Locksmith - Locksmith Charlotte NC

What are the Best Practices for Changing the Locks on my Business?

As a business owner, you want to keep your business safe and the premises secure. This is why you have installed high-security locks for your office or store. Does this mean there is no security risk for your business premises? Is your office or store completely protected from security incidents? You cannot be 100% sure. You can find out only with a safety inspection by a professional locksmith company.

The other way to ensure total security is to change your office locks from time to time. Must this lock change be frequent? When should one change the locks? Are they any guidelines or best practices to follow? Here are some pointers.

Best practices for changing your business locks

It is time to change your commercial locks when you encounter the following.

Business Convenience

The first reason for changing locks I’d when you find that they are no longer convenient for frequent usage.

Many times, you find that the basic locks you installed for your security are becoming a pain to handle. Yes, these locks may get jammed from time to time.

Or they might have a single key which is with one person and that person is on leave! The others are not able to get into the office or room and have to wait till the key is fetched or the lock is broken!

In another case, we find that a room has privileged access and the person inside has to get up every time leaving his work to open the door.

All these instances show that your locks are hampering your office work and the productivity of your employees. At times like these, you should call a locksmith and change your locks. You can use a master key system or a key card system that will grant multiple access while maintaining and monitoring it. You can even use an electronic security system that operates by code.

Business Security

If the locks you currently have are not providing adequate security, you must change them at once.

You will know this only when you face certain security incidents like theft or break-in but it would be too late then. So, better late than never. Check your office lock if it can withstand a brute force attack. Usually, burglars try to break into offices through brute force attacks.

This is the way you can test if the security it provides is enough for your office.

If your office lock could not pass your brute force attack test, you can call an expert locksmith to change it at once.

Internal Access control

There are times when you feel that your office must have a secure method of controlling its access. And this is not just for the external doors alone but also for the internal file cabinets and their contents. File cabinets must be secured against unpermitted access. The business information stored in the core files also needs to be protected. You will realize the urgency of changing locks to the file cabinets only when an employee handling them leaves your company.

Whenever an employee of high-rank handling core files leaves the organization, it is best to change the locks of the file cabinets. Usually, these file cabinets are in combination safes and so, you just change their code. You can apply a complex password or multi-factor authentication to secure them.

The next immediate thing you must do is to change the file permissions of the digital assets they handled. Next, install at least a two-factor authentication for ensuring their total safety.

Always change your locks when you need to protect the intellectual property and information assets of your business, especially after staff attrition. An experienced locksmith can guide you best on the security measures you must adopt

Common vulnerabilities

Every office faces some common vulnerabilities in its safety. Like missing keys, forgotten passwords, etc. During such stringent circumstances, you have no option but to change your office locks.

The other common vulnerability these days is user authentication in security systems. Hacking and identity theft are relatively common and have to be nipped in the bud. The best way to ensure this is to keep changing the root user credentials once in 3 -6 months. if it is possible, use an IAM Access Analyzer to assess the access levels in your office and then strengthen them.

To protect your commercial enterprise or business space from physical security threats or virtual ones like identity theft or hacking, change the locks and passwords periodically. Take the help of a skilled Charlotte locksmith such as A-Access Lock & Key to do this look change with precision and efficiency

Teddy Poulos

Teddy Poulos, the founder and CEO of A-Access Lock & Key-Charlotte, is a highly respected figure in the locksmith industry, renowned for his expertise and unwavering commitment to exceptional service. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Teddy’s educational background in the locksmith industry has provided him with a solid foundation for his successful career in locksmithing. With hands-on experience since 1996, Teddy has established himself as a trusted authority in locksmith services, earning the trust and loyalty of clients throughout Charlotte and beyond. His dedication to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction has been instrumental in making A-Access Lock & Key-Charlotte a leading name in the industry. Teddy’s passion for innovation and his commitment to providing effective security solutions continue to drive the success of his company, ensuring that A-Access Lock & Key-Charlotte remains a trusted partner for all locksmith needs in the region.

accesslocksmith.net

Smart Locks vs Traditional Locks

The purpose of a lock is to keep you and your valuables safe. The success of a locking mechanism depends on the level of security it provides. Based on these facts, what type of lock should one go in for? – the traditional lock or the smart lock?

