I posted a blog a couple of weeks ago about how to see if your deadbolt is installed right. Here is another blog about door locks that may interest some and bore most.....but hey, what can I say.....I want my fellow Active Rainers to be safe.

Many exterior door locks have a security feature and most people don't know about it and if you have this type, it may not be correctly installed, which defeats it's purpose. Have you ever noticed locks that have an extra pin on the bolt of the lock that latches the door? Some have these and others don't. The ones that do have an extra security feature that prevents someone from slipping a credit card or drivers license between the door stop and the door and sliding the bolt open and.....that's it, the door opens.

Here is how you can tell if you have the type with the security feature. This is the security pin.

The security pin works independently of the main latch bolt. To see how this works, do this:

Open the door and push in on the latch bolt. Both the latch bolt and security pin should slide inside the door. Then with a finger, push in on the security pin and with another finger, try to push in the main latch bolt. It should not engage. This would not allow someone to use a card or thin metal to open the door, but the secret is to make sure the security pin hits the keeper jamb plate when the door is closed. If the pin goes inside the hole of the keeper jamb pate, then this defeats the security feature.

The easiest way to test to see if the jamb plate is installed correctly, slowly close the door and listen for the main bolt to click. I you hear another click...which is the security pin...then the jamb plate needs to be mounted further toward you so the security pin hits the plate as above.

If your door has deadbolts, then this feature is not important, but if not, I would change the lock to one with this feature for better security.

I hope this helps and of course you are always free to contact me if you have any questions.

Kent Keith

Fort Worth Home Inspector

www.fortworthinspector.com