What comes to your mind when you think of your home? It’s the feeling of safety, comfort, and memories you spent there with your family. At the end of the day, no place can offer you a better sleep than your house or apartment.
As a nest provides shelter to a bird and its newborn babies, your apartment is responsible for your safety and well-being. The bird plays a big role in constructing the nest and takes the necessary steps to stop intruders. It would help if you did the same. After all, no home is safe if it’s easily accessible to outsiders.
The door is the primary shied protecting your house from burglars, thieves, or unwanted visitors. A door is incomplete without a lock. The best locks for apartments or homes will make your door impossible to break into, ensuring your life and wealth safety.
9 Best Door Locks For Apartment Door
A good lock makes a door stronger and justifies its purpose of ensuring safety. There are a variety of locks you can choose for your apartment doors. Some door locks perform better than others for your specific need. Below is a description of 7 apartment door locks you can trust for home security.
1. Deadbolt Lock
First up on the list is the deadbolt lock. They are the most common locks on apartment doors and in houses. What makes deadbolt lock special is their simple working mechanism and the tremendous strength they hold. Due to these qualities, deadlock door locks are mostly used on exterior doors where simplicity is much needed.
There are mainly two kinds of deadbolt locks preferred by apartment owners. These are a single-cylinder deadbolt lock and a double-cylinder deadbolt lock. Both door locks have their advantages. A deadbolt lock gets its name from the mechanism that doesn’t use any spring to operate. The lock is deadlocked and doesn’t retract back unless you open it with the key.
A single cylinder deadbolt can be ideal for your apartment door security. Its ideally placed on the entrance door to your apartment as it doesn’t require a key to open from the inside. This makes getting out of the apartment much easier in case of an emergency as there remains little time to look for keys. If you plan to fix a single cylinder deadbolt lock, make sure the door is solid and has no glass decoration. Otherwise, an outsider can easily break the glass and open the lock from the inside.
The double cylinder deadbolt lock offers a key cylinder on both sides, so you need a key to open the door from either side. This type of door lock is ideal for doors that require security on all sides. With a double cylinder lock, you are free to have some glass decoration or space around the door lock.
Deadbolt locks are made from strong materials such as brass. Their strength can be judged from the grading system put on the packaging. A quality deadbolt lock and a strong base on the door frame to hold the lock can make burglars’ lives much harder.
Pros
- Simple mechanism
- Solid build
- Easy access from the inside
Cons
- Not the most high-tech
- Not ideal for interior doors in the apartment
2. Door Knob Locks
Chances are you are looking at a Doorknob lock right now! These are the common types of door locks used inside homes and offices. They serve as minimal resistance you might want to have around your house to get around. Doorknob locks are designed to keep you safe from the unintentional entrance to your personal space.
These locks aren’t meant to protect you from anyone trying to break into your house. They are built not the strongest, and even a solid kick on the door can make them fail. Thus you would be irresponsible to attach a Doorknob lock for external purposes. A simple hard blow to the knobs will leave you vulnerable to burglars and thieves.
So what makes Doorknob locks so popular? It’s the not so difficult to break locking system that makes them ideal for homes, apartments, offices, and hotels. After all, you want easy access to your child’s room if an emergency breaks out. There are many cases when a household member is trapped inside a locked room during a fire, so an easily breakable lock can be a lifesaver.
Pros
- Easy access
- It can be broken easily in case of emergency
Cons
- limited security
3. Cylindrical Lever Locks
Cylindrical lever locks are also widely used as door locks for interior usage. It’s the easy functionality that makes them an ideal pick. Nevertheless, these locks are used more commonly in commercial spaces when compared to residential apartments. So far, Doorknob locks seem to dominate the residential apartment locks market.
These locks aren’t ideal for exterior doors as they can be opened using force and little tricks. You can open up a usual cylindrical lever lock by jamming a credit card if you know your way around it. But in case you want to place one on your door, there is an option to pair it up with a deadbolt lock.
The cylindrical lever locks are ideal for easy interior usage and are fun to operate. So in case you have already got bored of Doorknob locks, a cylindrical lever knock will serve you well. Besides, for many, these locks bring a professional and elegant touch to the overall look of apartments and homes.
