DIY Archives - A-1 Locksmith https://www.a-1locksmith.com/category/diy/ DFW Locksmith for Key Services, Safes & Security Products for Home, Business & Automotive Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:20:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 DIY Locksmith Fails, Part 2 https://www.a-1locksmith.com/diy-locksmith-fails-part-2/ Wed, 13 May 2020 05:25:53 +0000 https://35.223.136.14/?p=38180 A few years ago, we took a look at some unique DIY locksmith fails and why it usually makes more sense to trust a professional locksmith for your security needs. Well, fast-forward to today, and people are still making similar mistakes by pretending to be locksmiths themselves instead of turning to a professional for help.

Here are a few additional fails that we’ve seen:

Door or Bike?

Bike locks are great… for bikes. Not so much for vehicles (especially locksmithing vehicles).

Door or Bike

Source: Cheezburger.com

Cash Office Fail

Your business’ money is important, sure, but you’ll be spending all of it on repairing your door if you go this route.

The Upside Down

No, you’re not looking at an upside-down picture. That’s how this DIY locksmith installed the lock.

How???

We’re not sure how this unfortunate scenario played out, but it’s a fail if we’ve ever seen one.

great-just-great

Source: Cheezburger.com

Failed Expectations

You can’t always depend on a machine, can you? 

Source: Picuki.com

I Smell A Rat

Even animals try to become DIY locksmith experts sometimes, it would seem.

I Smell A Rat

Source: Picuki.com

Trust A-1 Locksmith for Your Security Needs

As you can see, DIY locksmith work rarely is the best path to take. When it comes to security for your home or automobile, trust the experts instead of wasting time (and money) and putting your security at risk. Give the A-1 Locksmith professionals a call today at (972) 284-7500 for a quote or to answer any questions you may have.

]]> 5 Reasons to Avoid a DIY Door Hardware Repair https://www.a-1locksmith.com/5-reasons-to-avoid-a-diy-door-hardware-repair/ Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:10:47 +0000 https://35.223.136.14/?p=35366 Something in your house just broke. You are unsure of what to do, but you’d rather attempt to fix it yourself than call a professional. You look up an online video, start the repair and end up making things worse. What was once a money-saving effort has now resulted in more costs than you anticipated. Sound familiar?

With the rise of YouTube, and online search, more, and more homeowners are attempting all types of home repairs themselves. When it comes to door hardware repair, that might not be such a wise idea, however. Here are five reasons why:

1. You’re not a professional locksmith.

You wouldn’t try to provide dental services to someone without the proper education and experience, would you? Then why would you attempt something similar with your home? Locksmithing is a complex profession and requires extensive training (and the proper equipment) to do it properly. Granted, some home skills, and repairs are learned quickly, but locksmithing is not one of them.

2. You’ll likely waste time.

It’s undoubtedly going to take more time for a DIY door hardware repair than calling in a professional residential locksmith. You have to look up steps, and try to follow them for the first time, hoping you don’t mess up, and have to do it all over again. A locksmith, on the other hand, will already know what to do. Licensed locksmith technicians like the team at A-1 Locksmith install, and repair hundreds of locks every week, so they’ve become extremely efficient.

3. You’ll likely waste money.

If you break something during your DIY door hardware repair attempt, you may create more financial expense than you had initially. Furthermore, you may buy the wrong part. And what about tools, and equipment? You might have to buy a locksmithing tool or two to complete your repair, whereas a professional locksmith already has all the equipment required for the job.

4. There might be additional underlying issues.

How do you know the door hardware issue is because of a surface issue, and not something more difficult to diagnose? A professional locksmith will know where to look and will be able to easily identify whether the door hardware is faulty because of a deadbolt, lock cylinder, broken key, strikeplate or another component.

5. You might be able to avoid a replacement.

Many homeowners attempt a DIY repair and then give up, resorting to buying a new version of whatever they’re trying to fix. A professional locksmith has the knowledge, and experience to let you know whether door hardware should be replaced or repaired. If it does need to be replaced, they can also advise on the best options. (It might even be time for an upgrade.)

Need a professional to replace your door hardware? Give the A-1 Locksmith team a call today at (972) 284-7500.

]]> DIY Locksmith Fails https://www.a-1locksmith.com/diy-locksmith-fails/ https://www.a-1locksmith.com/diy-locksmith-fails/#respond Mon, 12 Dec 2016 17:05:57 +0000 https://35.223.136.14/?p=6695 For many individuals, the idea of calling a locksmith may seem unnecessary. After all, with so much information and instruction available on the internet, isn’t it easier to simply tackle the project alone, without the assistance of a professional? I mean, what could really go wrong?

