Types of Keyless Locks Used by Businesses

People are more familiar with keyless locks now more than ever. This is because they are popping up all over the place. Now-a-days, most people like the convenience of being able to quickly move in and out of a place without signing in and out. This old process of identifying who is coming and going is a thing of the past. You will find keyless locks in government buildings, apartments, schools, hospitals and other areas where there is a lot of foot traffic. Keyless locks offer a more efficient way of moving to and from one place to another. There are plenty of other benefits that your business can derive from having keyless locks installed.

Reasons to Have Keyless Locks

·         You will not have to rekey a lock when a persons position has been terminated

·         No worry of having a key duplicated

·         No lost or stolen keys

·         A person cannot gain entry back inside after hours

·         You don’t have to look for you keys down in the bottom of your bag

·         A person can easily be given authorization to enter

·         Use of a master fob key system

·         Specified area access

·         Decreases the amount of theft

·         Minimize number of people on property

·         Tracks visitors

·         Give management access into specified areas of the building

At Reliable Locksmith & Safe in Downtown Miami, we are able to install a variety of keyless locks for you no matter the type of business you own or operate. Many locksmith services are capable of installing card only access systems.

There are various forms of keyless locks, which include:

Electronic Keypads

Electronic Keypad Lever Combo

Intercom Systems

Manual Keypad Locks

Benefits of Various Types of Keyless Locks

Electronic Keypad Locks

·         Employees can be given their own access code

·         When someone else is aware of your access code, it can be quickly removed quickly

·         Since there is no hard-wiring required, it is often less expensive to install

·         Emergency features to override key access in case of emergencies

·         Monitoring remotely to see who’s coming and going and the times

·         The system can be operated by battery’s, which can be replaced

·         When power is out, you can still gain entry through the door

Electronic Keypad Lever Combo

·         Allows proximity capability

·         Uses an access code or a fob card

·         Codes can be easily replaced when necessary

·         Emergency key override feature optional

·         Some systems offer battery operated locks

·         Tracks who enters and leaves the building and what time

·         It is less expensive since there is no hard-wiring and is cheaper than those that require hard-wiring.

Many of the features offered appear to be similar to those that a standard electronic keypad has to offer but this one offers a few more features that are worth considering.

Intercom System

This is helpful in determining who you should allow in and out. It gives you added protection of knowing exactly who is coming in and out of your business. This is becoming one of the most popular options that businesses are using today. Companies that have existing electrical wiring can use the same wiring for their intercom system. Our qualified locksmiths at Reliable Locksmith & Safe if able to install your new intercom system in one day. Intercom systems are usually found in a condo, apartment, government, and school buildings. It provides tenants with a secure way to access entry into the building. Administrators are capable of deleting and adding new tenants. This is generally a part of the maintenance of the buildings access control system. Locksmith companies also offer to handle this for many businesses.

Manual Keypad Locks

While this type of lock used to be found typically in businesses, our Downtown Miami locksmiths are now installing more of them inside of homes. Since more and more people are using this type of lock, they are now more affordable than ever.

Benefits of Manual Keypad Locks

·         Combo lock and deadbolt

·         Used by most small businesses

·         They offer a deadbolt version

·         Doesn’t require batteries because there is no electrical wiring

·         Codes can be changed when needed

·         A storeroom version is offered that locks the door as soon as it closes

Programming an Intercom System

Some intercom systems can be programmed from a telephone. By typing in the last name of the person you wish to visit, the homeowner is able to press a button and give their visitor access. The visitor may be able to gain access on their own if they have the right code. The tenant can also press a button and allow the visitor access inside. Having this type of system can also be a great way to protect your tenants from outside intruders. Burglary and theft are minimized when an intercom system is installed. Large intercom systems are able to be programmed over the Internet. They are accompanied by onscreen instructions that will enable visitors to gain access.

Since there are so many keyless options and various price points, it stands to reason that many businesses have them. Considering the level of experience that they have will make it possible for you to make a well-informed decision as to which type of keyless entry you wish to have installed. Hiring the right locksmith service will also enable you to make sure that, whichever type of keyless entry you have installed is installed correctly. If the system isn’t properly installed, it will not be of much use to you. Consider a reputable and reliable locksmith that will take the time to point out the advantages and disadvantages to the various types of security systems that are offered to you today. Regardless of how big or small your business is; there is surely a security system that will be best for you. Don’t have a system installed that you are not 100% happy with. Continue pursuing a system that will suit all of your business needs. A reputable and reliable locksmith will often offer you a complimentary consultation so that you are given full disclosure as to what you can expect from the various systems offered.

