Minnesota locks
  • Home
  • About
    • Why Hire A Locksmith
  • Services
    • Automotive Locksmith Services
    • Residential Locksmith Services
    • Commercial Locksmith Services
    • AAA Locksmith
    • Service Area
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Blog

Five Types of Commercial Locks

5/3/2022

 
Picture
If you own or manage a commercial property, then you’ll want to make sure you have the most secure locks you can get. These will be different from the types of locks you use on your home. Let’s examine different commercial locks that you may want to add to your business.

Panic bars/Crashbars Install these for ease of use and exiting a building, which is what they were designed for, as an easy way to get out in case of emergency. If you don’t know what these are, they are the long bars that you push to exit from inside the building. They are very common in schools. These function differently from traditional door locks and are mostly keyless. They operate through the use of a connected handle or bar, and when the bar is pressed, the internal mechanics retract the latch that keeps the door closed. 

Cylindrical Lever Locks These are pretty common locks to use. They are lever door handles that are designed for high usage. The reason they are used for commercial properties, instead of homes, is there is more traffic coming through a business than a residential building. These can be operated with a key or a combined use of a key and push button, that are located on the interior of the door to allow access for people coming into the building.

Keyless Door Locks These are locks that operate with a keypad or an App instead of a traditional key. One benefit of these types is that you don’t have to transfer physical keys between employees or wait for the person with a key to arrive. These are also becoming popular for people to use in their homes as well. For increased security, some keypad locks can be completely keyless, so they cannot be picked.

Mortise Locks These are a common option for businesses due to their strength and reliability. The deadbolt size helps with the durability, and the placement of it being housed inside the lock body, makes it more resistant to forced entry. With the stronger internal components, it allows for higher cycle counts so it will last much longer. They can endure heavily trafficked usage. So if you have a pretty consistent flow of people coming in and out, this is a good option for that.

Commercial Electric Strike Locks These secure, electronic door locks can be used in conjunction with a panic bar and keypad door lock. They can provide access from the inside and outside of the building. These secure locks are good for a company that experiences a lot of people entering and exiting. They are a good option for allowing access to particular locations in the building. These can offer the option of a fail-safe lock and a fail-secure as well. Some things to consider for installation of this lock is the layout of the building, the numbers of employees, and your emergency escape routes (you don’t want people to get trapped during an emergency).
​

When looking at different lock types, you’ll have to factor in your personal needs for your commercial property. If your business is in need of updated locks or if you want to have a conversation about how to make your business more secure, give us a call at Minnesota Locks today!


Benefits of re-keying your home locks with Minnesota Locks

4/10/2022

 
Picture
When would you need to replace your home locks? Most people do it when they move into their new home, because they want anyone that has an old key, to not have access to their home.  Or if you’ve lost a key, it’s best to replace those locks. But instead of replacing the whole door locks and door knobs, consider a more cost effective solution of rekeying the locks you have. 
​

Have a lock company, like Minnesota Locks, come to your home to rekey your current locks. You may be thinking, what is rekeying? Rekeying is an adjustment of the locking mechanism by moving the tumblers in the lock to adjust to a new key.

You can save money. Reinstalling a whole new lock can be a labor intensive process, so it will cost more for a new install, plus you have the cost of the new locks on top of that cost as well. So a simple rekeying can help save money.

It’s a quick process. By having a professional come to your home to rekey all your locks can save time, taking about 10 to 15 minutes per lock, compared with the time of replacing the whole lock. This is beneficial in the case of a lost key. You can change the locks as quickly as possible, since you have no idea where that lost key is, you’ll want to change the locks as quickly as possible. 

A big benefit is you’ll have a customized lock. When you get a lock from the store, it comes with a generic key. When a lock is rekeyed the pins arrangements are customized to a unique key.

It allows for a master key opportunity. You can customize all your home locks to the same key. So you only have to carry one one key for the whole house. 

You can change your locks more frequently. Since rekeying is quicker and cheaper than replacing the whole lock system, you can do it more frequently. Depending on your situation, this may be of benefit.
The biggest benefit is increasing your home security obviously. By changing old locks, you can eliminate others who had prior access to your home the ability to gain access. If you’d like to discuss this option further or book and appointment with Minnesota Locks, give us a call today!

5 Tips for Getting Work Done with Distractions

3/8/2022

 
Picture
Now that a lot of us find ourselves working from home, we can sometimes find it hard to focus on our duties. We’ve come up with a few ideas to help you become distraction free, and get some work done.

