FAQ - Yale USA

For additional questions please contact your local retailer.

Installation

1.1.
Can I install my own Yale® lock?
Yale locks have been specially designed for ease of installation so that the average do-it-yourselfer can approach lock installation with ease.
Estimate about 15 minutes for the installation of an entry, deadbolt, passage, privacy, or dummy lockset.
An entry handleset can be installed in approximately 30 minutes.
When installing a handleset or an entry and a deadbolt on the same door take the time to align the locks so that the deadbolt locks freely when the door is shut normally.
All Yale products come with detailed installation instructions.

NOTE: Doors with pre-drilled holes contribute to ease-of-installation. If a door is not pre-drilled, it may be prudent to have a qualified vendor or installer drill and mortise the door for you.

1.2. Can I install a Yale® lock on any door?
Check the technical specifications for the product you wish to install. Doors have a variety of thicknesses.
Standard thickness is usually 1-3/8 inch or 1-3/4 inch.
We also have available extension kits for larger thickness doors.
Please contact Yale's Customer Service Department for more information, by phone 1-800-542-7562 or by e-mail at service@yalelock.com.

1.3. What tools will I need to install a Yale® lock?
Most locks require only a Phillips head screwdriver for installation.
A handleset will require a drill and drill bit in addition to the screwdriver.
Please refer to the Installation Sheet supplied with the lockset to make sure you have all the necessary tools.

1.4.
Who can I call if I need help while I'm installing my lockset?
Call Yale's Customer Service department at 1-800-542-7562, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or contact us through e-mail at service@yalelock.com.

Installation information is also available on this web site here.

1.5.
How do I determine the handing of a door?
The handing of a door is always determined by facing the exterior of a door.

- If the hinge is on the left side of the door, the door is left handed (LH).
- If the hinge is on the right side of the door, the door is right handed (RH).

To order a handed product, specify LH or RH. Not all products are handed; only specify handing when required.

1.6.
Will your locks work on a 2-inch thick door?
Most Yale locks are designed for use on 1 3/8-inch to 1 3/4-inch doors only.
We do offer extension kits for all Yale handlesets to allow operation on 2-inch to 2 1/4-inch thick doors.
To order these contact Customer Service by phone at 1-800-542-7562 or by email at service@yalelock.com.

1.7. Can I substitute a lever for the knob on a Yale® handleset?
A knob and lever are interchangeable for all of our handlesets.
If a New Traditions or YH Collection handleset has a knob on the interior, the knob and rose will have to be changed to allow the use of a lever.

1.8. What is Center-to-Center on Design Elements™ from Yale®?
The term 'Center-to-Center' generally refers to the measurement or spacing between 2 face bores on a door.
This is for doors that will have a bore for a deadbolt as well as an operating lock.
It is referred to as 'Center-to-Center' because the measurement is made from the center point of the bottom bore hole to the center point of the top bore hole.

1.9. How do I adjust my latch from 2 3/8-inch to 2 3/4-inch?
This will depend on the series of product and the type of latch that is being used.
Contact Yale® Customer Service at 1-800-542-7562, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Installation Sheets for your Yale® lockset, can be provided by Yale® Customer Service.

Keying

2.1. Can one key be used for all my entry doors?
Yes, you CAN have all your locks keyed to one key.
A locksmith, the installer, or the dealer from whom you purchased your lock can assist with this.
Your new locks can even be keyed to work with your existing key.

2.2. What keyway do you use?
We use a 5 pin KW1 (Kwikset) keyway as standard in our New Traditions and Design Elements from Yale product lines and a 6 pin KW (Kwikset) in our YH Collection.
Any of our products can be ordered with an SC (Schlage) keyway.
We will soon be offering an E1R Para keyway (Yale Commercial) for use in our levers and deadbolts in the New Traditions and YH Collection Products.

Finish

3.1.
Can I get a Yale® lockset in a different finish from what is available in the literature?
Many dealers can order Yale® locksets that are not stocked or displayed in their literature. Ask your dealer for assistance with Yale special orders.

You may also preview a large assortment of Yale product, along with available finishes in the Yale Online Catalog.

3.2. What is YaleGuard™ Gold?
YaleGuard Gold, a finish exclusive to Yale®, provides added beauty and luster by utilizing real gold in the finishing process.

3.3. Can I order the Design Elements™ from Yale® handleset with a different finish on the inside?
All Design Elements from Yale handlesets can be ordered with a split finish option.

3.4. What does PVD mean?
PVD is the abbreviation for 'Physical Vapor Deposition'.
The process takes place inside a vacuum chamber where plasma vapor consisting of reactive gases of Nitrogen and Argon combine with ceramic materials and condenses onto the substrates.
These dense thin ceramic layers are 1-4 hundredths of a millimeter thick and have a high hardness, high resistance to abrasion and high resistance to chemical attack.
PVD makes for a very evenly coated, smooth, durable, bright and shiny long lasting surface.