Sadly, although this process of thought is fairly common, it can have devastating results, ranging from costly fixes, to situations in which your whole family may be in danger. And if you aren’t completely convinced as to the importance of hiring a skilled professional for any, and all of your security needs, take a look at the following DIY locksmith fails, which may change your mind about calling a local locksmith in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Can’t Quite Unlock the Door…

Can you imagine finishing up a project like this, only to realize your key access was blocked, and you had to start all over again?

Jumping Up to Reach the Lock

 

What’s the point of installing a deadbolt by yourself if you can’t even reach the lock?

Doorknob Won’t Turn – I Wonder Why?

 

This DIY job looks perfect – until you turn the handle, and realize it’s blocked by the door itself.

An Open Invitation to Come Inside

 

A photo posted by Jeremy Wardle (@jezwardz) on

You may have installed the keypad correctly – but it’s useless if you tell everyone how to get inside.

Is This Handle Upside Down?

 


There may not be anything structurally wrong with this installation job – but a professional Dallas-Fort Worth locksmith can make sure you don’t install your handle upside down.

How Many Times Did it Take to Get it Right?

A photo posted by Davy Bruce (@thedavybruce) on

It looks like this individual had to take more than one shot at getting it right. There’s no need to put yourself in this situation; instead, make your life easier by calling a professional locksmith in the Metroplex.

Let Our Skilled Professionals Help You Today

If there is one thing that we can learn from these pictures, it’s that DIY locksmith work is rarely the right path to take. Instead of wasting your time, and putting your security at risk, consider contacting the dedicated professionals at A-1 Locksmith today. We have been serving the Metroplex area for decades, and we are happy to help you in any way that we can.

]]> https://www.a-1locksmith.com/diy-locksmith-fails/feed/ 0 Potential Perils of DIY Re-Keying https://www.a-1locksmith.com/potential-perils-of-diy-re-keying/ https://www.a-1locksmith.com/potential-perils-of-diy-re-keying/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2015 00:04:39 +0000 https://35.223.136.14/?p=6421 There are a variety of reasons that an individual may choose to re-key the locks to their home. Perhaps they lost their keys to their house or business, and are afraid of a potential intruder in the future; or, they may have moved into a new home or acquired a new lease recently, and wish to ensure only certain people have access to the premises. Of course, in both situations, said individual may choose to simply re-key the locks instead of replacing them altogether; and they may subsequently decide to do it themselves at home, without the help of a professional.

Of course, in some cases, an individual may take the correct steps, and follow the DIY guidelines exactly, causing them to re-key the locks without flaw. Far too often, however, homeowners rely on DIY lock re-keying kits, only to discover a mistake later on.

Don’t attempt to re-key your locks at home without understanding the ramifications of your actions. Instead, consider the following perils you may encounter, which you can certainly avoid by reaching out to one of our skilled locksmith professionals at A-1 Locksmith.

Re-Keying When a Replacement is Necessary

Potential Perils of DIY Re-KeyingWhat is one of the most common results that arises when individuals attempt to use DIY kits to re-key their own locks? After following all the instructions included in a manual, and taking all necessary precautions, many homeowners find that they have only exacerbated the problem that already existed. And this doesn’t occur because the individual made a mistake during the process; instead, the problem remains because the locks should have been replaced, not re-keyed.

In many cases, homeowners won’t realize that a lock is far too worn to be eligible for re-keying, and will waste them time attempting anyway. With the help of a professional locksmith, you can avoid this wasted time; a locksmith can examine the lock, and help you understand whether re-keying or replacement is the right option for you.

Leaving the Locks Unusable

Of course, the ultimate goal of the re-keying process is to be left with a functioning lock that only opens using a new set of keys. Far too often, however, homeowners will make a mistake while attempting to re-key their locks, leaving it entirely unusable, and requiring an entire replacement.

This situation can ultimately be remedied by contacting a professional locksmith beforehand. To be sure, while DIY re-keying kits may promise to provide you with all the information necessary to re-key the locks in your home, it is still possible that you may a mistake, albeit a small one, during the procedure. Unfortunately, even a small mistake can leave the locks unusable.

Avoiding the Perils of DIY Re-Keying

What is the best way to avoid any of these pitfalls of re-keying your locks at home? The answer is simple: reach out to a professional locksmith at A-1 Locksmith. Our professionals have years of experience assisting clients, and are prepared to help you immediately.

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