You open and close doors every time you leave your house, school, or office. But do you know the mechanics of the lock that’s keeping your property secure? This technology has been around for centuries, but many people aren’t aware how door locks and keys work together. To learn more, here is a basic guide.

How Do Doors Lock? 

When you insert and turn your house key into your front door, a complicated chain reaction occurs inside the lock. Essentially, a key is like a special code needed to crack a mechanical pattern, which is made up of spring-loaded pins. These pins sit inside a group of tiny cylinders and are capped by drivers. When you slide your key into the lock, the unique grooves on the key move the spring-loaded pins, compressing the springs at various intervals. As the pins are lifted, the drivers are forced up the cylinders, until the pins form a straight line. The perfect alignment of the pins is required before the lock can be turned to the open or closed position. Therefore, if you try to insert the wrong key, one or more of the cylinders will be out of place, blocking the key from rotating.

How Do Door Locks Work Today? 

While pin and tumbler locks are still the industry standard, you’ve probably encountered other types in recent years. From the tubular lock often seen on bathroom or closet door knobs to the mortise lock, there are plenty of other models on the market today. Perhaps the most recent addition is the electronic door lock, which features a keypad of letters or numbers. Instead of using a key, these locks wait for the right sequence of buttons to be pressed before sending a signal to slide the lock open or closed.

If you’re interested in learning more about the door locks you use on a daily basis, contact Rahn's Best Lock Service of Lincoln, NE. They’re proud to offer 24-hour emergency services, so you can regain access to your property whenever you need it. They also offer automotive and commercial services for your convenience. To learn more about their skills, call (402) 730-5625.