Let’s get down and discuss with the help of our expert locksmith.

Smart Lock Vs Traditional Lock

The basic difference- the key option

The traditional lock has from time immemorial, worked on just one principle – using a physical key. In contrast, smart locks operate on the principle of keyless locking. They use the key concept only virtually. Instead of a physical key, they use a digital access code to operate the lock.

The locking mechanism

Traditional locks are mechanical lock systems. They operate with the help of tumblers, pins, and levers. Smart locks, on the other hand, are electronic locks. They have electronic microchips to interact with your smartphone using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Types of locks

Mortise locks, cylinder locks, pin tumbler locks, and rim locks are common types of traditional locks. Other common locks of their type are deadbolt lock, knob lock, etc.

Smart locks are of the keypad lock, fingerprint lock, etc. Some even operate with the help of Voice Assistants like Amazon Alexa. The Wi-Fi Smart lock or Net-Enabled lock is of the same smart variety.

Some of the traditional locks have been modified to include modern smart features. For instance, we have electrified mortise locks that integrate the features of the traditional lock with smart features.

Remote access

The main advantage of a smart lock is its facility for remote operation. You can operate the lock from any remote location. All you need is a smartphone and a pin code. This facility is of great use for working professionals and entrepreneurs who are forever busy and might lose the key.

Ease of access

With a smart lock, access is easy as all you need is to punch the code using the access code button. You can easily grant access to whomever you want without the need for a key. In contrast, a traditional lock needs a physical key. If this key is lost, you must call a professional locksmith to open the lock or make a spare key.

Functioning during power failures

For a traditional lock, there is no need for power. It can work well with or without power. On the other hand, a smart lock cannot work during a power outage. It must at least have battery backup. Without either, the smart lock is inoperable.

Monitoring and access control

With a smart door lock, you can keep a track of who uses the lock and when. You can even grant or restrict access to people. This access control is of great use in granting access to friends or restricting access to staff, repair technicians, and sales vendors. This facility is not available with traditional locks.

Ease of installation

A traditional lock is easy to install. A smart lock on the other hand may require wiring to connect to power and WiFi. It also needs an expert locksmith to do the job.

Smart lock vs traditional lock- which is the more secure option?

When you consider the security aspect, installing a smart lock may seem to be a bad idea. Smart lock hacking is common these days as smart technology uses the internet which is open to all.

In contrast, traditional locks have provided security for centuries. Mortise locks and deadbolt locks are virtually pick-proof.

If you weigh the pros and cons, smart locks score on the convenience to homeowners. Traditional locks rank higher on security.

The only way to end this ongoing debate is to make the best of both worlds. Choose a smart lock that integrates with a traditional one like the Sesame lock that works well with the single latch deadbolt.

Use a touchscreen keypad along with a deadbolt or mortise lock. Your professional locksmith can help you to customize this.

Be it a traditional lock or a smart lock, enlist professional locksmith services in Charlotte from A-Access Lock & Key for lock installation and service. This will give you both maximum security and peace of mind.

Teddy Poulos

accesslocksmith.net

6 Traits to Look for in an Emergency Locksmith

When you have misplaced your keys and are locked out of home or office, you are in a fix. First of all, you must get into your office or home. Secondly, you must change the locks to prevent any illegal entry. Both of these tasks must be completed within the shortest time possible. This is where an emergency locksmith comes to your rescue.

An emergency locksmith is a professional lock and key expert who provides locksmith service on a 24×7 on-call basis. His reliable service is available at odd hours at an affordable price.

You must find such an efficient locksmith to help you in an emergency. Finding such an amazing locksmith is not easy unless you know what you are looking for. Try to use these pointers to detect the traits that make such a dedicated locksmith.

