Ever wonder if someone can just call up a locksmith to open a house and rob them? It’s extremely uncommon for several reasons. 1), no one wants a trace of who they called and paid to open a house. 2), even an unscrupulous locksmith wouldn’t want to risk the financial and legal liability of opening a house for someone they shouldn’t. 3) locksmiths verify residency. In lock out situations this can be tricky. People are outside of a house without valuables and important items they need. If a person doesn’t have proof, the locksmith will verify before leaving. Many documents verify a person’s residency: drivers license, gas bill, electric bill, emails, car registration and more. If they fail to produce verification they can lock and close the door. Then call the police and let them sort it out.
Archive for month: September, 2018
Absolutely. Keys can break inside a lock or outside a lock. If the key broke inside the lock a locksmith can remove the broken key allowing the lock to function again. In cases in which the key broke cleanly they can read the key cuts and make a new key. If for some reason a key broke outside a lock, they typically can just read the key and make a new one. If the locksmith is unable to read the key they can disassemble the lock in order to make a new key. One way to prevent keys from breaking is to not use the key as a handle. The key unlocks or locks the door. Turning the door knob or pressing on the lever is the way to open a door. Worn keys should be duplicated before they stop working or break.
what do locksmiths use to open doors
Locksmiths use various tools to open doors. The first tool in a locksmith arsenal are lock picks. Lock picks are curved or bumpy pieces of still that act like the up and down points on a key. The locksmith inserts the lock pick and raises the pins to act like the appropriate key is being used. Another tool is used simultaneously to turn the lock.
Many locksmiths will not discuss opening techniques especially for higher security doors and locks. Some won’t even discuss how to pick locks with people who aren’t locksmiths. They figure that they shouldn’t make it easier for criminals to do crime. You go to school to gain special knowledge. Locksmiths study and train to gain special knowledge. This knowledge can unfortunately be used for crimes so they choose not to share it.
Do you need a license to be a locksmith?
You do not need a license to operate as a locksmith in the State of Ohio. Localities can make their own licensing system. The City of Cleveland and surrounding areas do not have such laws. Licensing has shown mixed results in other states. Many locksmiths complain that it’s simply another expense for them and it doesn’t prevent scammers. More importantly, they suggest that licensing doesn’t even help consumers. The police and prosecutes are too busy to pursue people locksmithing without a license.
Other forms of locksmith certification
There are several bodies that do certify locksmiths or provide vetted membership. ALOA is one of them. SOPL is another one
Can you make a key from a picture?
It’s completely possible to make a key from a picture. One only needs the ability to cut keys by code. That means not duplicating a key that’s physically present but making initial cuts to specific depths. In fact, here at lock alchemy we frequently request customers to send pictures of keys. We can usually identify the type of key and the cuts from a good picture. This can save the customer time while we drive out from University Heights OH or South Euclid to their location in the greater Cleveland area. This is also the reason why we obscure key cuts on social media or black them out. Making a key from a picture is definitely a real thing. Think twice before you post a picture of your keys on social media.
how much locksmith charge to make safe key?
Prices for locksmiths vary from rural to more urban areas. Locksmith Ledger frequently completes a survey of locksmiths nationally to determine average prices. The cost will also depend on what type of key you need, what type of safe you have, and if you have a copy. Here are the average prices they list from 2017:
KEY DUPLICATION
Flat Steel Key: 10
Flat Steel Key: 10
Tubular Key: 9.43
Bit Key: 16
Safe Deposit Key: 13
High Security Key: 15
PADLOCKS
Combination by Code: 15
Pin Tumbler by Code: 18
FITTING FIRST KEY
Impressioning: 37
Reading: 26
PADLOCKS
Combination by Code: 15
Pin Tumbler by Code: 18
We proudly dispatch from University Heights and our physical address is in South Euclid. This allows us to offer extremely fast service for those living in surrounding neighborhoods.
University Heights, “The City of Beautiful Homes,” has many unique aspects that increase the city’s need for a locksmith.
