Category: Security Articles
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Yale Lock Reset: How to Factory Reset a Yale Smart Lock
To reset a Yale smart lock, pull the battery cover and batteries, remove the inside back plate to reach the reset button (just right of the PCB cable), then press and hold that button while you reinsert the batteries for at least 3 seconds and release. The lock factory-resets, wiping every code and connection, and…
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How to Factory Reset Schlage Smart Locks (Encode, Connect, Touch, BE365)
To reset a Schlage keypad lock, open the inside cover, disconnect the battery, then press and hold the Schlage button while you reconnect the battery until the keypad flashes and beeps. You do not need your old programming code, the lock resets to the default codes printed on the white sticker inside, and you enter…
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How to Rekey a Lock to Match an Existing Key
You can rekey a new lock to match an existing key, as long as the new lock uses the same keyway (key brand) as your current key. A locksmith repins the cylinder to your key’s cut depths so that the key will turn the cylinder and open the lock. If the keyways differ, they cannot…
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How Much Does a Safe Cost in 2026?
A safe costs anywhere from $50 for a small fire box to several thousand dollars for a high-security burglary or TL-rated safe. Typical price ranges are: basic home and fire safes run $300 to $1000, quality gun safes $1000 to $4,500, and true burglary or jewelry safes $1,500 to $5,000 and up. Price tracks two…
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Digital Safe Won’t Open With Correct Code – What to Try
If your safe will not open with the correct code, the usual cause is dead or weak batteries. Replace them with a fresh name-brand set, since a weak battery can light the keypad but not drive the bolt motor. If that does not fix it, the bolts may be jammed from pressure on the door,…
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Combination Safe Won’t Open With Correct Code: 5 Fixes
If your dial safe will not open with the correct combination, the most common cause is dialing technique, dial to each number with the correct number of turns and stop precisely on the dial mark. If that fails, the combination may have drifted, so try each number one digit above and below the known value.…
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Where is the Best Place to Hide a Safe?
Why Hide a Safe? | Hide it under a sink | Put it in the laundry room | Hide it in the pantry | Place it under an old box | Use a camouflaged safe | Don’t hide a safe here | Prefer Video? Prefer Video? Check out our YouTube video on How to Hide…
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What is Door Handing?
Door handing refers to the direction the door swings when it opens and from which side, left or right, that the door is hinged. You can determine your door’s handing by determining which hand you would use to open the door. If you naturally want to use your left hand, the door handing is left…
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How to Lock a File Cabinet: A Locksmith’s Guide
To lock a file cabinet, you have four options. If a lock is installed, but you don’t have the key, get a replacement key cut from the code stamped on the lock or replace the file cabinet lock if it is missing or broken. If no lock exists on the file cabinet, add a locking…
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Best Ways to Lock Cabinet Doors
Cam Locks | Double Door Locks | Electronic Cabinet Locks | Magnetic Cabinet Locks | Plunger Locks | Showcase Locks In our article “How to Lock Drawers” we discussed several types of locks that also lend themselves well to locking cabinet doors. The nice part about cabinet door locks is that there is always a…