Traits that you can find in the right 24-Hour Emergency Mobile Locksmith

When we say traits, they mean qualities of nature that reliable locksmiths should possess. If you find any of these in a reputable locksmith, connect with him at once and save chis contacts for future reference.

Nighthawk

The locksmith industry operates at all odd hours. So, 24- hour locksmiths must be ready to attend crisis calls well past midnight or the wee hours of the morning. If your locksmith is a nighthawk, he is the perfect person for the job.

As friendly as a puppy

A professional locksmith knows that his job is all about customer service. So, he has to have a friendly nature where he gets along with one and all. He must handle irate and difficult customers with ease and know-how to calm them. His friendly nature makes customers warm up to him and trust him. This is the only way he can provide exceptional customer service.

Curious like a cat

An effective locksmith has an inquisitive nature. He wants to know what is wrong with the lock or key. This curiosity is what drives the locksmith to find and rectify your lock issues.

“Never say die” attitude

An excellent locksmith is one who never gives up. He has the will to keep trying and the patience to wait till the problem is solved. Some of the high-security locks have complex issues which take time to solve. If your locksmith gets irritated quickly or gives up halfway, there is no use in hiring him.

Braveheart

Locksmiths often end up in tricky situations. While helping the police, they even have to face outlaws with pinged guns. Every locksmith should remain unruffled even in times of danger.

Honest and ethical

It is easy to find locksmiths but difficult to find an honest one. Yes, there are plenty of dishonest locksmith services that overcharge you at the last minute once the job is over. Bad locksmiths often try to fleece money from you in the form of service charges. Find an ethical and trustworthy locksmith who gives you a price estimate beforehand and sticks to it till the end.

Reasons why a locksmith’s traits are as important as his knowledge or experience

We can easily find experienced locksmiths who can handle all types of locks from traditional deadbolts to biometric locks. Finding competent locksmiths who can solve your lock or key issue in seconds is also easy. But, finding a locksmith company with affordable locksmith prices is difficult. It is equally tough to get an expert who offers courteous locksmith service and consistent support.

All these traits do matter in the long run because you wish to entrust your home or office security in the hands of locksmiths you can trust. It is only these traits that are inbuilt in an exceptional locksmith whom you can trust in an emergency.

A-Access Lock & Key is a local locksmith in Charlotte with all the aforementioned traits. Contact us for our lock and key services.

Teddy Poulos

accesslocksmith.net

Tips for Getting A Stuck Key Out Of Any Lock Fast

It’s one of those busy days when you are in a hurry. You turn the key in the ignition lock cylinder and your key is stuck resulting in a jammed lock. Now, neither does the key come out nor does the ignition switch work. What to do? You can try to jiggle the steering wheel or pry the key out. This may end up damaging your lock and you will have to opt for lock replacement. Why risk all this? Call a professional locksmith instead. He will take the key out gingerly without harming the lock.

Still, if you want to get the key out at once, here are some quick ways to do it.

Tips to help you get a stuck key out of the lock fast.

Using tweezers

The first handy tool that you can get hold of to extract the key from the lock is tweezers. The success of this technique depends on the thickness of the tweezers and the extent to which the key has gone into the lock. If the tweezers are of the wrong size or thickness, they will push the key farther into the look.

Use a wide tweezer of medium thickness and apply light pressure on them while turning the key. Excessive pressure will only push the key more inside with every hard grip. Do not attempt this if you do not have the right tweezers or know how to do it

Using super glue

Apply superglue to the broken key stick it onto a wood piece and then, try to pull it free.

Again, in this method, avoid excess pressure on the key. Also, avoid applying too much glue as it might damage the lock.

This method seems to be a simple solution but has often been counterproductive.

Striking the lock

Keep the lock with the keyhole in the downward position and strike the keyway with one single blow with a hammer. Here, the crucial point is that strike the keyhole in the exact position to get the key loose by gravity.

This method is quite risky as you have to apply a strong blow to the lock with a hammer. Too much of a force might result in breaking the lock itself. That is why it is best to use this method as a last resort.

