Should You Change the Locks If You Lose Your House Keys?

There is nothing worse than losing your keys and getting locked out of your own home. If that happens and there is no one else who can let you in, you will need to call a locksmith.

A common question people have after losing their house keys is whether or not they should change the locks. People worry that someone who finds their keys could enter their home and steal their belongings when they are not there. Whether or not you should change or rekey the locks will depend on the circumstances and how likely it is that someone who finds your keys could also figure out where you live.

Times When You Don’t Need to Change or Rekey the Locks

If you misplace your keys when you are several miles from your home and there is no identifying information on your key ring, you don’t need to change or rekey the locks. It is very unlikely that someone who found the keys would be able to figure out where you live and break into your home.

When You Should Change or Rekey Your Locks

If you lose your keys close to home, however, that is a different story. For example, if you are walking your dog or going for a jog in your neighborhood and drop your keys, someone who finds them might assume they belong to a house in the neighborhood and try different doors until finding the lock that the key opens. If you misplace your keys near your home, you should have your locks changed or rekeyed.

If you lose your keys along with anything that contains your name or address, you could easily become the victim of a break-in. For example, if your purse is lost or stolen and it contains both your keys and your driver’s license, anyone who finds it will know exactly where you live and will have the means to enter your home. You should have the locks changed or rekeyed immediately.

All American Locksmiths Is Available to Help in an Emergency

All American Locksmiths is here to help whenever you need a locksmith in an emergency. If you lock yourself out of your home, we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can let you back into your house and change or rekey the locks if necessary. All American Locksmiths serves cities and towns all over Connecticut and Westchester County, including Easton, Bridgeport, North Haven, Dobbs Ferry, Chappaqua, and Bedford. Call us whenever you are in need of assistance.

Improving Security Can Lower Homeowners Insurance Costs

Homeowners insurance is designed to provide protection if your home is damaged by a natural disaster or fire. A homeowners insurance policy can also provide coverage if someone breaks in and steals items from inside your house. Since break-ins often result in thousands of dollars in losses, homeowners insurance companies want their policy holders to do whatever they can to make their homes safer. This saves the insurance company money and can make residents feel safer in their own homes. Making a house more secure can also save homeowners money.

Deadbolts Can Lower Homeowners Insurance Premiums

Homeowners insurance companies typically offer discounts of 2 to 15 percent to homeowners who take steps to make their homes more secure and prevent burglaries. One of the easiest ways to keep burglars out is to install deadbolt locks on all of the doors. A deadbolt offers another layer of security and makes it harder for a burglar to break in. Studies have found that burglars typically move on if they are unable to break into a house within five minutes because they are worried about being caught. Deadbolts can be an effective deterrent that can keep intruders out and lower your homeowners insurance premiums. You will continue to receive savings every year, which makes deadbolts a wise investment.

Strong Doors and Locks Can Keep Intruders out and Keep Insurance Rates from Rising

Another way to make your home more secure is to install strong doors. Solid wood or fiberglass doors that cannot be kicked in can keep intruders out of your home. While installing new doors may not necessarily save you money on your homeowners insurance premiums now, it can prevent your rates from going up in the future. If someone breaks into your home and you file an expensive claim, your insurance rates will likely go up. Strong doors can keep intruders out so you will not need to file a claim, which means your rates will not rise.

You should also make sure your sliding or patio doors and windows are kept locked. Many burglaries occur because intruders simply slip inside through unlocked doors or windows. If your patio or sliding door does not have a secure lock, you should have one installed. This can keep burglars out so you will not need to file a claim.

All American Locksmiths Can Improve Security at Your CT Home

All American Locksmiths can install deadbolt locks, new locks on sliding and patio doors, and high-security doors to make your home more secure  and keep burglars out. They may also lower your homeowners insurance rates or keep them from going up. All American Locksmiths is proud to serve cities and towns all over Connecticut, including Stamford, Woodbridge, and Derby. Contact us today to learn more.

Repairing or Replacing the Door Can Make Your CT Home More Energy-Efficient

The entry door is designed to keep the interior of your home protected from the elements. Unfortunately, over time the caulk and weather-stripping around a door can become worn out or a house can shift and cause the door to no longer be in the correct position. When those things happen, air can leak in around the outside of the door. In a cold Connecticut winter, this can make the interior of a house uncomfortable and can force the heating system to work harder. That can raise your energy bills.

If your winter heating bills are higher than you would like and your house tends to be cold, it could be because the entry door is damaged or out of alignment. It may be possible to make some simple repairs, or it may be necessary to replace the door.

Possible Causes of Air Leakage around the Door

The most common cause of air leakage around a door is damaged or improperly installed weather-stripping. Weather-stripping is placed along the four sides of a door to create a seal to prevent air leakage when the door is closed. If the house settles and the door shifts in its frame, it can move out of alignment, which can prevent the weather-stripping from doing its job. Worn-out weather-stripping can be replaced with adhesive foam, felt, or interlocking metal strips.

Another common problem is caulk that has rotted away because of exposure to the weather. It is relatively easy to remove damaged caulk and to re-caulk a door.

Air can also leak into a house if the door itself is damaged. The door may be out of alignment with the frame, which can cause it to stick or squeak. It might be possible to fix this by tightening the screws.

When to Replace a Door

If it is not possible to repair the door and sealants around it, you may need to replace the entire door. For a house in Connecticut, it is important to choose a door with a high R-value because it will provide the amount of insulation needed to keep cold air out.

If you want a door with glass, look for one with low-emissivity (low-E) coatings. They will reduce energy loss by as much as 30 to 50 percent, which will make your house more energy-efficient and help keep your heating bills down.

Contact All American Locksmiths for Door Repair or Replacement

All American Locksmiths can help with door repair and replacement. We can inspect your door, figure out where air is leaking in, and suggest the best way to repair it or tell you if the door needs to be replaced. We serve towns all over Connecticut, including Fairfield, Norwalk, and Milford. Contact us today to learn more.