  1. Create a dedicated home office space. If you don’t have room in your home for your own dedicated room, that’s fine. Find a corner or a lesser used room and make a little office nook for yourself. Clear it free of anything that doesn’t have to do with work, so you don’t distract yourself by looking at non-work related items. And make sure the space can be quiet while you work, or if you like music to help you through your day, then add a little mini speaker to your work space. And it’s preferable to have a door, so you can shut out any other distractions from the house.
  2. Manage your time to suit your productivity. For example, if you are more of a morning person, then frontload your day with your must-accomplish tasks, and move your meetings or phone calls to the afternoon. Create your schedule that is best suited to your personality, and you’ll find you become less distracted.
  3. The easiest on this list is to block out your distractions. To keep focused, block out anything that would distract you. Constantly checking your email? Find yourself slipping to look at social network sites? Or looking at your text messages? The easiest way to get rid of those distractions is to remove them from your view. Close those applications on your computer and silence your phone while you’re in the middle of a task that needs accomplished.  If you remove distractions from your reach, then you can focus on getting things done.
  4. Take a break. Make sure you take time out of your day to relax, have a cup of coffee or tea, and think about whatever could be a distraction. Whether it’s laundry that needs done, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, or taking out the trash. Take that break time to accomplish small things or just stare off into space if you’d like. Whatever it is, let your brain have time to process all your additional thoughts that may distract you throughout the day. Think of it as a scheduled distraction time, then you won’t have things popping into your head all day long. 
  5. Use one form of communication for your work team. Choose an appropriate messaging service that works for your team to use as your main form of communication. Instead of being distracted by constantly checking email or answering your phone, you can easily have a messenger chat box to utilize when you need to communicate. And remember the thing about blocking distractions? Use this tool, to let everyone know you are unreachable for a certain amount of time while you’re focusing on a certain project or task, and you’ll check messages when you are finished. Avoid messaging others if the matter isn’t urgent, reserve that for emails. People tend to respond to messages immediately, so if it’s not urgent, don’t distract them with a message.​
By utilizing some of these ideas, you will find yourself being more productive throughout your day. And the more focused, and therefore quicker to finish your tasks, then you can check out of your day earlier and enjoy a stress-free evening. And who doesn’t love that?


Can Video Security Benefit Your Business?

2/4/2022

 
Picture
Whether you are starting a new business or you have been established for a while, if you don’t have video security yet, perhaps you should. Most businesses utilize a video security system of some sort to help deter theft, in case of theft, or to monitor their business while they aren’t there. Let’s consider some of the reasons businesses use video security to see if it’s right for your business.
  • Deterring theft or property damage. If you have a visible security system or even have signs posted that there is video monitoring on the property, that can discourage potential thieves from causing any problems. A benefit is you can keep an eye on any suspicious activity in real time as well. Recently, a small business had something stolen from the outside of their bar and had cameras that caught it. They posted to their community on social media that they had video of the person responsible, and if that person returned the item, they wouldn’t press charges. And that business had their property returned to them. So there is also that added benefit.
  • The opportunity for monitoring. The ability to be able to see what is going on at your business while you are away is very beneficial. You can check your video feed at any time to see what is happening inside your business. And if something were to go wrong, like theft or property damage, then you’d have video evidence to help you in insurance matters or to hand over to the police.
  • Receive alerts on activity. Some video systems are smart systems that have apps you can access via your phone that can alert you when there is sound or motion occurring. Not only can you be alerted of possible theft if there is motion or people around your business, but you can also monitor if there is a fire, flooding, or other damage that is happening to your business. It’s like having someone watching and texting you when something is wrong.
  • Convenience. If you were to pair your video security with smart locks as well, you could have this added convenience in case of emergency. Let’s say your employees forgot their keys and can’t open the store. If you have smart locks installed you can unlock from your phone no matter where you are, and with the video camera in place, you can see who is there when they are opening the building. 
The bonus to all these reasons is peace of mind. Just knowing everything is safe and secure at your business makes all the difference. If you would like to speak about adding video security or new smart locks to your business, give Minnesota Locks a call today! 

