194 lines
5.2 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
194 lines
5.2 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
property
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propertyadvice
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8380495
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# Home improvements: Do I need to replace my locks?
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## Trouble with the boiler? Rogue traders? Or a tricky do-it-yourself job?
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Jeff Howell gives on-the-level advice and answers your home maintenance
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questions
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![Jeff Howell][1]
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Jeff Howell
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By [Jeff Howell][2] 4:00PM GMT 14 Mar 2011
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[Comments][3]
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**_Q_**_ I have recently seen an advert for Master Locksmith-approved euro
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cylinder locks which states: "Every home fitted with PVC-U entrance doors is
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at risk from an almost silent method of forced entry known as lock bumping,
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which is the latest, easiest and most preferred form of the modern burglar". _
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_Do you know if this is a genuine threat and would fitting these euro cylinder
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locks actually stop it? **RF, by email**_
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**A** Lock bumping is a method of opening cylinder locks ("Yale"-type front-
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door locks) by using the fact that the spring-loaded pins can be momentarily
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bounced open by a sharp impact, allowing the cylinder to be turned and leaving
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no damage to the lock.
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Locksmiths have always been aware of this and been able to apply a blow to the
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body of the lock while simultaneously turning it. Lately, however, a DIY
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technique has been developed of cutting a special bumping key which is
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inserted onto the lock and struck with a blunt object while being turned.
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There are instruction videos on how to do this on the internet, which has led
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to its rapid spread among the worldwide burgling fraternity.
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## Related Articles
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* [Home improvements: Shall I have my sash windows double glazed?][4]
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08 Mar 2011
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* [Home improvements: What is "kettling"?][5]
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01 Mar 2011
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* [Home improvements: Don't put off these simple DIY repairs][6]
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22 Feb 2011
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* [Home improvements: Help with insulation][7]
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15 Feb 2011
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* [Home improvements: How to insulate a bungalow][8]
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07 Feb 2011
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* [Home improvements: What is radiator 'balancing'?][9]
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24 Jan 2011
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Most PVC-U replacement front doors come fitted with very cheap locks that can
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be bumped open, so it might make sense to upgrade to a higher-quality cylinder
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lock incorporating some kind of anti-bumping system.
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Even without bumping the lock, however, cheap plastic front doors can be
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fairly easy to force open, because their flexibility allows them to be
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"sprung". In other words, if a burglar inserts a bar and applies enough
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pressure, the door will distort enough for the latch to spring out of its
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keep.
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So a better use of your money might be to have an additional key-operated
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mortice lock fitted to the door, or preferably two - one at the top and one at
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the bottom. Mortice locks cannot be bumped open, and having the two locks
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spaced apart makes it harder to spring the door.
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I am constantly amazed that so many people have replacement PVC-U doors and
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windows fitted, and seem to think that these are in some way improving their
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home's security. The materials are flexible and the locks usually cost about
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50p each. Whereas a good solid softwood front door with mortice lock and hinge
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bolts will be a match for any but the most determined intruder.
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**_Q_**_ Every 10 days or so I have to bleed the last radiator on the circuit
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to release air. How does this air get into the system? Does it, perhaps, come
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from the expansion tank in the loft? _
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_I cannot see how this could be as the tank seems to be suitably filled with
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water. The radiator is upstairs and is the last of 14 radiators in the house.
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**GB, by email**_
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**A **The first thing to check is whether this is indeed air, or hydrogen
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sulfide gas - a by-product of corrosion in the system. This smells like rotten
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eggs and will ignite if you hold a flame next to the bleed valve.
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If it is air, then it will probably be entering through a leak on the return
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side of the pipe network. A leak on the "flow" side (closer to the outlet of
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the pump) results in water leaking out - a leak on the "return" side results
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in air being drawn in.
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[X][10] Share & bookmark
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[What are these?][11]
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* Share: [Share][10] [ ][12] [ ][13]
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[Tweet][14]
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyadvice/8380495/Home-improvements-
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Do-I-need-to-replace-my-locks.html
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Telegraph
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## [Property Advice][15]
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* ### [Property »][16]
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* ### [Jeff Howell »][17]
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In property
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[![Castles for sale][18]][19]
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### [Property Picture Galleries][19]
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[![Interior of the new Oka store][20]][21]
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### [Interiors and Shopping][21]
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[![World's best places to live ][22]][23]
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### [World's best places to live][23]
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[![equity-release-guide][24]][25]
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### [The Daily Telegraph Guide to Equity Release][25]
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[![Bargain Hunter: The St Sulpice sofa][26]][27]
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### [Bargain hunter][27]
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[X][10] Share & bookmark
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Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
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Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
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[What are these?][11]
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Share:
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* [ ][10]
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* [ ][12]
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* [ ][13]
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* [Tweet][14]
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* Advertisement
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![][28]
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telegraphuk
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Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][29] [blog
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