Grasp and pull

Take 2 pieces of metal and place them on either side of the stuck key. Gently probe the keyway and try pulling the key out. With the metal holding the key on either side, grasp the key firmly and pull. With luck, if you try this repeatedly, the key might come out.

You can try to do this safely without damaging the locking mechanism.

Key extractor

In case your locksmith is late in arriving, and you do not have the patience to wait, try this. For this, you need to buy this key extraction tool. Even some locksmith services use this tool professionally.

To use this tool, put the extractor inside the keyway along with the biting side of the stuck key. Actually, what you are trying to do here is to hook the extractor to the teeth of the key. Once you get the grip, just twist and pull. When it comes out, grab the key.

Not everyone can buy this tool on time. So, it is always better to call expert auto locksmiths for efficient service.

Using a bit of lubricant

Apply a lubricant like WD-40 spray on the keyhole and jiggle the key up and down. With luck, the key may come out.

A broken key or a stuck key may ruin the lock mechanism, if not attended properly. You need professional assistance from a qualified automotive locksmith. They can offer roadside assistance to extract the key and repair the faulty lock at affordable rates.

Whenever you have misfortune with locks or keys, call a mobile locksmith. They will reach you in minutes. They offer unbeatable service at reasonable prices for all key replacement services. Contact A-Access Lock & Key for locksmith services in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Teddy Poulos

accesslocksmith.net

How To Remove a Locked Door Knob from the Outside

Locked out of your own house? Don’t get frustrated. You can try picking the lock or use some metal tools to unlock the doorknob. If this does not work, try to remove the doorknob from the outside. Whatever you do, try not to cause damage to the doorknob.

Here are some tricks from our locksmith expert to try to remove a locked doorknob from the outside.

Tools required to remove a locked doorknob from outside

Basically, you must have some metal tools to start the process. These include screwdrivers, drilling machines, etc. If you cannot get hold of a metal tool, get a plastic card like a credit card, a coat hanger, or a paper clip ready. Apart from these essential tools, it is good to have a lubricant like WD-40 ready.

Unlocking a locked doorknob from the outside without a key

Before you try to remove a doorknob fully, it is wise to try to unlock it first. Start with using simple and basic tools like these-

Paper clip trick

Start by looking for a small hole on the knob on its outer non-locking surface. Inside this hole, is a small reset button. Use a sturdy paper clip and push it into this hole. Search for the button and press hard. The button clicks and your door is unlocked.

If you cannot find a paperclip, use barbecue skewers.

Coat hanger trick

For exterior doors that lock with a spring-bolt latch. In many doors, this latch grips the strike plate to keep the door closed. This latch may be inclined at an angle and have a plunger to prevent the bolt from moving.

If you have such a knob, see if the angle is facing you. Now you can use a metal coat hanger. Unbend the coat hanger and extend it into a thin rod with a hook. Feed this rod between the door and door jamb. Now rotate the rod in such a way that its hook catches hold of the latch bolt. Now, all you have to do is hold the doorknob as usual and turn it in the right direction. Simultaneously, pull the coat hanger towards you with gentle pressure. The coat hanger must grip the latch bolt and free it from the strike plate while being pulled.

Using screwdriver

If your doorknob has visible screws, you can easily use any ordinary screwdriver to remove them. You can use a flathead screwdriver or a Phillips-head Screwdriver.

The Phillips-head screwdriver is a Star screwdriver used for removing screws with heads having a star pattern in their notch. This screwdriver is best if the screws are visible.

For the screws with a straight line or linear notch, the flat-head Screwdriver will do. This screwdriver comes in handy even if the screws are not visible. You can always insert the flathead screwdriver into the catch hold of the doorknob and pry it out.

Removing the rosette or faceplate of a doorknob

Inspect the rosette, faceplate, or trim plate. Some have visible screws while some others are of the snap-in variety without screws. For the ones with screws, unscrew using an ordinary screwdriver. If there are no screws, pry the faceplate open and the screws will be visible at the back for your or unscrew.