5 Fun Winter Activities with the Kids in Minnesota

1/11/2022

 
Picture
Now that we’re in the midst of winter, you’re probably feeling a bit cooped up inside the house with the kids, and are itching to break out and do some fun activities. We’ve come up with some fun things to get out and do in the state of Minnesota.
  1. Spirit Mountain Adventure Park in Duluth. This fun park features lots of activities in the winter like snowboarding, skiing, snow tubing and a Nordic Trail System with cross-country ski trails and a skate lane. Glow Tubing is an option where you can snow tube in colorful lighting at night!  While not in the winter months, this place also features the very cool Alpine Coaster that races down the mountain and offers beautiful views of Duluth, mini golf, and a zip line.
  2. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park in Bloomington. These fun indoor water parks are a great escape from the winter weather. Pack your bathing suits for an overnight adventure at Great Wolf Lodge, where you can swim, innertube, and slide down some fun slides! They also have a bowling alley, game rooms and a restaurant. 
  3. Nickelodeon Universe in Bloomington. This indoor theme park features all sorts of fun attractions like rides and rollercoasters based on Nickelodeon TV shows and character meet and greets. This is located in the Mall of America, so you can continue the family fun by exploring the biggest mall in America!
  4. Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth. This aquarium is home to species that are native to the Great Lakes Basin. Besides the local aquatic wildlife including otters, they also have raptors (the birds, not the dinosaurs), and the aquarium has an exhibit on the Amazon. There’s plenty to explore here inside including a cool shipwreck exhibit where you can explore the world of sunken ships.
  5. Bell Museum of Natural History. Visit this Natural History museum and planetarium to learn about Minnesota wildlife, the cosmos, and the Ice Age. This new museum features a planetarium, high-tech exhibits, wildlife dioramas and outdoor learning experiences. Check out the Touch & See Lab that has 10,000-year-old fossils, living plants and animals and more.

​So get out of the house this winter and explore these fun escapes in Minnesota with your whole family. You’ll love have much Minnesota has to offer!

Ways to Secure Sliding Doors

12/8/2021

 
Picture
Everyone wants their homes to be as safe as possible and talk of security systems and locks are always at the forefront. But what about some of the simpler things you can do to help protect your home. When it comes to sliding glass doors, we can sometimes forget that they typically don’t have as strong of a lock system as the ones on your front doors. Consider some of these tips to help secure your beautiful sliding doors.

One of the easiest things you can do is to have a solid bar made of wood, metal or strong plastic to simply lay down in your sliding door track while it is closed. By putting an obstruction in the way, when the door tries to slide open, it will get stopped by the bar laying on the track. You can easily obtain a bar for this, by cutting down an old broom handle or a wooden dowel that you can get at your local hardware store. First measure the space that is your track and cut the broom handle slightly shorter than that measurement. This allows you to have room to insert and remove the bar from the door track. You can also paint the bar to match your door for a more aesthetic appeal. Don’t forget to remove it when you try to open the door or you’ll meet a sudden stop and you don’t want to do any damage to your door. When you paint it to blend in with the color of the door, you can tend to forget about it when you go to open the door. They also sell pre-made security bars out of other materials as well. 

For dual sliding doors that have two handles that are next to each other, you can attach a chain or similar material around the door handles to tie them together, so they use each other to act as a resistance if someone tries to slide the doors open. Just make sure you use a material that can’t be easily cut. If an intruder happens to be able to slide the door open a little and can reach the binding mechanism, they may be able to cut it. There are some locking mechanisms on the market you can buy as well, if you don’t want to fashion one yourself out of other materials.  Make sure whatever item you get to help secure your door is easy to remove by you and your family, so if there is an emergency, you are not trapped inside.
You can also buy a clear safety window film to help reinforce the glass. Apply the safety film to your glass doors for added protection. These will allow you to still be able to look out and enjoy the sunshine, but will block those that are outside from looking in. It can also slow down intruders, with the reinforced glass it will take more to break it out of the door frame to allow access for someone to enter your home. There are several options for this product on the market. You can also add curtains to keep people from looking into your home.

Some other options are adding a more secure lock system to your sliding doors, or integrating it into a monitored home security system.
​

If you’d like to discuss more security options for your home, please give us a call at Minnesota Locks. We can help you figure out the best options to suit your needs for a more secure home.

How to Get a Broken Key Out of a Lock

11/12/2021

 
Picture
Snap! What an awful sinking feeling you have when you realize that your key has just broken off inside your lock. It feels like a red alarm emergency if you don’t happen to know how to deal with it. But don’t fret. There are ways you can get the key out before you have to call a professional. 

