Information Density: Albany Locksmiths – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

Locked out? Click here to call us now for affordable 24 hour emergency locksmith services.

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[H1] Albany Locksmiths Edinburgh offer a range of locksmith services from emergency call-outs to free, no-obligation security evaluations.
Please use our dedicated mobile number 07809 569856 if you need an emergency locksmith or our contact form for all other enquiries.

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EMERGENCY
Locked out of your house or premises and need to gain access urgently?
Call 07809 569856

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REPAIR
We repair a vast range traditional and UPVC, door, window and garage locks.
Contact Us Here

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UPGRADE
Don't leave it too late install the latest insurance standard locks to keep your home or premises secure.

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ALBANY LOCKSMITHS, YOUR AFFORDABLE EDINBURGH LOCKSMITH

We have more than a decade's Locksmith experience working in the security industry making us one of the most trusted Edinburgh locksmiths around. We offer competitive LOW FIXED PRICING, NO CALLOUT CHARGE and NO ADDED VAT. Being an Edinburgh locksmith that is truly based in the city, in 95% of emergency cases we can get to your door in under 30 minutes.  For your peace of mind our fully-qualified locksmiths are insured for up to £2,000,000 and CRB checked.  All our new parts are covered by a one year guarantee and unlike larger companies we do not add VAT to the end price.

We provide emergency locksmith services for Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, Fife and the Borders.  You may have seen one of our vans out and about. Because we are independent, when you call you will speak directly with an Edinburgh-based locksmith who, through hands-on experience, will know how to best diagnose the problem, offer a solution and give you an idea of the cost.
Please read our free advice on how to keep your property safe and secure and don't forget to check out our vast range of lock products including Yale locks and night latches, mortice locks, multipoint locks for UPVC doors and HMO locks preferred by Edinburgh local authorities.

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Contact us or speak with a Locksmith direct.

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Locked out? Click here to call us now for affordable 24 hour emergency locksmith services.

[H1] Locked out of your home, car or commercial property?
[H2] Require emergency locksmith services?
[H3] Call us directly on 07809 569 856.
If you would like to discuss any of our other locksmith services, please complete the below form and we'll come back to you shortly to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, you can Email us at albanylocksmiths@hotmail.co.uk or text the number above.
Proprietor: W. Good

Locked out? Click here to call us now for affordable 24 hour emergency locksmith services.

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The following paragraphs list some of the most common locks we encounter in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Our vans carry a more extensive selection and we can usually source other locks within 24hrs. You can also use the list to identify lock types you need repaired or replaced.

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[H1] Yale Locks
Commonly referred to as Yale locks, these locks lock automatically when the door is shut. Operated by a flat key and rim cylinder externally and knob internally. Although not insurance approved there are more secure versions available that meet the BS3621 standard. If a change of keys is required cylinder can be changed retaining the lock case. Its advisable to replace old worn lock cases as these are prone to snib drop and jamming lockouts.

Read More about Yale locks

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[H2] Mortice Locks
Mortice locks are the stalwart of wooden door security. Insurance companys are increasingly insisting wooden doors be fitted with 5 lever mortice BS3621:2007 standard. If you don't have a functioning compliant mortice you will find your insurance company reluctant to pay up should you suffer a burglary. 3 lever mortice locks should be only used for internal doors. There are two variations of this lock. The Sashlock with a bolt and handle operated latch bolt. The Deadlock with a single key operated bolt.

Read more about Mortice locks

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[H2] HMO Locks
Local authorities now insist that a “House of Multiple Occupancy” i.e. property with 3 or more unrelated persons be fitted with HMO compliant locks. These locks should provide a keyless egress from the property in the event of fire. These locks replace existing mortice deadlocks and are operated by a Euro or oval thumb turn cylinder. An added advantage with these locks is that should the the landlord need a key change only the cylinder is replaced, leaving the lock case in place and therefore reducing the cost.

Read More about HMO compliant Locks

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[H2] Multi-point Locks
Multipoint locks are mainly fitted to UPVC doors also seen in some wooden doors patio doors and conservatories. Usually locked by lifting the handles to engage hooks and rollers and key turn to deadlock. There are wide variations in the lock mech types. Replacing these should always be done by an experienced locksmith as errors in key measurement could render the lock door insecure. The correct cylinder fitting is essential to reduce the possibility of a cylinder snapping break in. Again we carry a wide range of these mechs and cylinders more uncommon mechs normally sourced in 24hrs.

Read More about Multipoint UPVC door locks

Locked out? Click here to call us now for affordable 24 hour emergency locksmith services.

[H1] YALE LOCK (OR NIGHT LATCH)
The Yale lock is the common name used to describe a Night latch. Yale is in fact a brand name which is commonly used to describe the range of Night latches available on the market today. Much like the way we use the term “Hoover” to describe vacuum cleaners, most people refer to the Night latch as the Yale. The Yale company in fact manufactures a vast range of locks from padlocks to Mortice locks and Multipoint locking systems.
Night latches where first developed by the Yale Company of Newport, New York  in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Yale Company patented many lock mechanisms around this time including combination locks, Safe locks and the pin and tumbler cylinder used in almost all modern Night latches.

