Lock types for insurance proposal

Lex Luthor

I got an insurance proposal in the door today for the house and one of the questions is about which type of door locks I have in the house...(eg. mortice 2 or 5-lever, nighlatch, rimlock) is the question.

I have the standard front and back door locks , you know the type, you turn the handle upwards 3/4 way, the doors locks and then you can turn the key. what type are they?

I also have one of those Yale locks on teh front that you have to use a key to open from outside but can be locked internally by flicking the button up. Is that what they mean by a nightlatch?

Lex Luthor

I've just been told that the lever mortice locks are the type with a key similar to internal door locks...and the difference between 2 & 5 lever is the amount of notches on the key which corresponds to the amount of levers in the lock.

So what do the ones I have are called?

Victor

Lex Luthor wrote:

I have the standard front and back door locks , you know the type, you turn the handle upwards 3/4 way, the doors locks and then you can turn the key. what type are they?

Do you mean the type popular on modern PVC and metal doors and sliding doors? I'm not actually sure what they are called, but check the face plate where the bolt is you will probably find make / model.

Lex Luthor wrote:

I also have one of those Yale locks on teh front that you have to use a key to open from outside but can be locked internally by flicking the button up. Is that what they mean by a nightlatch?

Yes, realise that they can be opened easily from the outside. You can get versions that have dead locks attached. Make sure the dead lock is recessed, not surface mounted.

Stoner

Lex where do you life? have you a nice TV?

Recently I changed the locks on my house and my mothers house. She had the same situation as you on the front door so i added a chubb dead lock
On the inside front door I changed the lock to the lever lock with a built in dead lock that Victor said not to get, the only good thing about them really is that if you lock the dead bolt then someone cant get out of your house, and the little button is not on this type of lock so the guys can break in from the back and slip the button up and you cant open it with the key, thats why i changed this for her so the locking of the doors inside and out is under the contol of the person with the key and can't be bypassed by a robber leaving your house by the front door, or stopping you from getting back into your house while he leaves through the back door.

I also changed the lock on the front of my house from the one that came with the door, its still the one you turn the handle upwards 3/4 way but it was a crappy lock, east to pick and pull completly out of the door, I replaced it with the flat key type and got the same one in the back door, so i only have the one key from and back, once again I keep the keys with me so that If someone breaks in they are locked in and cant get my stuff out easily.

delly

Having the same problem myself at the moment, and don't want to invalidate any future claim. Found info here which may help. I can't see much difference between the rimlock and nightlatch visually, but is there a difference in how they operate which seperates them?

Sidestory, neighbour had a break in recently which woke them up at about 5 in the morning when the alarm sounded. Burglar had smashed the kitchen window, knowing there was an alarm fitted, just to grab a handbag which was left on view. By the time neighbour woke up to realise what had gone on, thief was well gone. Could have been trying to steal keys to the family motor, or just hoping for some luck with a purse, ethier way it made me shiver with the thought that regardless of what locks were fitted, he got in and out no problem.

I currently have extra PVC locks on my downstairs windows as well as having a rimlock with the standard pull the handle up, turn the key lock on the front and back doors. One thought which often goes through my mind is that i'd be probably be burnt to a crisp in the event of a fire, by the time i unlocked whatever windows and doors i needed to get out of the house.

iregk

Further on this the locks question my insurance policy states that I have to have an alarm system thats certified to (can't remember) some standard. I called about 5 alarm installers inculding a well known company and none of them ever heard of it.

I ended up getting one that I have been told is one of the best on the market. How the hell are you supposed to get an alarm to a standard when no body has ever heard of it? Two totally seperate people have told me this is an insurance scam of sorts to generate cash as they refer you to their alarm company who charge a fortune.

KangaRu7

You ned your alarm installed by a certified alarm company to the certified standard and have it maintained by a certified company. You cant just buy an alarm to a standard andinstall it yourself. Insurance companies won accept tha.