Removing a lever door knob without screws

A lever doorknob will have a hole near its neck. Insert a slotted screwdriver or an awl into it gently. Hold the lever and pull it with the shaft. Now, the lever knob comes out fully.

Removing Kwikset doorknobs

If the Kwikset doorknob has screws, look for the hole in the neck of the knob. Insert a straightened paper clip into it and press till it clicks with a snap. Now, the knob releases and you can pull it out from both sides of the door.

If there are no screws, locate the awkward angle, insert an object and pry the faceplate to expose the lever. Push the lever down to free the entire knob.

Although all the above tricks look easy, they might cause damage to the door if you try them. Instead, call a professional locksmith serving Charlotte like A-Access Lock & Key and get the doorknob removed with efficiency and without a trace. Contact us today for any locksmith services in Charlotte.

Teddy Poulos

accesslocksmith.net

Can a Professional Locksmith make me a house key if I don’t have the original?

Of course, a skilled and experienced Locksmith can make a replacement key in case of emergency. As professional locksmiths, their foremost duty is to help a person by giving them their replacement key at the right time. An only licensed locksmith is allowed to duplicate keys without the original. So, next time if the original home, office, or vehicle key is missed, do not panic. Call professional locksmiths and get the replacement key, without the original.

Is it really true that a professional locksmith can make a new key without the original?

Yes, Only Experienced locksmiths can create a new key even if you have lost the original. And this is possible due to the following reasons

Training
Professional locksmiths have undergone special training needed to make a new key even without the original. They will be experienced to make a new key for any type of lock system. Your local handyman will not be trained to do this job. He might even damage your locking system in the process. But professionally Skilled locksmiths know how to make a replacement without damaging the lock system even if the original is missing.

Expertise
Professional locksmiths have the technical expertise needed to make a new key without the original. They have developed this skill with years of hands-on experience. Your local locksmith service may not have this kind of experience or expertise
License
Making a new key without the original is sometimes considered illegal. But not for professional locksmiths.Professional locksmiths have the license from ALOA – Association of Locksmiths of America. This license grants them permission from the government to handle such special tasks.
Trust
It is a big risk to make a replacement key like the original. There are high chances of this new key being duplicated in secret and used for theft. That is why customers cannot trust any random person other than Professional locksmiths. Since they have professional accreditation, their license will be revoked if they do not follow their terms and conditions. So there is no issue with them. Professional locksmiths can be blindly trusted for making keys without the original.
How does a professional locksmith make a new key without the original?
A professional locksmith has some special techniques to make a new key without the original. Here are some listed below.
- Lock impression
For this, the professional locksmith uses a key blank, a file, and some cutting instruments. First, he inserts the key blank into the lock and turns the cylinder pins. This process called binding allows the locksmith to know the portions of the key which need filling. These portions are filed and cut to make the new key.
The locksmith does this binding process several times to make the lock impressions on the key blank. He has to insert and remove the key blank several times with precision. This process has to be done with extreme care to get the cuts perfectly. It needs skill and training to get it right and that is why we need a professional locksmith.
- Dismantling the lock
The professional locksmith videos this if the lock is too complex and he is not able to take its impressions. Then he dismantles the lock and redoes the pins of its cylinders. This process requires skill and experience as the slightest mistake can cause misalignment and damage the lock. If done right, the key blank can now be cut to the new lock’s pin specifications.
- Cutting by code
Nowadays, many lock manufacturers stamp a code on the lock and key. These codes are available on the lock’s user manual too. Using this code, the professional locksmith can identify the matching key’s cuts. He then uses a code cutter and a key blank to cut the new key. This process needs the skill and acumen of a professional locksmith.
Original key missing for your vehicle, home, or office? No worries. Call a professional locksmith and get a new key made even without the original. No stress, no risks. Only a new key within minutes, thanks to your professional locksmith.Call A-Access Lock & Key in Charlotte, NC today.

Teddy Poulos

accesslocksmith.net