Walk up to almost any front door in Northwest Indiana and you will see the same pair: a knob lock below, a deadbolt above. But if you have ever wondered about deadbolt vs knob lock — which one is actually keeping burglars out — the honest answer is that only one of them is doing serious work.
Why Knob Locks Fail Under Pressure
A knob lock relies on a spring-loaded latch. Springs are convenient — the door clicks shut behind you — but anything spring-loaded can be pushed back. The latch is also housed inside the knob itself, so a hard kick or a pipe wrench on the knob can defeat the whole mechanism. Knob locks are fine for privacy. They are not a security device.
Deadbolt vs Knob Lock: What Makes the Deadbolt Different
A deadbolt throws a solid metal bolt deep into the door frame, and nothing about it is spring-loaded — it moves only when a key or thumbturn moves it. There is no latch to slip and no knob housing to wrench off. Against the most common break-in method, which is simply kicking the door, a properly installed deadbolt is the difference-maker.
The Strike Plate Is Half the Battle
Here is what many homeowners miss: a great deadbolt in a weak frame still fails, because the wood gives before the bolt does. A heavy-duty strike plate anchored with three-inch screws that reach the wall stud dramatically strengthens the whole doorway. It is an inexpensive upgrade a locksmith can do during any service call.
The Right Setup for NW Indiana Homes
Use both: the knob lock for everyday convenience, and a quality deadbolt — properly aligned, with a reinforced strike — as the real barrier on every exterior door. Back doors and garage-entry doors deserve the same treatment as the front, since those are the doors intruders prefer.
Not sure what is on your doors right now? Jacob’s Lock and Key installs and upgrades deadbolts across Northwest Indiana, from Gary to Saint John. Call (219) 342-5595, any day from 7 AM to 11 PM.
Last updated: 08/13/2026