When was the last time you looked at your door locks? I mean really took a close look at the locks. We stick a key in the lock and it opens, but how many times do you think about your locks. I know that we are all very busy and thinking about locks is the last thing on our minds. But think about this, they are your first line of defense; they protect you and your family. They protect your "stuff" when you're not there. So maybe it is time to think about your locks.What do you look for and what questions should you ask:  If you live in the Toronto GTA one simple call to Encore Window And Doors is all you need.  Encore can do a Free Assessment of all your door and window locks to make sure you are safe. Encore will make sure that they are not rusted, corroded or otherwise damaged.Look at the locking bolt where it enters the door jamb, any damage or rust?Does your deadbolt lock have at least a 1" throw into the door jamb? This can be measured by opening the door and then locking the deadbolt, the bolt should come out 1" at least.Make sure that the wood around the door called the door jamb is solid and there are no cracks or splits especially where the locking bolts enter the door jamb.Can you account for all your keys? How many keys do you have?These questions can get you thinking about your door locks and the condition they are in. If any changes are needed now is the time to get them done.If you decide that you would feel more secure if you replace them, here are some questions to ask:Do you have deadbolt locks on all exterior doors; if not, make sure you install them.If you have three doors, the front, rear and garage, that will mean 6 locks. Three door knob and three deadbolt locks.Then decide if you want them keyed alike or keyed different. For example, you could key the front and rear locks to open with one key and the garage or basement door to open with a separate key.Also think about key control, when you purchase your locks you should only get the number of keys that you will use. If you get a spare key make sure that you store it in a safe place. Remember if you purchase these locks from an Authorized Service Center they will keep track of your key codes and will be able to cut additional keys in the future.

via Take Inventory of Your Door Locks.