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Privacy Locksets
Where they go: Also called nuisance or bed-and-bath locksets, privacy locksets secure interior doors against accidental entry. They lock with a turn of a center knob, by push button or with a key. Features to look for:
• A no-lockout or latch-kickoff feature that unlocks the door each time it's shut—essential for push-button locking systems.
• Pinhole emergency release, letting you open the door with a paper clip from outside if someone is trapped inside.
• Dual-torque springs to keep knobs from sagging or loosening.
• A Grade 3 security rating. A Grade 2 rating is more expensive and typically unnecessary.
• A tarnish-free finish and mechanical guarantee (both lifetime).
• If you buy a lever-handle unit—great for improving access—determine whether your door is a left- or right-hand model, then buy the appropriate handle. Many companies include a diagram explaining left- and right-handedness on packaging. Some locksets, like Titan's, are reversible. Passage Sets
Where they go: With only a knob and nonlocking strike, passage sets are designed for closet and hallway doors. They're ideal for French doors, provided they work in tandem with a dead bolt and one door is fitted with an integrated vertical lock or slide bolts. Features to look for:
• Dual-torque springs to keep knobs from sagging or loosening with use over time.
• A tarnish-free lifetime finish, particularly for brass, and a lifetime mechanical warranty.
• If doors need only outward-facing knobs because spring catches or magnets are used instead of a latch-and-strike mechanism, buy a low-cost dummy knob that's surface-mounted and requires no drilling for latch installation.
Where they go: Also called nuisance or bed-and-bath locksets, privacy locksets secure interior doors against accidental entry. They lock with a turn of a center knob, by push button or with a key. Features to look for:
• A no-lockout or latch-kickoff feature that unlocks the door each time it's shut—essential for push-button locking systems.
• Pinhole emergency release, letting you open the door with a paper clip from outside if someone is trapped inside.
• Dual-torque springs to keep knobs from sagging or loosening.
• A Grade 3 security rating. A Grade 2 rating is more expensive and typically unnecessary.
• A tarnish-free finish and mechanical guarantee (both lifetime).
• If you buy a lever-handle unit—great for improving access—determine whether your door is a left- or right-hand model, then buy the appropriate handle. Many companies include a diagram explaining left- and right-handedness on packaging. Some locksets, like Titan's, are reversible. Passage Sets
Where they go: With only a knob and nonlocking strike, passage sets are designed for closet and hallway doors. They're ideal for French doors, provided they work in tandem with a dead bolt and one door is fitted with an integrated vertical lock or slide bolts. Features to look for:
• Dual-torque springs to keep knobs from sagging or loosening with use over time.
• A tarnish-free lifetime finish, particularly for brass, and a lifetime mechanical warranty.
• If doors need only outward-facing knobs because spring catches or magnets are used instead of a latch-and-strike mechanism, buy a low-cost dummy knob that's surface-mounted and requires no drilling for latch installation.
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