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SMS Locksmith blog

Welcome to our blog - Stay up to date with the latest news, opinions and information regarding your locks, home and business security plus free advice from our locksmiths. If you're looking for a reliable locksmith local to you, use our Locksmith near me search to find one of our professional, insured, CRB/DBS checked locksmiths local to you.

By Simon Gabriel 01 Dec, 2023
Homeowners and business owners frequently experience lockouts, damaged locks, and missing, stolen, and damaged keys.
By Simon Gabriel 01 Dec, 2023
Are you locked out of your home or business in Richmond? Do you need to upgrade, repair, and replace any of its door locks, window locks?
By Simon Gabriel 01 Dec, 2023
Does your residential home or business need a security upgrade in Richmond upon Thames?
By Simon Gabriel 20 Nov, 2023
Emergency lockouts can happen unexpectedly. You may come home and find your door lock damaged from an attempted burglary intrusion. Perhaps you have lost your keys and cannot gain entry to your home. Whatever the emergency, you must call a professional locksmith company with the proper skillset and tools to address the problem quickly. That is where we can help. SMS Locksmith is a professional emergency locksmith company serving homeowners and business owners in Twickenham and surrounding locations. Our company can dispatch a qualified and licenced locksmith to your Twickenham-based location within 30 minutes after you request our help. The locksmith will arrive at your property with all the tools and equipment needed to perform the emergency service. Our emergency lock-opening services use non-destructive techniques to unlock doors and windows. We will not damage the doors and windows during the lock-opening process. However, if your lock is damaged or you have lost your keys, we may recommend our lock and key replacement service to ensure your property remains secure. It all depends on the situation. SMS Locksmith employs the most qualified and dedicated locksmiths in Twickenham . Our emergency locksmith services include lock picking & bypassing, lock slipping, and lock drilling. Afterward, we can replace old or damaged locks. Then, you can have peace of mind about the security of your home or business. Request Emergency Assistance Would you like to request emergency assistance with a lockout or other emergency lock situation in Twickenham ? Call us at 0203-3151-0531 to submit your request today. We look forward to serving you.
Locksmith in Twickenham
By Simon Gabriel 20 Nov, 2023
Do you need a mobile locksmith in Twickenham? Whether you have been locked out of your building or wish to repair or replace its door or window locks, you must hire a professional and trustworthy locksmithing company to do the job right.
By Simon Gabriel 30 Oct, 2023
Some homes and businesses use lockable post boxes to store incoming or outgoing mail securely. Does this sound like your situation? Perhaps you live or work in a neighbourhood with a lot of crime and worry about your packages and letters getting stolen. If that is the case, you must hire a professional locksmith to install sturdy and durable locks in your post box, post room, or letter box. Post boxes and letter boxes are essential to keep secure because they often contain critical financial, personal, and legal documents. The last thing you would want to happen is to see those documents end up in the wrong hands. But that could happen if you lose your keys or have a broken lock in the post box or letter box. Every post box and letter box requires a different type of lock and key. So, if your post box lock is malfunctioning or you have lost or damaged the key, you will need a professional locksmith to install the proper lock and key system for the box. Do not attempt to replace the lock or key yourself because you could worsen the problem. Top Reasons for Post Box Lock and Key Issues Here are the common reasons why you might experience problems with your post box lock or key: 1) Vandalism to the Box Your post box or letter box is always out in the open, where it is susceptible to vandalism. If you live in a neighbourhood with a high rate of vandalized and burglarized properties, don’t be surprised if your post box suffers intentional damage. It should be easy to recognize the signs of a vandalized post box because it will contain scrapes, marks, and scuffs around the lock area. If the lock feels loose or unusual after inserting your key, then you should replace the lock immediately. 2) Stolen Keys Did someone steal the keys to your post box or letter box? If so, you cannot run the risk of the thief using the keys to access the contents of your post box. Contact a professional locksmith to replace the lock and create a new key. That way, the stolen keys will no longer work on your post box. 3) Wear and Tear The locking mechanisms of post boxes and letter boxes will not stay viable forever. There will come a point when the locking mechanisms stop working correctly due to wear and tear from years of usage. Have a professional locksmith replace the lock when the signs of wear and tear appear. Even if the lock is still functional, it is only a matter of time before it malfunctions. Take all signs of wear and tear seriously. Contact a Professional Locksmith SMS Locksmith offers fast, affordable, quality lock replacement services for post boxes, post rooms, and letter boxes. If you need to request this service, please call us at 020-3151-0531 to schedule an appointment. Please note that you must be the property owner or tenant authorized to access the post box, post room, or letter box. Our services cannot be used to access a box or room that you have no authority to use.