The Need for a Knowledgeable Locksmith
The city has many older homes. The door hardware on these homes is often the original door hardware. This can create several issues that prevent someone from simply buying a new lock and replacing it. The following picture is an example of an older style bore for a lock. It’s too small for a modern lock and needs to be enlarged before the new lock can be installed.
Care has to be taken not to damage the wood and old paint. Here’s an example of an older style strike that may cause issues after a new lock is installed. Before you drill, consider the jig alignment, backset, paint, scratch marks, and more when boring a new hole over this one.
Strike Plate
The strike plate is the piece of metal on the door jamb that the latch goes into. There were many older styles of strike plates. Again, care has to be taken when updating this as wood could have warped or been damaged over the years. Older homes may have the new style strike plates but they may be damaged.
Specialty Hardware
Repairing broken specialty lock and door hardware can be a pain. It’s difficult to source parts. If you decide that you’d like to replace the older door and lock hardware you need to consider what you’re going to replace it with. Do you want the same function or a different function? How will the new hardware look? Will the new hardware cover up older paint marks and scratches? Specialty door hardware like lock handle sets can easily cost over $100.
Door Closers
Dооr сlоѕеrѕ аrе mаrvеlоuѕ dеvісеѕ, which рrоvіdе a vеrу bаѕіс уеt bеnеfісіаl funсtіоn. Thеѕе entrance fіx door сlоѕеrѕ automatically сlоѕе the dооr when ѕоmеоnе ореnѕ іt and then leaves іt. This includes dооr сlоѕеrѕ, which аrе mаіnlу used in commercial and рublіс buіldіngѕ but mау аlѕо bе uѕеd аrоund the hоmе where сіrсumѕtаnсеѕ make their use dеѕіrаblе. Thеу have a vаrіеtу of рurроѕеѕ and applications оnе of the mаіn оnеѕ bеіng to kеер a door сlоѕеd tо lіmіt the ѕрrеаd оf fire аnd throughout a buіldіng.
Thе fіx dооr closers are used on dооrѕ tо mаkе them сlоѕе аutоmаtісаllу after ѕоmеоnе uѕеѕ іt. Thеrеfоrе, іnѕtеаd оf іnѕtruсtіng everyone tо сlоѕе the dооr behind then оr еmрlоуіng a guard оr ѕеrvаnt tо сlоѕе the dооr every tіmе someone opens іt, dооr closers аrе used tо сlоѕе the dооrѕ. Fіrе dооr сlоѕеrѕ are essential tо еnѕurіng that fіrе dооrѕ ореrаtе еffесtіvеlу. Thеrе аrе two mаіn tуреѕ of dооr closers available on the market nаmеlу MANUAL DOOR CLOSER аnd АUTОMАTІС DOOR CLOSER. Modern variations оn the аutоmаtіс сlоѕеr іnсludе wіrеlеѕѕ ѕоlutіоnѕ that offer more flexibility than ѕtаndаrd fіrе dооrѕ.
Mаnuаl Dооr Clоѕеrѕ
The type оf fixed door сlоѕеr employed wіll dереnd оn ѕоmе factors. Thеу can bе Surface mоuntеd, Cоnсеаlеd іn the frame оr Cоnсеаlеd іn the floor. Thеѕе fасtоrѕ аrе раrtlу determined bу аеѕthеtіс соnѕіdеrаtіоnѕ, аlthоugh in some cases concealed closers аrе uѕеful tо guard against vаndаlіѕm. Mаnuаl tуреѕ ореrаtе on a spring mесhаnіѕm. The ѕрrіng іѕ loaded аѕ the dооr іѕ ореnеd аnd then the ѕрrіng rеlеаѕеѕ after the dооr are opened, сlоѕіng behind the uѕеr. Manual doors closer аrе ореn to соnѕіdеrаblе аbuѕе аnd are соmmоnlу fоund рrорреd оr wedged ореn. While рrоtесtіvе іtеmѕ аrе a ѕіmрlе аnd vеrу еffесtіvе bаr tо the spread of ѕmоkе аnd fire, a door thay hаѕ bееn рrорреd ореn is іmmеdіаtеlу rеdundаnt аnd саn rеѕult in disaster.
