The set is covered by a lifetime warranty, and the company has an excellent customer service team. Kwikset designs its locks to withstand potential intruders, thanks to steel balls placed in front of the key face to resist drilling and a side-locking bar rather than the typical pin tumbler, which is more susceptible to bumping. The set initially comes with two different keys for the knob and deadbolt, but you can easily rekey them to be identical if it's more convenient. You'll also get a smart key that allows you to rekey the lock quickly and easily without the help of a locksmith (a handy option when your teen loses their keys yet again). It includes a door knob with keyed entry and a matching deadbolt. This stylish yet affordable set has a satin nickel finish and is a good-looking choice for a front door. Type: Deadbolt | Material: Solid nickel | ANSI/BHMI Grade: 1 This standard deadbolt lock is popular in the satin nickel finish and is sometimes available in others, such as brass and bronze. Even the screws are steel, offering additional protection, as do hardened inserts within the lock that discourage drilling attempts. It comes with a steel strike plate with long screws that get secured into the frame, and the bolt is made of hardened steel that the company says is 'virtually impossible' to saw through using a hacksaw. The company also maintains a huge master key system, thanks to the different angles, cuts, and positioning used. Medeco keys are also protected by patent, so they can't be copied without your consent there's a card system that allows authorized users to make their own copies. And because it's made by Medeco and not one of the smaller companies, you're likely to find many locksmiths to help you install it and, if needed, service it. The Medeco Maxum Residential Single Cylinder Deadbolt won best overall with a keyed deadbolt for being extremely protective against break-in tactics like drilling, bumping, picking, and force. Type: Electronic deadbolt | Material: Silicone | ANSI/BHMI Grade 1: Yes Overall, this earned a spot as a top pick for its convenience, ease of use, and high ANSI security rating. Installation is easy since you only need a Phillips head screwdriver, but you can call a locksmith if that’s more comfortable for you. Changing the battery is tricky, but it shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. The lock runs on a 9-volt battery, and there's an indicator to let you know when it's getting low.

The keypad is backlit, so it's easy to see even in the dark, and the numbers are etched on silicone so they won't rub off after being exposed to snow and rain. If you're going on vacation or want to ensure that no one can enter your home unexpectedly, you can switch the keypad to 'privacy mode.' You can easily and quickly set up to 19 codes for different people, which can be helpful if you're hosting houseguests or need to grant access to a housecleaner, babysitter, or contractor. This electronic deadbolt meets ANSI Grade 1 security standards and comes with a backup key as well. The Spruce Home Improvement Review BoardĪn electronic keypad lock is a nice middle ground for someone who doesn't want to deal with keys but isn't ready to move on to a smart lock.In the next section, we'll see how a locksmith goes about picking this sort of lock. But, with a lot of practice, it is possible to solve the puzzle by other means. Since the pins are hidden inside the lock, it's fairly difficult for most people to move the plug without the correct key. This simple puzzle design is very effective. Without any pins binding it to the housing, the plug moves freely, and you can push the bolt in and out. To put it another way, the key will push the pins up so that all of the upper pins are inserted completely in the housing, while all of the lower pins rest completely in the plug.

The correct key will push each pin pair up just enough so that the point where the two pins come together lines up perfectly with the space where the cylinder and the housing come together (this point is called the shear line). The incorrect key will push the pins so that most of the top pins are still partly in the plug and partly in the housing. When you insert a key, the series of notches in the key push the pin pairs up to different levels. The position of these upper pins keeps the plug from turning - the pins bind the plug to the housing. When no key is inserted, the bottom pin in each pair is completely inside the plug, while the upper pin is halfway in the plug and halfway in the housing. Springs at the top of the shafts keep the pin pairs in position in the plug. Each pair rests in a shaft running through the central cylinder plug and into the housing around the plug. The main components in the pin-and-tumbler design are a series of small pins of varying length.

Deadbolt lock