Articles & Product Reviews
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We’ve been providing locksmith services for over 30 years to the Phoenix valley. We hope you find our articles, and reviews valuable.
How to Get a Replacement Safe Key (Sentry and Others)
To get a replacement safe key, find the key code stamped on the lock or printed in your manual, then order a key from the manufacturer (Sentry, Stack-On, and others mail keys by code) or take the code to a…
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Best Combination Padlock in 2026: A Locksmith’s Picks
The best combination padlock is the Abus 190CS/60. Most combination locks are easy to bypass, but the Abus 190CS fixes the usual weak points with a tough body, a protected dial, and a hardened shackle, making it the rare combination…
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How to Reset a Kwikset Smart Lock (With or Without Code)
To reset a Kwikset smart lock, slide off the interior cover, pull out the battery pack, then press and hold the Program button while you reinsert the battery. Keep holding about 30 seconds until the lock beeps and the LED…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Dial Safe Won’t Open With the Correct Combination: 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…
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Where is the Best Place to Hide a Safe?
Where's the 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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The 5 Lockset Functions: Passage, Privacy, Entry, Storeroom, Classroom
The five common lockset functions are passage, privacy, entry, storeroom, and classroom. Passage never locks, privacy locks from inside with no key, entry locks from either side, storeroom stays locked outside and needs a key, and classroom is keyed from…
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ANSI Lock Grades Explained: Grade 1 vs 2 vs 3 (Full Specs)
ANSI lock grades rank a lock's strength and durability from Grade 1 (best) to Grade 3 (basic). The grade comes from how many open-close cycles the lock survives, how many door strikes (hammer blows) it takes, and a weight test….
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Arizona Pool Fence Code Requirements
Arizona pool fence code (A.R.S. 36-1681) requires a barrier around the entire pool that is at least 5 feet tall, with every gate or door to the pool self-closing and self-latching. The latch release must sit at least 54 inches…
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How Much Does It Cost to Rekey House Locks in 2026?
Rekeying a house costs about $250 to $350 for three doors in Phoenix for a basic rekey when a locksmith comes to you. This includes the service call, removing, rekeying, lubricating, and reinstalling the locks. In-shop rekeying is cheaper, around…
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Car Key Replacement Cost in 2026: What It Costs to Replace a Car Key
Car key replacement cost, when all keys have been lost, runs $50 to $180 for a basic metal key, $220 to $350 for a transponder (chip) key, and $250 to $800+ for a smart fob, when every key is lost…
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How to Secure French Doors From Break-Ins
The biggest French door weakness is the passive (inactive) door, held only by flush bolts a screwdriver can pop. To secure French doors: drive a long screw through the flush bolt channel so the passive door cannot be forced, add…
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Yale Assure Connect by August Smart Lock Review
YRD226 – Yale Assure Connected by August Product Highlights | Detailed Review | Upgradable to WIFI | Keyless Version | Lock Control & Monitoring | What's in the Box | Comparison to Other Locks | Video Review Overview of the…
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