Are Your Locks Safe?

Have you heard of a Bump Key? The bump key is a threat to about 95% of the locks in America.

Standard Locks
Most locks work on a pin tumbler system design that uses a set of lower pins cut at different heights to match the key and a set of top pins that contact the top of the bottom pins. When inserting the right key, the bottom pins are lifted to the correct height, creating an even line between the top and bottom pins so you can turn the key. If one pin is off, the lock cylinder won’t rotate and you can’t turn the key.

The Bump Key
The Bump key can open a lock easily even though it’s not the proper key. By striking the Bump Key in the lock, it transfers a force into the lock system pins making them jump therefore separating the top and bottom pins for a fraction of a second, allowing the lock cylinder to be turned unlocking the lock.

The Pin tumbler lock design is found on most locks we use every day. If a matching bump key is possessed, most likely the lock can be opened in seconds.

Lock Standardization and Quality
There are hundreds of different types of locks available around the world but American manufacturers use primarily use two different key shapes which allows for two kinds of bump keys to open most locks including deadbolts. High quality and deadbolt locks tend to be made to tighter tolerances so the bump key energy transfer process is even more effective.

High Security Locks
Here are some high security locking systems you can research:
- Abloy Protec manufactured in Finland
- Medeco manufactured in Salem, Virginia
- BiLock manufactured in Australia

Protect your home and other valuables by installing bump key proof locks in your home and other valuable areas.

Protect Your Home While Your Away

Over the last year we have done some major whole-house remodeling projects that were as a result of furnace failure while the owners were out of town. This had prompted us to provide some information for caring and protecting your home when leaving for an extended period of time.

It is a good idea to take some precautions to minimize the likelihood of major damage to your home due to equipment malfunction. We have repaired several homes when during lengthy winter vacations the furnace has failed causing freezing and bursting water lines throughout the house. In the summer a washing machine supply hose or icemaker line can burst and with no one home for days, the amount of water damage is unbelievable.

If you are leaving your home to go out of town for more than a few days it is a good idea to:

1. Shut off your water at the main house shut-off by the meter. If you have a well, shut off the well circuit breaker. Do NOT drain the system.

2. Turn off your water heater, or turn it down to ‘vacation’ setting

3. If you are going to be gone for a month or more, fill all drains with RV anti-freeze so they do not dry out. Dry drains will allow sewer gas to flow back into the house.

4. Have a friend or neighbor check your home on a regular basis (daily if possible).

Other things you can do to protect your home while you are gone:

1. Check to see if your furnace thermostat has a battery. If it does, change it yearly. Some thermostats have a battery power supply and do not control the furnace if the battery dies. If this happens while you are on a two-week vacation you will come home to a house full of frozen burst pipes.

2. There are several models of home monitoring systems. Some have a feature that will call to alert you if the temperature of your home drops below a set level. Others are integrated with a thermostat so you can control the temperature of your home from anywhere in the world through phone or internet connection.
If you have any questions about protecting your home, give us a call.