Locking Interior Doors

It is essential to have locks and deadbolts on the front and backdoor of your home. What about interior doors? Most interior doors do not require alock, hallway closet doors are an example of such a door. Yet some homeowners like to place locks on other interior doors such as bedroom and bathroom doors. This is commonly used to keep people and maintain privacy.

 Push Button Locking Doorknobs

There are several options to consider when thinking about putting locks on the home’s interior doors. A doorknob with a push button that secures from inside is the most common one. Another popular type is the knob with the turn-button component.  Both types of locksets have a small hole on the exterior surface of the knob. This allows you to easily open the door from the outside with a little tool that look like a flat head screwdriver.

Channeled Grooves

Not all interior door locking mechanisms have this small hole. There are some that only have a button with a channeled groove. They can be unlocked by using a screwdriver with a flat head, the tip of a key, or a coin. Place the edge of the object in the groove and simply turn it to open the door. Some my turn clockwise whereas others may rotate counter-clockwise, depending on the installation.

 Key Lock

Another option is levers and doorknobs that require a key to unlock the door from the outside. This is definitely useful in living quarters where there are roommates. Deadbolts can also be used in this case. Should you choose to use this, it may be a good idea to install a doorknob for additional security. Interior doorknobs and levers are available in many decorative finishes and styles. They are quite inexpensive, usually ranging less than $10 for a standard locking knob.