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[H2] HOW A NIGHT LATCH WORKS
All night latches consist of three main parts: a pin and tumbler cylinder, a Lock case and a Keep.
The cylinder is mounted on the exterior of the door and provides the keyhole, pin and tumbler and a connection through the door to the Lock case via the tail piece. The Lock case consists of a spring loaded latch bolt, release knob and locking snib. The keep resides on the door jamb and is the receiver for the latch bolt. As opposed to Mortice locks which are installed “inside” the door, the Night Latch lock case is mounted “ON”  the door and the Keep is mounted “ON” the Jamb. When the door is closed the 45 degree edge on the Latch bolt strikes the 45 degree edge on the keep with enough force to compress the latch bolt allowing the door to close. Once the door is fully closed the latch springs back into the keep thus locking the door. To open the key is inserted in the lock the jagged edge of which aligns the 5 or 6 pins allowing key to be rotated which in turn rotated the tail piece which pulls back the bolt and therefore opening the door.

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[H3] YALE LOCK (NIGHT LATCH) SECURITY
The downside of Night latches is the level of security to provide particularly the most common Traditional version. The spring loaded latch which because of its very nature is prone to “slipping” the old credit charge trick. Because Night latches are installed ON the door and jamb they offer less resistance to someone trying to force the door.
The Yale Lock should never be the only lock on a wooden final exit door. This is reflected in Insurance company's terms and conditions which usually state"
“...all final exit wooden doors should be fitted at least one BS:3621 5 lever mortice lock”.
In fact Night latches are not recognised by insurance companies unless they are a British Standard version. These locks tend to be more expensive less secure the BS 5 lever mortice locks hence we see very few in service.
If you move away from the traditional Yale lock there are more secure versions available these can offer defence from “Slipping” by having a dead locking mechanism. Sturdier lock cases which are secured to a back plate not just screwed into the door. Tougher anti-drill anti-pick cylinders are available. A more robust keep with deeper screws. The Keep can be reinforced by addition of a London Bar.
Albany Locksmiths offer advice on Yale lock (night latch) repair and installations and stock a full range to suit every budget.

Contact us to discuss your security needs

Locked out? Click here to call us now for affordable 24 hour emergency locksmith services.

[H1] MORTICE LOCKS
Mortice locks have been used in the UK well over 200 years. Mortice locks are usually fitted to (though not exclusively) wooden doors. The standard configuration we see in Edinburgh and the Lothians is a wooden door with a Yale style night latch for convenience and a mortice lock fitted below for security.

[H2] THERE ARE TWO MAIN STYLES OF MORTICE LOCK: THE SASH-LOCK AND THE DEADLOCK
The mortice Sash-locks have a larger lock-case to accommodate a spring loaded latch bolt (operated by the door handle or knob) and a deadbolt operated by the key. Sash-locks come with an angled striker keep to accommodate the latch bolt. Because the  nature of the lock this style of locks has to be fitted with handles or door knobs.
The mortice deadlock is like a cut down Sash-lock, in that there is no latch bolt just a deadbolt operated by a key. Unlike the Sash-lock Mortice Deadlocks do not require a set of handles and present only the keyhole escutcheon externally. Deadlocks use a box keep.