By Simon Gabriel 30 Oct, 2023
Everyone expects their keys to work well with their locks. When you stick your key into a keyhole and turn the key to unlock a door or locking mechanism, you expect the latch to release immediately. Failure is not an option for the sake and security of your property. A healthy lock will never keep rotating indefinitely. A key requires you to apply a slight force as you turn it. Usually, a 90 or 180-degree turn of the key will unlock the lock. But what happens if your key keeps turning in the lock? Is that normal, or is there something wrong with the lock or key? Well, it is certainly not normal. A key keeps turning in a lock because a small component within the locking mechanism has suffered damage or wear. In most cases, the actuator is the component that has stopped functioning correctly. It is the component responsible for transmitting power when turning the key. This power transmits to the latch or deadbolt to lock or unlock it. If the actuator is damaged, worn out, detached, or broken, it cannot transmit the necessary turning force to lock or unlock the deadbolt. Instead, the key will feel looser with less resistance as you turn it. And the key won’t stop rotating after turning it 90 or 180 degrees. It will keep turning all the way around. Of course, different locks have varying components and mechanisms installed. Many small parts correspond with the actuator and help it function. For instance, Euro cylinders use a clip to secure the actuator firmly. But if the clip suffers wear or damage, it will release the actuator and prevent it from operating the deadbolt correctly. The best-case scenario is that some screws are loose in the locking mechanism. If you see the entire lock or cylinder rotate as you turn the key, you may only need to tighten some loose screws. But you won’t know for sure unless you contact a professional locksmith to evaluate the problem. It is better to be safe than sorry. Call a Professional A lock no longer works if your key keeps turning and turning without ever stopping. Sometimes, it could even cause you to be locked out of your home, garage, or building. The only way out of this situation is to contact a professional locksmith for an emergency lock repair or replacement service. One phone call to SMS Locksmith can resolve the issue quickly. We can send a professional and certified locksmith to your property to repair or replace your lock. If we determine the locking mechanism is outdated, we may recommend upgrading to a more advanced lock for better security and functionality. Call 020-3151-0531 for more information on our door lock repair and replacement services. We offer affordable prices on our locksmithing services for business owners and homeowners nationwide.