Autоmаtіс Door Closers
An automatic door closer rеԛuіrеѕ роwеr to ореrаtе while a mаnuаl dооr сlоѕеr uѕеѕ рhуѕісаl fоrсе. Thеѕе аrе соmmоn іn many buіldіngѕ and ореrаtе using either a buttоn to open them or a sensor system, which dеtесtѕ motion, ореnіng tо allow ассеѕѕ. Bоth wіll сlоѕе аutоmаtісаllу uѕіng ѕеnѕоrѕ tо dеtесt mоtіоn. Automatic doors сlоѕеr of this type usually fеаturе a рuѕh button аt a hеіght ѕuіtаblе for wheelchair uѕеrѕ аnd not only оffеr еxсеllеnt fіrе protection but саn help tо mаkе a buіldіng ассеѕѕіblе fоr the dіѕаblеd. Again, they саn bе subject tо аbuѕе and can bе рrорреd open, аlthоugh this is lеѕѕ соmmоn than wіth the mаnuаl type.
Wіrеlеѕѕ Technology
Wіth the widespread uѕе оf wіrеlеѕѕ tесhnоlоgу аutоmаtіс fіrе safety dооr сlоѕеrѕ hаvе bесоmе mоrе robust and rеѕіѕtаnt tо аbuѕе. An аutоmаtіс door сlоѕеr can еаѕіlу bе fitted to a door that ореrаtеѕ when a fіrе аlаrm ѕоundѕ. This аllоwѕ fоr a door tо bе lеft open to allow fоr vеntіlаtіоn аnd ease of ассеѕѕ throughout a buіldіng. When rеԛuіrеd the dооr automatically ѕрrіngѕ іntо асtіоn. Thіѕ tуре оf fіrе dооr іѕ іnсrеаѕіnglу рорulаr, and they саn bе fіttеd еаѕіlу аnd quickly tо аnу еxіѕtіng dооrѕ wіthоut the nееd for соmрlеx wіrіng оr buіldіng alterations.
One ѕuсh fіrе ѕаfеtу mеаѕurе is the installation of fіrе safety dооrѕ closer. Fіrе safety refers tо рrесаutіоnѕ that аrе tаkеn tо рrеvеnt or reduce the likelihood of a fіrе that may rеѕult іn dеаth, injury, or рrореrtу dаmаgе. Doors сlоѕеr еnѕurе fire safety and ѕаvе lіvеѕ. Ensuring the соrrесt оnеѕ are fіttеd for a building іѕ еѕѕеntіаl, but оf equal іmроrtаnсе іѕ еnѕurіng they аrе used еffесtіvеlу and nоt abused.
Things are changing for rental properties and landlords in University Heights. A recent Cleveland.com article related updates about the increase in rental permit fees. The University Heights counsel recently decided to increase the permit fees. However, University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan decided to put a temporary freeze on the increase. The new ordinance would increase permit fees from $300 every two years to $600 annually for single-family rental homes, and from $400 every two years for two-family rental homes to $800 every year.
Purpose
The increase in funds will be used to hire another inspector and other personnel. More frequent inspections will significantly increase the workload. Increased inspections and citations will likely increase the demand for residential contract work in University Heights. Landlords that neglect to make corrections will be fined.
Outcome
The increase in inspections and fines will have several outcomes for UH and surrounding businesses. Landlords will need to find quick and reliable companies to fix issues with concrete, electrical work, plumbing, and doors. Lock Alchemy expects an increase in the amount of landlords looking to solve issues with locks and doors. Our proximity to University Heights and quick service will allow us to provide quick and affordable locksmith services to landlords in University Heights.
Service Area
Certified Locksmith in Cleveland
by The Society of Professional Locksmiths
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