Mechanical push button locks are great to use at the entrance of any building where you will be giving access to a lot of people, such as at dormitories, apartment complexes, factories and large office buildings. They can also be installed in homes and in fact it is a great idea to use this type of push button door lock if you have a lot of family members coming and going at different hours of the day, and you do not want to have keys accessible to others or lost or forgotten somewhere. This could apply to you, if you have older children who come and go while you are at work, or if you have teenagers who like to stay out with their friends, or go out a lot during weekends, for example. I have a fourteen year old daughter and a ten year old daughter. We have furnished them both with keys, as they do need to be able to gain entrance to our apartment at times when we are not home. I cannot begin to count how many times they have lost their keys, left home without taking their keys (consequently being locked out of the apartment on their arrival home), or left their keys at school or at a friend’s house!
Mechanical push button locks are sturdy and secure. In many cases, installing this alone provides your building with adequate security, especially if used at smaller locations. The push button lock can also be used as a supplemental form of security, just adding that extra protection. You can buy mechanical push button door locks that work with all kinds of installations, including regular cylindrical or mortise.
Some of their typical features, that make them ideal for certain situations, include the fact that they are incredibly easy to maintain. In most situations, you can simply install the lock and then pretty much forget about it. It will do its job of opening and shutting the door tirelessly, needing little to no interference from you. The only thing you may need to do is to change the pin number used to activate the door lock upon occasion. There are no batteries to replace, as it is totally mechanical.
Most mechanical locks also include additional features, such as having removable cores. It is also good, if you are going to buy a mechanical lock, to look for one that does provide optional key over-ride options that can be used in an emergency to enter the building even without knowing the PIN. Another option is providing you with the ability to lock-out or disable the whole lock so that people cannot gain entrance at all, even if they use the correct pin. This last option is especially helpful in stores, for example, when you need to secure the shop for a moment to count money, or to replenish a cash register.
Taking things up a notch, if you want to you can find an electric release model, that while still basically a mechanical push button lock, does give you the option of passing access control over to a receptionist for example. This type is often used in offices or factories where the employees have pin number access but visitors to the company must be allowed into the building by a receptionist.
Costs for mechanical locks range anywhere from a little over $100 to $800 or more depending on the size of the lock, and the material it is made from. Naturally, a large, external push button lock will cost more than a smaller residential sized version would. Very little will need to be spent on repairs or maintenance, although if something does go wrong with the locking mechanism thankfully it can be repaired and the part replaced easily, due to it being a mechanical lock. You may not have the same options with an electronic push button lock.