From the Upper East Side
Safety Locksmith Neighborhood Notes
Simple, local guidance for apartment doors, building locks, keys, and everyday security questions.
Latest from the Neighborhood
How to Tell If Sagging Hinges Are Making Your Lock Rub the Frame
A lock that scrapes the frame is often reacting to a door that has dropped. The marks and gaps at the frame show which part is out of place.
Read article →What to Put in a Workplace Key-Issue Log, and What to Leave Out
A key log works when it follows keys, not people. Here are the fields to keep, the codes to leave out, and what to share with a locksmith.
Read article →Keeping a Lock You Like: When Rekeying Fits and When Replacement Does
Liking a lock settles how it looks. Its condition settles whether it stays. Here is how to tell the two apart at your own door.
Read article →Glass Next to the Lock: Notes to Take Before New Door Hardware
Glass beside a lock changes what the hardware must do and where it can sit. Here is what to observe and photograph before choosing a part.
Read article →Getting Front and Back Doors on One Key: Decisions to Make First
Keyed alike starts with the locks you already have and the people who need to get in. Work through those choices in order.
Read article →What to Write Down When a Lock Cylinder Feels Loose, Before Touching It
Before you tighten a wobbly lock, note which part moves and when. Those notes tell an inspection where to look.
Read article →How to Prepare Your Door and Your Questions Before a Locksmith Visit
A short preparation sequence for the door, the keys, and the person who signs off, so the locksmith can assess the job without guessing.
Read article →Worn Key or Worn Lock? A Comparison Test You Can Run at the Door
A worn key and a worn lock feel alike in your hand. A spare key and a few other doors will usually tell you which one is failing.
Read article →Moving In With Unknown Old Keys: Rekey the Lock or Replace It?
You can't count the keys a previous occupant handed out, so stop trying. The useful question is whether your current locks are worth keeping.
Read article →Door Needs a Push to Latch? Sort Door Movement From Latch Movement
Test the latch with the door open, then close the door slowly. Those two observations usually separate a door fault from a lock fault.
Read article →Describing an Intermittent Lock Problem Without Guessing at the Cause
The key stopping halfway is a useful fact. A worn cylinder is a guess. Here is how to report the fact and hold off on the guess.
Read article →Choosing Between a Keypad and a Keyed Lock for a Side Door
A side door shared by many people is a different problem from one used by two. Here is how keys and codes compare for each.
Read article →Bolt Throw on a Deadbolt: How Far the Bolt Reaches and Why the Frame Matters
A deadbolt only holds as well as the frame it reaches into. Here is what bolt throw means and what to look at on your own door.
Read article →Changing Locks After a Breakup or Roommate Move-Out: Count the Keys First
The real trigger for new locks is a key you can't account for. Here is how to take stock and plan the change in order.
Read article →What locksmith services actually fit the properties on the Upper East Side?
Upper East Side properties range from prewar co-ops to street-level retail, and each type calls for different locksmith services from Safety Locksmith.
Read article →Lost your keys on the Upper East Side? Do this first
Most lost keys turn up within a day. The ones that do not are the reason the first hour matters.
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