Most homeowners only think about their locks when something goes wrong: a key snaps, a deadbolt sticks, or keys go missing. A short yearly review of the locks on your house prevents most of those surprises and makes the home harder to break into. This checklist walks through what to look at, room by room and door by door, and when it makes sense to call a professional.
1. Start with the exterior doors
Every door that leads outside should have a deadbolt, not just a knob or handle lock. The spring latch in a knob holds the door closed, but it is short and angled, which means it can sometimes be pushed back. A deadbolt has a square bolt that only moves when you turn the key or thumb turn, and it reaches about an inch into the door frame.
Turn each deadbolt with the door closed. It should slide all the way out without you pushing or lifting the door. If you have to lean on the door to lock it, the door has sagged or the frame has shifted, and the bolt is probably not fully extending. That is both a security gap and a sign the lock will wear out early.
2. Look at lock quality, not just appearance
Locks sold in the United States are often rated to standards published by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. Higher grades have passed tougher tests for strength and durability. You can read how the grading works on the BHMA website. For most homes, a well-installed residential deadbolt with a solid grade is enough; very cheap builder-grade hardware is worth upgrading on the front and back doors.
3. Check the strike plate and screws
When doors are kicked in, the lock rarely breaks. Instead, the thin wood around the strike plate splits. Remove one screw from each strike plate and look at its length. Many are only three-quarters of an inch long and only reach the trim. Replacing them with three-inch screws that bite into the wall framing is one of the cheapest security upgrades available. Do the same with at least one screw in each hinge.
4. Do not forget the garage entry door
The door between the garage and the house is often a lighter interior door with a simple knob lock. If the garage door is ever left open or a remote is stolen from a car, that inside door is all that stands between someone and your living room. It deserves a deadbolt and a reinforced strike just like the front door.
5. Sliding doors and windows
Sliding patio doors usually rely on a small hook latch. A bar or dowel in the bottom track keeps the door from sliding even if the latch fails, and anti-lift screws in the top track stop the panel from being lifted out. For ground-floor windows, make sure every latch closes fully and add pin locks or window stops where needed. Keep in mind that bedroom windows may be emergency exits, so anything you add must open easily from the inside.
6. Count your keys
Write down who has a key to your home: family, neighbors, a cleaner, a dog walker, a contractor from a past project. If you cannot account for every copy, or if you recently moved in, rekeying is the simple fix. Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing lock so old keys stop working, without replacing the hardware.
7. Maintain what you have
Dust and grit wear locks over time, and winter moisture can freeze exterior cylinders. Once a year, blow out each keyway with compressed air and add a small amount of dry graphite or PTFE lubricant. Avoid oily sprays, which attract dirt. If a key needs to be wiggled or forced, have the lock serviced before the key breaks inside it.
8. Keypads and smart locks
Electronic locks are convenient, but they need fresh batteries and good habits. Replace batteries before winter, delete codes you no longer need, and avoid obvious combinations. Know how your model opens if the batteries die.
When to call a locksmith
Most of the steps above are do-it-yourself jobs. A professional is useful for rekeying, upgrading to stronger hardware, fixing doors that will not latch, or getting back in after a lockout without damage. Choice City Locksmith is a mobile locksmith in Fort Collins, Colorado. Call (970) 803-1100, 5 AM to 9 PM daily.
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