It's Your Choice. Ultimately, whether you choose to have your deadbolt and door lock open with the same key is your choice. There isn't necessarily a one size fits all answer. If you want to have separate keys for a door that currently uses only one key, it is easy enough for a locksmith to set it up for you.
It's something homeowners need to know. "You might need three locks, but there may be 10 on the shelf, they are all the same key," said Ron Boddie with B&B Locksmiths. Boddie says if you purchase locks from a big box store, there's reason for concern.
Keyed alike means one key fits all locks, for example your front and back door locks can both use the same key or every lock in an office can use the same key. Having your locks keyed alike is very beneficial if you want to open & close all your door locks with one key.
In the U.S., there is no single comprehensive law against dual-cylinder deadbolts. Individual cities and states have local property and fire codes that may prohibit the use of dual-cylinder deadbolts. The code may prohibit the use of dual-cylinder deadbolts in some buildings and allow them in others.
It Is Not Always Possible to Open All Locks with One Key
If your locks are made by different brands or are of different types, you may have no choice but to use different keys for each one, unless you want to replace the locks with ones made by the same manufacturer.
Simply enter the bump key into the deadbolt lock and use a screwdriver or other sturdy-ended tool to hit the end of the key toward the door. The force should cause the key to turn, thus unlocking the door.
Benefits of a Single Key
When purchasing more than one lock, look for packages that have the same “key alike” number on the package. Alternatively, our store associates can key all of your locks to work with the same key. You can also purchase a rekeying kit to swap out pins and springs yourself.
Deadbolts come in two versions. Double Cylinder Deadbolts have a keyed cylinder on both sides. This is a good option for doors with glass or windows since an intruder can't break into the door even if the glass/window is broken.
It's a deadbolt that locks from the inside and the outside with a key. This means if the door is locked, there's no getting in or out without a key.
Double-cylinder deadbolt locks are not considered safe for emergency exits. Some safety experts don't believe they belong in residential homes at all. In fact, double-keyed deadbolts are actually illegal in some places.
Changing all your locks to be keyed alike is only possible if the locks are all compatible. “If you want your doors keyed alike, you can test this at home simply by picking a key from one of your doors and inserting it into the different locks. If the key goes in the lock, then that lock can be keyed alike.”
No. The same company usually offers locks that are keyed-alike (ka), for the homeowners who want their front and back doors to use the same key, and to have a total of four identical keys to open either lock.
Any key that can open two or more locks is considered a master key. Many master keys use pin and tumbler locks. For a master key to work, though, there must be something called master wafers inside the lock. When the master wafers line up, the key and lock can turn freely.
Also in the non-forced entry category, there is no doubt Schlage is better. With a better, more precise manufacturing process and 2 additional security pins than the Kwikset deadbolt, Schlage locks are significantly harder to pick, bump or compromise in non-destructive ways.
Double lock means that all opening handles are released mechanically when locking from the outside, which makes it impossible to open the doors from the inside.
Tip. Cut around the perimeter on both sides of the deadbolt using a sharp utility knife to avoid peeling or damaging the door's finish during lock removal. Have on hand both a flat-head and Phillip's screwdriver to remove the deadbolt. Some locksets incorporate both types of screws.
Double-cylinder locksets are keyed on both sides; they function with a key from both the exterior and the interior of the door. This means that a home or business owner would need to use a key to engage or retract the lock bolt even from the inside.
The Keyed One Side function is a Single Cylinder deadbolt. It has a keyed cylinder on the outside and a thumb turn to lock and unlock the door on the inside. Keyed One Side.
While the single-cylinder deadbolt only features a locking mechanism requiring a key on one side, the double-cylinder deadbolt has it on both. This means that a key will be required to turn the lock both on the inside of the door and the outside. This is the main difference between these two types of deadbolts.
Negatives: While convenient, keyed alike locks are less secure than their keyed different counterparts. Keyed alike locks are optimal when locking indoor applications but they are not secure enough for exterior applications.
You can pick any keyed deadbolt lock with two basic tools. The first is the pick itself, which is a long, rigid piece of metal or plastic that fits easily into the keyhole and won't bend easily when you push it against something.
Let's begin with 'Keying Alike'. Essentially this is where all locks within a set have the same key code, or in other words, one key can used to open multiple locks within the set. Keying locks alike is a great time saving solution as, with only one key, time does not need to be spent looking for the correct one.
Unfortunately, you can not unlock a deadbolt with a credit card. Credit cards will only work with slanted-latch-style locks. Furthermore, the slant of the latch must be facing you so that you may press it in using your card.