Depending on your situation, you may have limited access to different tools or items. Say, if your key breaks off in the door to your home, then you might not have certain items you may need on your side of the door. If you are able to, use another entrance to your home to gain access to the inside of the door. It will be easier to work on if you can open the door. If the whole key is inserted, you can try opening the door with a screwdriver (if you happen to carry one in your car), then you can insert the screwdriver as much as you can into the lock and try turning the doorknob to see if it opens. This could at least get you access into your home to more options for tools. 

If the key is visible, you may be able to pull it out. First, spray some lubricant into the lock to help loosen the parts inside. A dry lubricant is preferred over an oil-based one, since those can residue that can collect dirt and grime over time, clogging up your lock. If the key broke off without any teeth still attached to the part you’re holding in your hand, then you may need to realign the lock first. If it broke mid-turn, then you’ll have to do this step. Use a flathead screwdriver to turn it back to it’s vertical position. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to grip the piece of the key that is still sticking out and try to pull the key out that way. Note: This will work if the key broke off at the head of the key, with all the teeth inside the lock. Be careful trying to remove a key that isn’t fully inserted, you don’t want to push the key further into the lock making it harder to reach. If your pliers are proving clunky or are too big to get a good grasp, you can try a pair of tweezers and they may be able to do the trick.

If the pliers aren’t able to grip the broken key, try using a small blade used for a scroll saw or jigsaw. Slide the saw blade in the top part of the key hole, with the teeth facing downwards, next to the broken key into the lock. You should be able to feel the blade’s teeth grab onto the grooves, then you will pull the saw blade back out and the key should come with it. Locksmiths have a tool that is similar to these blades that they use to remove keys. Paper clips can also potentially work in this same manner.

If your key is removed successfully, keep both pieces and take them to a locksmith or key duplicating place and they will be able to make you a new one from the two broken parts.
​

If you still can’t seem to get the key out or if the lock has been damaged, call a locksmith to help with the repair. You can call us at Minnesota Locks with any of your concerns.

Car key not working?

10/11/2021

 
Picture
For those of us who may not be as car savvy as others, when something like your car key locking up and not being able to turn to start your car ignition, can cause a minor amount of panic to set in. If you have no idea what is happening, it can be very stressful. Your mind can tend to go immediately to the worst case scenario, that your car is broken.
Don’t panic. This can be a very common occurrence, your wheel is locked. This can happen if the steering wheel has been moved since you last took your key out of the ignition. To unlock it, move the steering wheel from side to side while turning the key simultaneously.  As soon as the key can turn, the wheel will unlock. 

If the ignition cylinder is still stuck, then try using a dry lubricant in the lock. You want something that won’t collect dust or grime over time. Spray the lubricant into the keyway of the ignition, wipe off any excess on the outside, then insert the key a few times so the lubricant can work into the mechanism, then turn the key. Try jiggling it if the key doesn’t turn right away.  

If you’re still not able to get the key to turn, it might be a different issue. Perhaps the key is damaged. Try using a spare key to see if it works. If it does, there might be a twist or bend or worn teeth on the original key that is causing it not to turn. So replacing the broken key is an easy option. Locksmiths or dealerships can make a copy of your spare key that works, or if you don’t have a second key, they can make a copy of the damaged key (that will now work). Calling a locksmith can be a cheaper option than a dealership, so check with a good locksmithing company first.

If all else fails, the problem may lie in your ignition cylinder and may need a replacement. You can try to fumble through figuring out how to fix this on your own, or just save yourself a lot of time and frustration and call a locksmith. Again, you can call your dealership, but you’ll probably find that a locksmith is a more economical option.
​

Once you’ve figured out where the problem lies, it can be an easy fix. Whether you do it on your own or by calling a locksmith. Either way, never fear, you’ll soon be on your way again.