Operation

4.1. Can I change my knob to a lever?
In most cases, No.
The chassis components are different in the knob and lever products.
Our levers contain additional springs to avoid bearing additional weight, causing the levers to sag downward or droop.

Product

5.1.
I received the wrong parts with my original product. How can I obtain the correct ones?
If you received your parts directly from Yale® please contact Yale® Customer Service by phone at 1-800-542-7562 or by e-mail at service@yalelock.com.

If you received your parts directly from a Yale® authorized dealer, please contact that dealer.

If you purchased your product from a retail source, return the product to the source for a refund or exchange, depending on store policy.

5.2. Does Yale® make a 5 inch latch?
Yale only produces 2 latch lengths. These are 2-3/8 inch and 2-3/4 inch.

5.3. What does the term "UL rating" mean?
U.L. is an abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories.
U.L. is a testing and regulation organization that is generally associated with products designed to meet fire codes.
U.L. listed products are available from Yale® upon request, with a surcharge.
Underwriters Laboratories tested products from Yale® require a special fire shield and latch, and must have the correct strike.

5.4. Do your locks meet A.D.A. Guidelines?
The Americans with Disabilities Act was established to provide equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities throughout all aspects of life.
A major part of this Act's requirements is accessibility to public accommodations.
To simplify this, as related to locks, it specifies hardware that does not require tight grasping, tight pinching or twisting of the wrist to operate or open a door.
Many of the leversets that we offer will provide for ease of use as established by the A.D.A.Guidelines.

5.5. What does Grade 2 and Grade 3 mean to me?
These are certification standards ratings developed for the U.S. that provide an easy reference to the strength, security, and durability of a lock.
lock rated as Grade 3 is not as strong as a lock rated at Grade 2.
For a lock to pass Grade 3 standards it must endure 200,000 cycles of opening and closing, whereas a Grade 2 lock must pass 400,000 cycles.
The lock's strength is also tested in increased severity as applied to forced entry through a door.

Warranty

6.1. Does Yale® offer a Warranty on its products?
Yale® offers specific warranty coverage on each product line as follows:
Design Elements™ from Yale® - Lifetime Limited Warranty for original owner
YH Collection™ from Yale® - Lifetime Limited Warranty for original owner
New Traditions™ from Yale® - Lifetime Limited Warranty for original owner Please refer to product packaging for retail product warranties.

6.2. What does the Lifetime Limited Warranty mean?
The Yale® Lifetime Limited Warranty is one of the most extensive in the industry. It warrants against all defects in workmanship, materials and operation for our Residential line of products (Design Elements™ from Yale®, YH Collection™, New Traditions™, and Interconnected Series) for as long as such lockset is used by the original end user of the product.
YALE RESIDENTIAL SECURITY PRODUCTS, INC. does not warrant defects with respect to any products that we determine were improperly installed or were the consequences of uses for which our products were not designed.
This warranty does not cover finish defects caused by the use of paints, solvents, or other chemicals which come in contact with the lockset or resulting because the products were otherwise operated, maintained, repaired or altered improperly or contrary to our applicable instructions.
This warranty shall expire at such time as the original end user of the warranted product transfers ownership thereof to any other person.

6.3. With a Lifetime Limited Warranty, do I receive a new lockset with my warranty claim?
Yale® will replace your lockset with a new lockset if it is still under warranty and it can’t be repaired with replacement parts. Our warranty covers replacement of any defective parts whether function or finish is the issue. If we determine your lockset can be repaired with parts, then parts will be sent to you at no charge via US Mail.
We will determine whether locksets returned for repair or replacement, qualify for repair or replacement under this warranty; if they do not, we will notify our customer of estimated cost of repair or replacement and will obtain authorization prior to proceeding. We have no liability to pay any costs for repairs performed by anyone other than us, unless in each instance we have given written approval for such repair.
Cosmetic claims will be replaced only one time at no charge. Please refer to product packaging for retail product warranties.

6.4. Does the Yale® Lifetime Limited Warranty cover my installer’s labor charges to install the replacement part or replace my lockset?
No, labor charges are not included.
Yale® shall not be responsible for any costs incurred for the removal or reinstallation of locksets under the terms of the warranty.

Finish

7.1. What can I use to clean my Yale® lockset?
Do not use solvents or abrasive cleaners on any components as this will destroy the protective clearcoat finish and void the warranty.
Please use a water dampened soft cloth to remove fingerprints.
A mild soap solution applied with a soft cloth will remove oil or accumulated dirt build-up.
Note: Avoid products that state on the label that they remove tarnish and rust or that they contain acids or caustic agents.