14 Quick, Easy &
Inexpensive Ways to Improve You Home Inspection Report: Tip #9
Copyright
2007 by Tex-Pro Residential & Commercial Inspections
PH:
713.876.2298 www.texproinspections.com
The
security of our homes is important to every homeowner, and most of us
employ dead bolts of some kind on our exterior doors to ensure that
security. Hardware is different and styles vary, but they all fall into
one of two categories; Single Cylinder Dead Bolts, and Double Cylinder
Dead Bolts.
Single Cylinder Dead Bolts have a keyed
exterior cylinder and a "thumb turn" on the inside,
which does not require a key to operate. A Double Cylinder Dead Bolt
requires a key from both sides of the door, interior and exterior.
While this type of bolt offers a bit more security, that very secure
aspect is what makes it a safety hazard to those living inside.
The experiences of consumers, usually tragic, have led to the determination that the Double Cylinder Dead Bolt is a danger to families that live within the houses where they are used. During a fire, in the smoke and the panic to get outside, a Double Cylinder Dead Bolt that is locked, without the key in the cylinder, can mean death to those who would have otherwise survived if the door had employed a Single Cylinder Dead Bolt that they could open without a key. This very real danger is why inspectors now list the double as a safety hazard and in need of repair.
Single Cylinder Dead Bolts start at about $6.00, and are very easy to replace. Simply unscrew the old one, slide the new one into place and tighten the screws. In rare cases some minor wood shaping might be needed ( See Tip #7), but in minutes you will have eliminated the danger to you and your family, and cleared another check form the inspectors list!
Copyright 2007 by Tex-Pro Residential & Commercial Inspections PH: 713.876.2298 www.texproinspections.com