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British Standard sash lock

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British standard deadlock

[H3] COMMON MORTICE LOCKS FAULTS
A good quality Mortice lock correctly installed will give you decades of reliable service with minimal maintenance needed. Conversely a poorly fitted low quality lock is a liability and any saving on the cost of the lock will be quickly lost when you have to call a locksmith to get into your property. The common mortice faults we at Albany Locksmiths see on a regular basis are:
Worn or badly cut keys which work at first but can cause damage to the levers.
Rotated shroud, the symptom of which is not being able to fully insert the key. This fault is often caused by a broken or worn retaining spring or someone trying to open the lock with the wrong key.
Misaligned bolt/keep through time a wooden door may drop along the edge. This causes the bolt to rub on the bottom edge of the keep causing difficulty turning the key and placing stress on the lock which can lead to jammed keys and lock failure.
A broken key jamming the lock. This fault usually happens in the locked position and you'll need a locksmith with the correct tools to extract the broken part of key and open the door. In most of these incidents the key can be extracted without further lock damage.
As a general rule of thumb if you detect a problem either locking or unlocking a mortice lock, take action and seek advice from a professional locksmith. 50% of people locked out are aware of issues with the lock but choose to ignore it end up locked out of their property usually at a most inconvenient time.
[H3] WHICH LEVEL OF SECURITY DO YOU NEED? 3 LEVER, 5 LEVER OR 5 LEVER BRITISH STANDARD?
The fact that mortice locks are installed IN the door and the striker/keep is installed IN the door jamb, instantly gives mortice locks the strength advantage over surface mounted locks. In fact we often see British Standard locks withstand attack and remain functional while the wooden door or jamb has split and cracked.
Like so many items of hardware the higher quality and more secure lock will cost more than lower quality less secure locks. Although lower quality locks' lock-cases may look the same to the layman, they offer varying levels of security. Here is a brief description of the most common types.
[H3] THE 3 LEVER MORTICE LOCK
as the name describes the 3 lever security means keys for these locks offer less permutations for unique keys We have dealt with cases where Clients can open these locks using a random Mortice key. These locks tend not to have an anti-pick shroud therefore are relatively easy to pick. The bolt in these locks are smaller usually around 14mmx20mm The bold don't have anti-saw bars. The keep for these locks consists a light weight pressed metal frame with no box. These locks are designed for light security applications such as internal or cupboard doors. 3 lever locks are NOT insurance compliant and should not be used in external final exit doors.
[H3] THE 5 LEVER NON-BRITISH STANDARD MORTICE LOCK
these are a halfway compromise between 3 lever and British Standard locks. 5 lever mortices give the greater key permutations. These locks have a larger bolt sometimes with anti-saw bars. They have sometimes come with a box keep which tend to be small and are using light weight metal. Non British Standard 5 lever locks are NOT insurance compliant and should not be used in external final exit doors. Common applications for this type of door would be outbuildings, Garage rear door or inner vestibule doors.
[H3] THE 5 LEVER BRITISH STANDARD MORTICE LOCK
this is the insurance approved standard. Most insurance policies have a section in the Terms and Conditions that outline the minimum level of security for the policy. For wooden doors they have a clause “all final exit doors should be fitted with at least one BS:3621 5 lever mortice lock." British standard Mortice locks are clearly identified having the BS:3621 number and kite mark stamped on the faceplate of the lock. The BS lock has an anti-pick shroud,  a Lock case armoured with anti-drill plates, a large 20mm deep bolt reinforced with harden steel anti-saw bars and  a full bodied steel keep.
[H3] CHUBB MORTICE LOCKS
These were one of the first and most successful brands of this kind of lock. So much so people often refer to their mortice as a “Chubb lock”. Chubb locks - particularly the 3G110 and 3G114 mortice - have their own unique case profiles. Where all other brands standardised around 64mm and 76mm cases, Chubb locks do not. This means once a door has been cut for a Chubb any replacements have to be Chubb to avoid the problems of case size and keyhole position. In August 2000 Chubb was bought over by the ASSA ABLOY group who own a number of brands such as Yale and Union locks.
Today Chubb mainly deal in high end security systems and their legacy locks are rebranded under the union lock banner.
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Contact us to discuss your security needs

Locked out? Click here to call us now for affordable 24 hour emergency locksmith services.

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MULTIPOINT UPVC LOCKS

[H2] Overview
Multipoint or UPVC locks are a locking systems which when locked secures the door at multiple points along the door jamb. The basic components of a multipoint system is the "Mech" visible along the edge of the door. The "keep" located on the door jamb. The cylinder usually Euro or Oval profile and finally the handle.
[H2] Operation of Multipoint UPVC Locks
Most UPVC locks operate on a lift lever system ie to lock you first lift the handle to engage the rollers or hooks into their relevant keep on the door jamb. The key is then inserted into cylinder and rotated to lock everything in place. Under 5% of multipoint locks we see in Edinburgh are purely key driven. With these locks the handle is fixed and the hooks and rollers are engaged the turning the key several times.
[H2] Common Faults of UPVC Locks
Here are some of the common problems Albany Locksmith Edinburgh see on a regular basis:
Cylinder faults from worn cylinders. To keys snapped of in the lock. Albany locksmith supply top quality six pin cylinders with anti drill protection available in brass or chrome finish and double Euro (key each side) or Key and turn key externally and knob internally.
Mech faults can be attributed to internal gearbox failure due to wear and tear or fragments of metal and plastic clogging up gears. Poor initial installation and alignment can cause users to force the handle up in turn creating stress on the lock and eventually leading to lock failure.
Most MPL faults advertise themselves before the locks completely fail. Albany Locksmiths find people who are locked out on a Multipoint locks have noticed problems for a considerable time before failure and think a spray of WD40 will cure the problem that never the case. So as soon as your lock start playing up contact us and arrange a visit there is a good chance calling a Locksmith early could save you money by preventing complete lock failure
Albany Locksmith Edinburgh stock a comprehensive range of locks and Gearboxes from the main MPL manufacturers such as Yale, Era, Fuhr, Lockmaster, GU, ASSA, Mila, Fullex, Avocet, KFV and Winkhaus. Should you have a Multipoint lock the is no longer manufactured we can supply and fit an alternative lock for you.

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