in 2 to 3 business days. Ordering a replacement car key…
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How to Open a Safe Without a Key
You can open a safe without a key several ways, and how easy it is depends on how good the safe is. Cheap big-box safes can often be opened by getting a key made from the code, bypassing the electronic solenoid, bouncing the safe, or holding a strong magnet on the override. A quality safe…
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How Much Does It Cost to Open a Safe in 2026?
The cost to open a safe averages about $440 nationally, but ranges from as little as $60 for a cheap safe with a key override and up to several hundred dollars for a quality safe that must be drilled. Price depends on the safe type and the technique: opening by override key or manipulation is…
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Smart Gate Locks: Weatherproof Outdoor Options That Actually Work
You can put a smart lock on an outdoor gate, but most home smart locks fail outdoors because only the outside half is weather-sealed. The best smart lock for an outdoor gate is a weatherproof-rated model like the Ultraloq, or a standard smart lock protected under a weather cover. For most gates, a mechanical keyless…
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How to Cover a Door Knob Hole or Deadbolt Hole
To cover a hole in a door left by a knob or deadbolt, the cleanest fix is a metal cover plate (a hole filler plate) that mounts over the opening, far cheaper and tidier than filling with putty, which cracks, or replacing the door. Match the plate to your hole, usually 2-1/8 inches across for…
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Do Portable Door Locks Work? A Locksmith Reviews the Options
Yes, portable door locks work, and a strike-plate brace type is genuinely effective, about as strong as a residential deadbolt. They only work on in-swinging doors, and they hold the door shut even if someone has a key, keycard, or PIN, which is why they shine in hotels, dorms, apartments, and Airbnbs. Bar and wedge…