By Simon Bernstein 30 Oct, 2023
Did you know a door key wears down each time you use it? Many assume door keys last forever because people use them thousands of times without problems. However, a key may survive hundreds of thousands of locking and unlocking cycles before it breaks down or snaps in half. Some people even get things stuck on the teeth of their keys that prevent them from working in the locks. Private residents and commercial property owners will likely experience problems with their keys at some point. For example, you could find yourself in a situation where your key breaks, snaps, malfunctions, or gets stuck in a lock or keyhole. Once this happens, you will need the professional services of a licensed locksmithing company to assist you in making a replacement key. SMS Locksmith is one of the most trusted and professional locksmithing companies around. We have the tools, skills, and expertise to replace the broken, stuck, or blocked keys for any lock. If your key is stuck in a keyhole, our professional locksmiths have advanced tools and techniques for removing the key without damaging the lock. We aim to ensure you have a fully functional lock and key to secure your doors sufficiently. Here are some tips to remember when your key snaps, breaks, or gets stuck in a lock: Do Not Attempt to Remove the Key Yourself You may feel tempted to remove your key when it gets stuck in a lock. We recommend you refrain from taking personal action because you could risk damaging the lock or door. If that were to happen, you would have to pay extra money to replace the lock. Why take the risk when you can call a professional like us to replace your key for a much lower price? Never Force Too Much Pressure on Your Keys in the Future Wear and tear are common reasons for keys snapping in half. But they can also snap in half if you put too much pressure on them. Anytime you insert a key into a keyhole and turn the key, you should not have to apply more than a few pounds of pressure to the key to lock or unlock the latch. If you must place extensive pressure on the key, then something must be wrong with your lock or keyhole. Perhaps something is stuck in it, or the locking mechanism is broken. Either way, you should contact a professional locksmith to investigate the situation instead of forcing a key to work. Contact Our Professional Locksmiths SMS Locksmith can repair, replace, or remove keys for all kinds of locks, including front door locks, garage door locks, window locks, padlocks, and more! Our locksmiths work fast and efficiently to perform the service for clients and reduce the inconvenience. It should take no longer than 30 to 60 minutes for our locksmiths to remove or duplicate keys as needed. Call 020-3151-0531 to submit your key service request today. Our locksmiths offer emergency and non-emergency key repair and replacement services.
30 Oct, 2023
A burglary can be terrifying if you have never experienced one. You may first see damage to your doors, locks, and windows, causing the worst thoughts to come to your head. Then, when you investigate the situation, you realize a burglar has damaged and stolen property in your home or business. What do you do in this situation? Here are the top four things to do after a burglary occurs on your property. 1) Contact the Local Authorities The first thing to do is contact your local police to notify them of the burglary. They will send patrol or uniformed officers to your home or business to question you about the incident. If you believe a burglar may still be in your home or business after discovering evidence of a potential burglary, do not attempt to engage them. Otherwise, you will risk getting injured or killed by engaging with a person who may be dangerous. Secure yourself in a safe location and call the police. Burglars will not usually stick around for very long, especially if they hear police sirens outside. 2) Evaluate Your Belongings Explore your burglarized property once you are sure it is safe. Take inventory of your remaining belongings and create a list of all the missing items. The police must know this information to assist with their investigation and help you recover the stolen items. Make sure you are honest about the stolen items. The police and your insurance company will ask you for the estimated value of each stolen item. Give the best answers possible. 3) Contact Your Insurance Company Notify your home insurance company about the burglary after notifying the police. They will also ask you for the list of stolen items to calculate the value of your claim. Provide any information or documentation requested, including photos, police reports, medical reports, etc. All these things are factors in calculating the highest possible value for your claim. 4) Upgrade or Repair Your Locks The police might not find the burglar for several days or weeks. In fact, they might not find them at all. Either way, do not wait for the next burglar to strike your home or business without taking action to secure your property. A burglar usually damages a door or window lock to gain unlawful entry into a building. If they are successful, the door might have a worn-out or low-grade lock incapable of stopping a standard burglary attempt. If unsuccessful, the door might have a high-grade lock that resisted the attempt. However, the lock could have still suffered damage. After any burglary, the best thing to do is upgrade or repair your door and window locks to ensure your property remains safe. A professional locksmith can evaluate your existing locks to see which ones should be upgraded or repaired to keep you and your property safe.  Contact a Professional Locksmith Do you need to hire a professional locksmith to install or replace the locks in your doors or windows? Call SMS Locksmith at 020-3151-0531 for assistance.
