Have you been considering whether you should have your locks keyed alike or not? In this blog post we discuss exactly what it means to have your locks keyed alike, the advantages and disadvantages of this, as well as what locks can be keyed alike and the best time to do it.
What is keyed alike?
Keyed alike is essentially when a group of locks use the same key or keycode, meaning that you only need one key or key code to fit. Primarily it allows you to open multiple locks with an individual key. For example, all the locks in your house can be opened using the same key.
This differs from ‘keyed different’ where each lock requires its own unique key and other locks can not be opened by this key. It requires each lock to have a different key. For example, all the locks in your house would need a different key to open them.
When you purchase a lock it is commonly sold in the ‘keyed different’ format unless declared otherwise.
Advantages
The main advantage of having your locks keyed alike would be the convenience of having one key for all locks such as at home or your workplace. It helps to eliminate the hassle of finding the right key for the right lock if you have multiple locks. If your locks are keyed alike this will mean you will only have to worry about replacing one key if you them which can ensure you save money as you will only have to purchase a single key and save you money on spare keys.
Disadvantages
Some may argue that having all your keys alike may make their property less secure as you will use the same key for each lock. Furthermore if you lose a key, it would be recommended to change all the locks on the premises therefore will result in costing more money to replace multiple locks and not just one key.
What locks can and can’t be keyed alike?
Not all keys can be keyed alike, but multiple locks that can be changed to and are keyed alike follow:
- Euro Cylinder locks
- Furniture locks such as cabinets
- House locks such as bathroom and bedrooms
- Night latches
- BS3621 approved locks
- Mortice locks including sashlocks and deadlocks
- Padlocks
You CANNOT key alike a Euro Cylinder lock with a lever operated (mortice) lock. Also different locks can’t be keyed alike; a euro cylinder and a padlock can’t be keyed alike. If every lock in your home is the same type then yes you will be able to get your keys alike.
When is the best time to get your locks keyed alike?
The best time to get your locks keyed alike:
- Have you just moved house? As there could be numerous people who still hold a key to your new home, it is important to change the locks. This is the perfect opportunity to get your keying alike.
- Have you lost your keys? When changing your locks because you have lost your keys, changing your locks to keyed alike at the same time is a smart decision.
- Are you upgrading your existing locks? If you are upgrading from various locks, advancing to keyed alike locks could save you time in the future.
Common usage of locks that are keyed alike:
You may commonly find locks that are keyed alike if you have 2 padlocks on a shutter door. You may get the 2 padlocks on the shutter door keyed alike and then have a different key to enter the door behind. People may also have all the locks on their house or workplace keyed alike for convenience.