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Need gate lock information.

16 years ago

We finished our pool late last season. We do have young children.

We have an automatic safety cover and a four sided fence. The gate locks with a key and is only locked if it is locked with the key. The fence salesperson assured me that my littles would not be able to reach the high latch that opens the gate. I am thinking that of course kids can do anything they put their mind to and that this was probably not a wise decision.

I regret that we chose this locking system and would like to also install some type of automatic locking system (that locks when the gate shuts) and that unlocks with a keyless entry (punching in # like in a hotel safe).

Is this an option or are there any other options?

TIA.

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Comments (5)

pooldoctorstl
16 years ago
Most fence or security companies can install a lock that uses a magnetic key card like a hotel room. We installed one last summer on the gate at our subdivision pool so now we don't have to pay a person to sit and check membership passes.
repair_guy
16 years ago
Put the magna latch on it. If they can reach that and manipulate it, you should not worry about the gate and maybe better get them to the swim lessons. That's pretty tough for a toddler to get to.

http://www.magnalatch.net/
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houseful
16 years ago
I second the magnalatch. We got ours at Home Depot.
ILoveRed
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for all of the responses.

I am embarrased to say that I now realize that what we have on our fence is the magnalatch.

However, here is the kicker--I just went out and looked at it and it is installed too low and my boys can reach the knob that lifts up and opens the gate. I did not realize until I opened the link that repair guy listed above that this should have been installed higher. The contractor that built my house also built my fence and apparently also did not understand how this thing worked.

So I will have him come back and take it off and reinstall it higher. This will solve the problem. My boys are 5 (twins)--the top of the magnalatch is even with the top of the fence and they can reach it.

They had swim lessons last year and are fair but certainly not good. Not good enough for this paranoid mamma.

Thanks all.

This was more helpful than you know.
jlighthall
16 years ago
If the contractor did not properly install the latch there may be other areas that need some attention as well. A new law just passed in December 2007 nationalizing the pool code that most areas have already adopted. The codes that have been adopted follow the recommendations made by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Here is a link that might be useful: BLOG :: Gate Hardware for Pools

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