By Simon Gabriel 06 Jun, 2023
Home security comes in several different forms. You cannot rely on one preventative measure or method of security to keep your home safe from unwanted burglaries and intrusion. Instead, you need to utilize all the best ways to enhance the security of your home to keep you and your loved ones safe. Here are ten tips for improving your home security 1) Install Deadbolt Locks on Your Front Door Traditional homes do not have advanced locking mechanisms built into their front doors. Even something as simple as a deadbolt may not have been installed in your front door. If that’s the case, you must install a deadbolt to significantly increase your front door’s security. Doors with deadbolt locks cannot be forced back, which means burglaries and unwanted intrusions are much more challenging to pull off. As long as a strike plate is installed along with the deadbolt, it should do a great job of preventing forced entry through your front door. Mortice locks offer the deadbolt mechanism needed. 2) Lock the Windows Lock all the windows in your home. If you have windows with no locking system installed, please hire a professional locksmith company like SMS Locksmiths to perform the installation. Window locks prevent intruders from sliding or folding windows. They likely will not try to break the glass because they don’t want to make noise or draw attention to themselves. So, the likely scenario is the intruders will leave your property once they realize they cannot slide open the windows. 3) Install an Alarm System An alarm system is a modern technological security device to prevent unwanted people from entering your home. It requires you to enter a passcode each time you enter your home to prove you are not an intruder. If the passcode is not entered fast enough, a loud alarm will emit, and the police will be notified. The alarm system is equipped with motion sensors and infrared technology to know when someone has opened the front door. How is that for security? 4) Turn on the Outside Lights Turn on your home outside lights at night to keep everything bright on your porch and driveway. Burglars and intruders are less likely to attempt to break into a home if they think people in the neighbourhood can see them. Motion sensor lights are a more technologically innovative option. The motion sensors activate the lights when they detect movement on your property. Intruders will remain unaware of the motion sensor lights until they turn on after the intruders cross the sensors. This usually sends the intruders into a panic and makes them run away. 5) Talk to Your Neighbours Having a good relationship with your neighbours can help keep your home safe. For example, if your neighbours know who you are, they will recognize unfamiliar or unauthorized people on your property when you are not around. That could prompt your neighbours to notify you or the police to prevent unwanted intrusion into your home. 6) Cover Your Windows Do not let people see through your windows because they may discover any valuables you may have inside your home. Install drapes or blinds over your windows to protect your privacy and limit the temptation for a burglar to break into your home. 7) Install Barriers Front yard and backyard barriers may slow down intruders and deter them from getting close to your front or back doors. Some of the best examples of barriers include wooden fencing, chain link fencing, thorny shrubs, and tall hedges. If a burglar attempts to cross one of these barriers, they will only waste more time and increase the risk of getting caught. 8) Install CCTV Security Cameras Installing surveillance cameras or CCTV security cameras can create a constant video feed of activities in front and back of your home. Modern CCTV security cameras let you monitor the video feed anywhere on your laptop or smartphone. Then you can call the police if you see unwanted intrusion or strange activity at your home when you’re not there. 9) Install an Internal Garage Door The outside garage door must be strong and fully functional. However, there are times when you might leave open your garage door and walk away for a few minutes. Unfortunately, that leaves your home open for burglary and intrusion. Installing an internal garage door with a mortise locking system would be a good idea to prevent intruders from entering your home through your garage area. 10) Lock Your Interior Doors Excellent home security does not only involve locking your front and back doors. It also involves locking the interior doors, especially those leading to rooms with valuables in them. The more locked doors you have in your home, the more time thieves will waste and the less likely they will reach your valuables. Contact a Professional Locksmith Would you like to discuss the most viable ways to enhance the security of your home? Call the professional locksmiths of SMS Locksmith at 020-3151-0531 or email us at locksmith@smslocksmith.co.uk .
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SMS Locksmith provides lock installation in London for buildings, flats, homes, upscale condominiums and residential properties of all types. 

Having security and protection is a significant aspect of life in a London home. The notion that you can return home to a place that is secure provides a reprieve from anxiety and vulnerability, and the installation of an effective lock system throughout your residence provides that type of assurance. The necessity of an effective lock is thereby determined by the requisite desire for a safe environment. 

SMS Locksmith offers lock installation in London for your residential & commercial security requests. Over recent years, hundreds of residential & commercial clients across the entire London area have chosen SMS Locksmith as their locksmith and security advice company.
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