What To Do To Prevent Lockouts

Ok, so you know that you have great locks at your property and you trust them to help you prevent anyone from being able to break in. You had brand new locks installed on your front door, and you even have locks on your windows, garage door and patio. Surely, there is no point of your property that is unlocked. But herein comes a problem. 

What happens when the person who is trying to get into the property is you? What happens when the person who is locked out is the homeowner or commercial property owner or even the car owner? Lockouts happen, and thanks to the team at Reliable Locksmith & Safe, people everywhere now have access to tips that might actually help them to prevent the lockout from ever happening in the first place. This is a locksmith that serves the Downtown Miami, FL area but their information can help people everywhere. Have a look at ways to help you avoid getting locked out. 

1. Have a spare key. This might seem simple, but many people fail to make copies of their office keys and residential property keys. You could leave a copy with a neighbor that you know you can count on, or even with a family member who lives in the area. Leave one with your best friend. This isn’t a bad idea for a person who travels often and wants to have a companion drop by to check in on their pet or to water their plants. So, having a spare key can serve a multitude of purposes.
2. Invest in a hide a key device. This is a place in which you can store your spare key so that it is on your property but out of plain sight. You won’t have to wait for a neighbor or friend if you ever get locked out. Some hide a keys look like a rock, for instance, and it could be placed in your backyard by the pool. It could even be placed right in your front lawn. It should be a device that just looks like something natural, or that doesn’t have the appearance of a box that is hiding a key. People tend to be impressed with how good these solutions actually look, as they expect them to sort of stand out as obvious.
3. Switch out your locks with a keyless lock. If you have a keyless device at your home, office or for your vehicle, then you can rest assured that you won’t get locked out because you are missing a key, because you won’t have a key that can get lost. Of course, you could end up forgetting your lock code, but this is an entirely different problem. Some keyless devices allow you to gain entry using fingerprint recognition, so if you have a difficult time keeping track of codes, you might want to opt for a fingerprint reader. This is yet another way to prevent a lockout from happening.
4. Get rid of self-locking door knobs. Some people really like door knobs that lock on their own, but other people can’t stand them because they know that they will end up getting locked out. When your door automatically locks after you walk out, there is bound to be a problem which comes up eventually. It might be a wise idea to replace these locks with ones that have to physically be locked using a key.
5. Make sure that if you have a keyless device, you don’t have it set up so that it automatically locks you out completely and becomes disabled after a certain amount of incorrect passcode attempts. Of course, you might want to have it set up so that this is the case, but consider then telling a trusted friend or family member what the code is, so if you ever happen to forget, you can just call them and they will be able to provide you with the accurate passcode. With all of the passwords that we need to remember today, it can be difficult to get confused, especially if we aren’t using the same one for everything. You likely have a passcode for your phone, your laptop, your cell phone account, your energy company account, and any other account you have. It can definitely be easy to get numbers confused. So share this information with someone you can count on, and you can avoid having to call in a locksmith for help, which will certainly save some cash.
6. If you think you are locked out of your vehicle, check the back doors to make sure none of them are unlocked before you call yourself “locked out.” Locksmiths get a lot of calls from people who think they are locked out, but there is another door that is open. If you are at your home, check the patio door or back door.

These are some tips you should keep in mind from preventing a lockout from ever happening. You can’t really be locked out, at least for long, if you have a friend who has your spare key, or if you have a key hidden away on your property, or if you forgot your passcode but a loved one could tell you what it is over the phone. Of course, a final option is to call in a local locksmith. Usually, a lock and security provider will make themselves available to customers 24 hours a day, every day of the week. 

As a matter of fact, they will even be available to help you get back in during a lockout on holidays. They understand that these things happen, and they want to be there for you when they do. If you’re in Downtown Miami, Florida then be sure to call the experienced team at Reliable Locksmith & Safe if you ever end up locked out of your property, whether that means you are locked out of your place of work, house or even your car.

