just deadbolt without keyed lever?

[PoorOwner]

I always had the keyed lever / knob and deadbolt
Recently I came across the deadbolt set that comes with a handle, but the handle doesn't lock..

Is the deadbolt alone good enough?

I heard the keyed levers can be picked or break easily. Lever weak, latch weak etc.

I am getting electronic dead bolts and having a keyed knob sort of defeats the point of having no keys

 

[bigfunwmu]

If you have no keys, how do you open the door when the battery dies?

 

[ajchien]

I am not a locksmith. But from what I understand, most locksmiths think levered locks are low in security. Easily bypassed, are more often a nuisance because you can lock yourself out. Deadbolts are of medium security, dependent on the number of those little wafer things in the lock, and then they have these higher security deadbolt things with electronics in the key.

Idk. I figure if a burglar or intruder really wants to get in, they could always just put a brick through a sliding glass door or window.

 

[Colin Len]

Keyed levers are pretty close to useless in regards to security IMO. I never lock them and always just lock the deadbolt. That being said I did use keyed levers in my home/garage recently when I replaced all the locks/levers. My only reason for wanting keyed levers for the exterior doors (especially the garage) was for the rare instances where someone else needs to lock up if I'm not around and/or I/they don't have a key. Obviously it's not as safe as locking the deadbolt but I've run into this many times where I or someone else doesn't have a key on hand and at least we can lock the lever temporarily until someone comes home with a key.

 

[tcianci]

Keyed lever sets and deadbolts typically use the same lock cylinders. so you can toss out any argument about one being more secure than the other in that respect. The big difference is in the deadbolt itself compared to the latch of the leverset. The deadbolt typically uses a case hardened bolt that has a much longer throw than the leverset latch and the striker is usually lagged through the door jamb into the jack stud of the door framing, making it harder to defeat.

If you're planning on either a leverset (keyed entry) or a deadbolt to secure a residential door, you're smoking something. Even the best locking hardware is no match for a guy with a heavy boot and a good set of leg muscles.

 

[Modern Jess]

I am getting electronic dead bolts and having a keyed knob sort of defeats the point of having no keys

This is the main point. I outfitted all the exterior doors on my house and workshop with Schlage keypad deadbolts, and replaced all the levers with keyless types for exactly this reason. And I don't carry a house key, ever.

The Schlage unit beeps on unlock when the battery gets low, long before it dies. And it lasts three years (on average) on a single battery, so it's not like it's a common event. You're far more likely to be locked out due to forgetting your key (with a traditional setup) than you are using a keyless deadbolt. I haven't been locked out of my keyless setup yet, and barring amnesia, I don't expect to be.

 

[bearskinner]

I live way out in the woods, so if anyone wanted to break a window, or drive a car thru my house no one would hear them. That being said, I have double keyed deadbolts on all my exterior doors, and the door knobs have no locks. When we go somewhere, I lock the deadbolt, and take the keys with me so if someone breaks in thru a window, there going to have to crawl out the same window, and hopefully get cut on the broken glass, or at least make it harder to get out.

 

[SteveCh]

I live way out in the woods, so if anyone wanted to break a window, or drive a car thru my house no one would hear them. That being said, I have double keyed deadbolts on all my exterior doors, and the door knobs have no locks. When we go somewhere, I lock the deadbolt, and take the keys with me so if someone breaks in thru a window, there going to have to crawl out the same window, and hopefully get cut on the broken glass, or at least make it harder to get out.

My situation is similar. I have keyed-both-sides deadbolts. However, if someone brought along a small chainsaw, he could get into the house in just a few minutes with only a bit of work with the saw. Or, throw a cinderblock through a window. Only so much one can do.

 

[6768rogues]

My son has a number of rental properties. We install lever handles without locks and deadbolts. The tenants have to use the key to lock the door on the way out, so lockouts are prevented. A handle lock is not very secure.

 

[Jere]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=RdFrVJncIcGLyATykICYCQ&url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DppFHfDSpySM&ved=0CCMQuAIwAQ&usg=AFQjCNG5GdJzkrLSjpGVq62JGO9mqPWPMA&sig2=IA5HuLDUzBSeWif5siHg2A

How to drill a lock quick video

That above video works on most locks, there are a few exceptions like medco. I guess they have some hardened steel within the cylinder, they also have some hard to pick pins.

 

[Beemer533]

This is the main point. I outfitted all the exterior doors on my house and workshop with Schlage keypad deadbolts, and replaced all the levers with keyless types for exactly this reason. And I don't carry a house key, ever.

The Schlage unit beeps on unlock when the battery gets low, long before it dies. And it lasts three years (on average) on a single battery, so it's not like it's a common event. You're far more likely to be locked out due to forgetting your key (with a traditional setup) than you are using a keyless deadbolt. I haven't been locked out of my keyless setup yet, and barring amnesia, I don't expect to be.

Completely agree!

I have put the Schlage keyless locks on every one of my exterior doors and I have never had a problem in the years I have used them.

When I first tried it out, I worried about the batteries just dying and locking me out, but as you say, they let you know long in advance of impeding failure. I actually had the battery in my first one last nearly 5 years!

I have just change the batteries every couple of years now and I don't have any issues.

I will agree with the others and say that keyed levers are useless and just a pain.

Even with a residential grade deadbolt you can be fairly secure; you just have to realize that the typical failure mode isn't the deadbolt itself, it is the jamb with the 1/2" screws and the crappy HD "metal" door that splits wide open.

I have experienced this a couple of times when my mother's house was broken into.. A swift kick and the door splits along the edge and the jamb is just torn out...

I pretty much remedied this by pulling out the inside casing and inserting a 3x12" 1/8" thick sheet of steel drilled out for the dead bolt and about 8 screws. I inserted it behind the jamb and filled any remaining gap with thin sheets of plywood.

Then I ran 3.5 screws through everything into the studs.

I also installed a U shaped piece of steel that keeps the door from splitting... With trim back in and the door and saddle painted, you would never really know it has been beefed up.

I not saying this will stop a battering ram, but it will take some work to get through...

 

[PoorOwner]

it just seems like every home does have keyed lever / knob but I do agree with these points, especially for the door between attached garage and home, if someone get in the garage and close the garage door to work on it, a lever isn't going to make much difference.

I do have people in the house who likes to run around flipping all the locks and locking me out. I do like the one button on the electronic deadbolt to lock up. As to battery issue, there is usually 2 doors and I think the chance of both of them failing would be slim. (unless EMP attack) Then we would be back to stone age anyway so it wouldn't matter so much.