locksmtih service

10 Locksmith Secrets You Probably Didn’t Know

Posted on by admin

Unless you’ve worked with a locksmith (or you are a locksmith), you probably don’t know very much about one of the world’s oldest professions.

Ready to get an inside look at this interesting trade? Here are 10 locksmith secrets we’re guessing that you didn’t know.Interesting Locksmith Facts

1) The Best Lock is a Properly-Installed Deadbolt

A good dead bolt has at least a one inch throw along with a security plate on the strike side (with throws at least three inches long extending all the way into the door’s wood frame).

PS: Many locksmiths will agree that general contractors don’t know how to install deadbolts, which is why many homes are outfitted with deadbolts that aren’t properly installed.

2) Locked Safes Probably Aren’t As Exciting As You Think

To many people, locked safes are a world of exciting opportunities. Many people buy a locked safe at a pawn shop for hundreds of dollars dreaming of the exciting treasures they’ll find inside. In reality, most locked safes contain nothing but mouse poop. Of course, you never know for sure until you open it.

3) “Do Not Duplicate” Keys Are Duplicated Frequently

You may have seen a key that says “Do Not Duplicate” on it. You may think, “This key has never been duplicated”. But in reality, these keys are duplicated quite frequently. Fortunately, good locksmiths will be able to install high-security locks with keys that cannot be duplicated at a local hardware store – no matter how much you bribe the hardware store guy.

4) Checking ID for Personal Property is a Tricky Subject

One of the trickiest parts about being a locksmith is ensuring that the person is gaining access to property they actually own. To do that, most locksmiths request an ID. But when you’re opening a car or home, where do you think that ID may be?

5) Cheap Locks from Hardware Stores and Walmart Are Easy to Break

Most cheap locks are stupidly easy to compromise. If you’re looking for a good, cheap lock, look for at least a grade 2. Anything less than that is leaving your property at too much of a risk.

6) Locksmiths See More Dead Bodies Than You Might Think

If you had to name a profession that sees a lot of dead bodies, “locksmith” probably wouldn’t be one of your guesses. But who do you think opens a locked door when someone dies in their home or room? It’s never a good sign when you get a call from a landlord who hasn’t seen their tenant in 2 weeks.

7) No Matter How Stupid Your Mistake Was, Someone Once Messed Up Worse Than You

One of the most entertaining parts of being a locksmith is finding out which new and inventive ways someone locked themselves out of their property. No matter how dumb you think you may be, there’s always somebody who did something dumber to lock themselves out.

8) Most Locksmiths Can Duplicate Automotive Keys

Car dealers will often charge you a pricey fee to duplicate modern automotive keys – like fob keys. In reality, most good locksmiths can easily make identical keys that are indistinguishable from those made by your car dealer – often for half the price.

9) Try WD-40 or Similar Spray

Sometimes, your key isn’t broken: it’s just temporarily stuck because the pins are jammed up. WD-40 or a similar silicone spray can solve this problem without the pricey locksmith service call.

10) Never Forget to Try the Door

It happens every day: somebody pays a costly locksmith fee, only for their car, their window, or some other access point to be open. Always remember to try everything before you call the locksmith. Otherwise, the locksmith will laugh at you if they arrive and the door is wide open.

Thanks to locksmiths like The Key Guy Mobile Locksmith, Central Valley residents in San Joaquin, California can relax knowing a friendly, affordable, local locksmith is on their side. So the next time you need help with a lock or key from a dependable licensed locksmith in Manteca, Stockton, Tracy or other parts of San Joaquin County, call The Key Guy!

What To Do When You’re Locked Out or Lost Your Keys

Posted on by admin

Did you lock yourself out of your car?Locked out of house

Did you misplace your house keys?

Did you do something stupid that you don’t want to talk about?

Whatever the situation may be, your first instinct may be to call the local authorities or emergency services.

Instead, your best bet is often to call a locksmith. A good emergency locksmith can arrive at your location as quickly as possible. They can unlock your car or your home for you and help you gain entry with minimal downtime.

Of course, there are situations when you should consider calling the authorities, a security guard, or local emergency services. If you’re in a parking lot without access to your car and you’re concerned for your safety, then emergency services may be able to help.

Or, if you need to gain access to your home, but are worried that you can’t find a reputable local locksmith, then the authorities may be able to arrive and give you the peace of mind you need.

In most cases, however, calling a locksmith is the fastest way to resolve your problem with a minimal amount of fuss.

How Do Locksmiths Help?

Locksmiths are licensed professionals who have often undergone years of training to hone their craft. They’re good at what they do, and what they do is open locks.

Of course, a modern locksmith does far more than just pick locks. Today’s locksmiths must be trained to handle a wide variety of modern and traditional locking systems – including key fob systems for modern vehicles along with older locks.

Whether your lock is broken, falling apart, or you just lost the key, a locksmith is a certified professional who can come to your aid more rapidly than virtually any other service professional.

How Much Do Locksmiths Cost?

Typically, if a locksmith needs to come to your home and re-key your door locks, you’ll be charged a fee of $40 to $100 for the locksmith to arrive at your home (this is often called a mobile fee) plus an additional $5 to $25 for each lock cylinder.

Labor charges, equipment charges, and other fees can be added on top of that.

If you have a more complex locking system, then you can expect to pay more.

You can also expect to pay significantly more for emergency locksmith services – say, if you need immediate assistance on the evenings or weekends.

You can also pay more depending on your location – say, if you live in a big expensive city or a remote rural location.

Beware of Fraudulent Locksmiths

It’s also important to be wary of fraudulent locksmiths. Some dishonest locksmiths will quote you a rate, only for that rate to change once they show up. The advertised rate may have only covered the cost of the locksmith showing up, for example.

Or, a dishonest locksmith might sell you a “high security lock” for hundreds of dollars – except for the fact that the lock is available for purchase from any Home Depot for $25.

For all of these reasons, finding an honest locksmith is always extremely important. Ask for an estimate upfront and hold your locksmith as close to that estimate as possible.

Locking Yourself Out Doesn’t Have to Be a Disaster

Forgetting the keys in the car or house, or accidentally letting your door close and lock on you with the keys inside, is a horrible feeling. The next time it happens to you, call a locksmith to quickly resolve the situation and regain access to your property ASAP.

In San Joaquin County, California, The Key Guy Mobile Locksmith is the trusted local locksmith to help solve all types of lock-related issues. Whether you’re struggling with an automotive lock or trying to regain access to your home, The Key Guy Mobile Locksmith consists of a team of licensed locksmiths ready to respond as quickly as possible to your situation.