Lock and Key Types

There are hundreds of different lock and key types. There’s a good reason for that; they work! Locks and locking mechanisms have been successfully used for thousands of years. Bronze Age civilizations used locks to keep unwanted intruders, burglars and the religious uninitiated out of temples, palaces, tombs and treasure buildings. Ancient Romans used to lock their shops at night and on holidays much like shop keepers today. Even children today know that locks are for protecting our valuables. Reading this post from our Reliable Locksmith & Safe staff won’t make you an expert but it will increase your appreciation for these needed and ever valuable tools that we use to secure our own treasures.

Auto locks and keys

We learn at from an early age that our cars, trucks, and SUVs can lock and keep out those that shouldn’t be using them. Auto locks can secure our ignitions, trunks, doors; even our glove compartments. We use the keys to gain entrance and also to make the car engine turn on and off. Older cars use the traditional car key while cars made after 1995 mainly use transponder chip keys to prevent car theft. Many cars use keyless entry locks and systems to open, lock and even drive the car.

Pin tumbler locks

Think of the work “key” and the image you most likely see in your mind is the traditional key with one end larger (for holding) while the main body of the key is the blade which has a series of grooves in it. Keys like this are used in modern day traditional locks. The grooves in the key blade engage the pins in the lock so that if they key matches, they cause the lock to open. Keys and locks like these can be used in a huge variety of ways and you literally see them everywhere. You can have duplicate keys made just about anywhere. You don’t need a locksmith in Downtown Miami, FL to have one cut; you can easily go to any mail center, home improvement store, gas station or even convenience store and have it done for a very small charge.

Tubular locks and keys 

Read our Reliable Locksmith & Safe description and you’ll instantly recognize these all over the place! They are also known as radial locks and circle pin tumbler locks. These are round locks with round keys. Inside the lock are 6 to 8 pins arranged in a circular pattern. That’s why the key that is inserted is tubular or circular in shape. You often see these unusual locks on elevators, bicycle locks, coin operated washing machines, vending machines and even on slot machines in Las Vegas!

Keyless entry systems

We briefly touched on these earlier. Just like the name says; keyless entry systems allow us to access vehicles, ignitions, buildings and other property without the use of keys, per se. The user simply enters a series of numbers into a keypad in order to open the lock. This system is perfect for cutting down on theft as no one can simply steal your key or have a copy made and then drive off with your car. Even your auto remote can be used to alarm, start and even turn off your car. A built-in mechanism shuts down the process and even sounds an alarm if someone was to enter too many number sequences in an effort to “guess” the right combination.

Master key systems

This is a very practical method of rekeying locks so that they fit one key. Using a master key, you can access several locks without having to use multiple keys. It isn’t useful in most everyday situations like at home or for your car. It IS useful in places like schools, universities, hospitals, apartment complexes, office buildings and so forth where multiple rooms, closets, storage facilities and offices all have a different key (for the users) but can be accessed by one master key that the owner or manager has access to. We’ve all seen that poor janitor that has the very ponderous key ring with dozens of jangling keys hanging from it. Master key conversions are useful in many situations and here at Reliable Locksmith & Safe we can help you decide if it’s also right for you.

Transponder keys

Post 1995 most cars use the transponder key system. These specialty keys have drastically cut down on car theft. That’s the good part. What’s the bad? They can be (usually) expensive to duplicate or program if they are lost, broken or stolen. Transponder keys have an embedded chip located in the head or handle of the key. When you insert this key into the ignition and turn it, a signal is sent from this chip to your car’s computer. If the signal matches; presto – your car starts! Car theft is cut down by not being able to copy these keys at your local convenience store.

Key cards

These handy cards are becoming more and more prevalent as they are so easy to implement and track. These key cards are made of plastic and look much like credit cards. They even have a magnetic strip down the back. This strip is encoded with numbers and characters. When the card is swiped, the internal reader in the lock either recognizes the sequence or it doesn’t. Key cards can be used in residential applications like luxury apartments as well as in commercial uses like high end hotels, office buildings, hospital rooms, retirement homes, retail stores and even institutional uses.

Find out more!

Do you need something that needs to be locked? It could be anything from a bedroom trunk to a new commercial building. Different locks do different tasks. Some are low security like the tiny lock on a diary and others can involve more advanced measures like video surveillance and or high security locks. For best results, check with your favorite Downtown Miami locksmith shop or call Reliable Locksmith & Safe for free consultations and no-cost, no-obligation additional details!