Pros
- Ideal as interior security lock
- Looks professional and elegant
Cons
- It wouldn’t be recommended for safety
4. Mortise Locks
Mortise locks have enhanced security systems in homes, apartments, and hotels for ages. Many have passed the test of time and are still preferred as the best apartment door locks. What makes Mortise locks so special?
To begin with, these locks are built to offer you high-end security features. They do not come as preassemble like most locks due to valid reasons. The Mortise lock consists of several parts which are manufactured using high-grade material. These parts need to fit right to work flawlessly. Thus it’s recommended to take expert help to fit one of these strong security locks into your door.
A strong lock needs a stronger door to hold it, and the same is true in the case of mortise locks. You can’t expect the lock to remain fitted on a hollow door as the stress put on the door will be too much to handle. Mortise locks come with a latch bolt and an auxiliary deadlocking latch. Besides, you also get a deadbolt.
Thus Mortise locks are reliable locks for front doors and interior doors behind which you might store your valuables. They are hard to break in and will probably last ages if used with care. The installation process isn’t the easiest as you need to drill space for the lock to fit in perfectly. Nevertheless, you can trust the locks to offer serious resistance to anyone looking to enter your apartments or offices forcefully.
Pros
- Extremely tough
- It lasts a long time
Cons
- Easy installation shouldn’t be expected
5. Euro Cylinder Locks
Euro Cylinder Locks are mostly seen in European countries. They are small in size thus take little space on the door. The most attractive feature of these locks is their easy installation. Perhaps this is why you will still find these locks in America and many parts of the world.
Other than that, the locks don’t do too much justice in terms of security. They tend to break or damage upon force and arent reliable.
Pros
- Small in size
- Super easy installation
Cons
- They are unreliable
6. Electronic Locks
Electronic locks are advanced locks that operate using electrical current. They bring in keyless entry, auto-lock feature, and many more. Electronic locks can play a big role in apartments and industries requiring automation. You need to be careful in calculating the risk of a power cut and other similar emergencies.
Pros
- Utilizes electrical current; thus, less manual work required
- Ideal for automation
Cons
- Has its issues during power shortage
7. Smart Door Locks
If you are looking for the ultimate comfort, a smart lock is perhaps what you need. Smart locks utilize wifi or Bluetooth technology to operate. But there is no end to the innovative features stuffed into the smart locks. These include voice activation, keypad lock, fingerprint sensor, etc. One such example is the august smart lock which packs plenty of advanced smart features.
Pros
- It comes with advanced technology
- Allows remote access via phone
Cons
- It is more expensive compared to traditional locks
8. Padlocks
Padlocks are the ultimate portable door lock you can think of. They don’t require fancy tech or complicated installation. You don’t need to drill a permanent hole specifically for the lock. In short, Padlocks are super convenient.
Being lightweight, you can carry the locks across cities to visit your farmhouse and enjoy a safe stay there. Besides, Padlocks are ideal for apartment garages, shops, restaurants, etc. The padlock is the original portable door lock, and many other locks were designed based on it.
Pros
- Super portable and lightweight
- Ideal for a huge variety of usage
Cons
- It can get lost if not stored properly
9. Cam Locks
Cam Locks are mainly used in cabinets to store kitchen utensils, gadgets on shelves, etc. But you will still need them in your apartment. These are not security locks rather safety locks to protect goods in houses and shops. Nevertheless, they are handy and deserve a position on the list.
Pros
- Keeps goods safe on cabinets and shelves
Cons
- It can be damaged easily
FAQ
How can I make my apartment door more secure?
Answer: You can make your apartment door more secure by equipping them with advanced locks capable of resisting force.
What kind of lock can I put on my apartment door?
Answer: Mortise lock serves well on both interior and exterior apartment doors.
Can I add a lock to my apartment?
Answer: Yes, you can lock your apartment, even staying far away, using smart locks.
What is the most secure form of door lock?
Answer: A combination of different locks is more secure than a single lock.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many types of locks to choose from when securing your property. It is important to do your research and understand the pros and cons of each type before making a decision. If you’re still not sure which lock is right for you, don’t hesitate to call ASAP Locksmith. We would be happy to help you find the perfect solution for your needs.