Prepare your Home for a Worry-free Vacation

9/20/2021

 
Picture
Who doesn’t love vacation? You work really hard, so this is your chance to get away and do what you love. Whether it’s sitting on the beach or touring your favorite city, the excitement of planning your trip builds until the day finally comes to get out of town. But what about leaving your home all alone? Are you concerned if your home will be safe while you’re away? Of course, the best thing to do is have a house sitter stay at your house while you’re gone. It’s the perfect solution to ease your mind. But, for those of us who are not able to find someone to stay at their home, here are some other things you can do to help. 
  • Set timers for your interior lights. This makes your home look like it’s occupied every night with lights turning on and off inside, which can deter burglars. Don’t forget to set exterior lights to timers as well!
  • Alert your security system company. If you have an alarm system, let them know the dates you will be gone so they can pay special attention to your home if there are any alerts that happen to go off.
  • Wait to post your vacation pics on social media until you’ve arrived back home. It may be tempting to share your excitement with your friends online, but it can alert people that your home is unoccupied and an easy target for a break-in. If you feel you can’t wait to share your photos, check your privacy settings to make sure just your close friends can see what you’re up to.
  • Don’t leave spare keys hanging around outside. Most burglars know the popular hidden key spots. If you decide to have someone come over to check on the house/feed your pets/collect the mail or packages, give them a key before you leave so they have it. Or if you have a garage code, that might be easier than arranging a meet up time to hand off a physical key.
  • ​Install a smart lock on your door. This is another good option to not leaving a physical spare key outside. A smart lock can allow you to open your door remotely using your cell phone. This will also alert you to when the person who is checking on your pets and collecting your mail is in your home. And you can set expiring codes, so when you no longer need someone to come over, the lock will deny that code and access to your home.
  • Place a hold on your mail delivery. Don’t let your mail pile up while you’re gone. This is a nice sign in front of your house that no one has been home for a while.
  • Double check all your windows and doors are securely latched, including the door to your garage.
  • If you have a safe, secure your small valuables like jewelry or electronics there. Hide your valuables that can be seen through windows to deter theft. For larger valuables, close the curtains in those rooms that contain them.
Here’s to your care-free vacation, the way it’s meant to be!


The Top Trusted Door Locks

8/10/2021

 
Picture
We’re talking about home security again. And why not? It’s very important to all of us to keep our families, including our furry little friends, safe in our own homes. According to the Justice Department, the majority of break-ins happen with criminals entering your home through the front door. So, this should be your first line of defense in home security. Let’s take a look at some of the best door locks on the market today.

According to the Consumer Reports’ website, they conducted a series of brute force kick tests using a 100-pound battering ram against locked doors to determine the best door locks for preventing forced entry. After testing dozens of locks, they concluded that Yale Premier Single Cylinder YH82 was among the top strongest locks. It is one of the strongest conventional deadbolts that stands up well to kick-ins and drilling. Yale is a pretty trusted lock, being one of the oldest and most recognized brands in the security industry. As the creators of the modern day pin tumbler lock, and being around for such a long time, most other locks are designed off of their pin tumbler design. The brand produces a wide array of products, including smart locks. During Consumer Reports testing for Smart locks, the Yale Assure Lock SL was the top in that category as well. Along with it being resistant to kick-ins and drilling, with it being a Smart lock, or keyless lock, it’s impossible to pick.
​

The Medeco Maxum 11*603 also performed well in the testing, as the strongest deadbolt across all of the Consumer Reports lock categories, including picking, drilling, and kick-ins. Popular with many professional locksmiths, Medeco is one of the largest manufacturers of medium and high-security locks for both residential and commercial use. 

For electronic locks, the Schlage Touch Keyless FE375 CAM electronic deadbolt was the top in the electronic lock category. The Schlage brand locks are a sturdier lock, and the non-electronic keyed-locks are harder to pick. Schlage is a popular and widely available brand of locks that manufactures a wide range of locks, including nonconnected and smart locks.

So if you are looking for a new, very secure door lock for your home, check out one of these tested locks. If you have any further questions, or would like more guidance on what type of door lock you should get for your home, please call us at Minnesota Locks at (651) 451-0622 today!

Sources:
https://www.consumerreports.org/door-locks/best-and-worst-door-locks/

<<Previous
Forward>>

    Author

    We offer automotive, commercial and residential locksmith services in the Twin Cities.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020

    Categories

    All
    About Us
    Awards
    Broken Key
    Business
    Car Keys
    Choosing A Locksmith
    Commercial Doors
    Commercial Locksmith
    Door
    Garage
    History
    Home Security
    Keys
    Locks
    Lost Keys
    Pets
    Re-Keying Your Home
    Safe
    Vacation
    We're Hiring
    Winter Fun
    Working From Home

    RSS Feed

Shop Location
1254 S Robert St, West St Paul, MN 55118
(651) 451-0622
Shop Hours:
​Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm
Saturday: By  Appointment
Follow Us

West Saint Paul Locksmith
Site Map
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
    • Why Hire A Locksmith
  • Services
    • Automotive Locksmith Services
    • Residential Locksmith Services
    • Commercial Locksmith Services
    • AAA Locksmith
    • Service Area
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Blog