Common lock types
Most doors use a combination of these.
- Knob and lever locks: convenient latches, not security on their own; pair them with a deadbolt
- Deadbolts: the core of exterior door security; single-cylinder has a thumb turn inside, double-cylinder needs a key on both sides
- Mortise locks: a lock body set into a pocket in the door, common in older Baltimore rowhouses and commercial doors; heavy-duty and repairable
- Keypad and smart locks: code or app entry, usually with a key override; great for rentals and families
- High-security locks: pick- and drill-resistant cylinders with restricted keys that cannot be copied without authorization
- Padlocks: only as good as the hasp they hang on; look for hardened shackles and a matching hasp
Problems we fix most
Most lock trouble shows up gradually. Catching it early is cheaper than a lockout.
- Key is hard to turn: often a worn key or dirty cylinder; try a fresh copy cut from the original, not from a copy
- Deadbolt drags: the door has shifted, and the bolt rubs the strike; the strike needs adjusting
- Key spins without unlocking: a broken cam or tailpiece inside the lock
- Keypad dead: usually batteries; if not, the keypad or motor
- Key broke off in the lock: do not dig with a pin; it pushes pieces deeper
Choosing a safe
Fire resistance and burglary resistance are separate ratings. Many inexpensive safes are fire safes that can be pried open quickly.
- For papers, look for a fire rating that covers at least 30 minutes
- For valuables and firearms, look for thick steel, a solid door, and a UL burglary rating if the budget allows
- Bolt it down: an unanchored small safe walks out the door
- Dial locks last for decades; keypads are quicker but need batteries
What to keep in a safe
A safe is for what is hard or impossible to replace.
- Passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, and titles
- Wills, insurance policies, and property deeds
- Spare keys, including a spare car key
- Backup drives and a written list of important accounts
- Jewelry, cash, and heirlooms
- Firearms, as required by Maryland safe-storage law around children
Updated September 2026 by MD Local Locksmith, Maryland Locksmith License #474.