Not all window locking hardware is built the same. Window cam locks offer a meaningfully more durable, secure locking mechanism than the spring latches found on many standard windows. Our professional window installation services include this upgraded hardware as a standard option.
What Are Spring Latches?
A spring latch is a simple, spring-loaded locking mechanism commonly used on double hung windows and sliding windows. It’s inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate, but the spring mechanism itself is a wear point, over years of use, the spring can weaken, and the latch can eventually fail to fully engage or break outright.
Because spring latches rely on a small internal spring rather than a solid mechanical action, they’re also generally easier to defeat from outside the window than a more robust locking mechanism.
How Cam Locks Work
A cam lock, sometimes called a mechanical latch, uses a rotating cam that physically draws the window sash tight against the frame as it locks, rather than relying on spring tension to hold a latch in place. This creates a firmer, more secure seal, and the mechanical action is generally more durable over time than a spring-based mechanism.
Cam locks are standard on many quality double-hung and sliding windows, and it’s worth specifically asking whether a window you’re considering uses this style of hardware rather than a basic spring latch.
Why Cam Locks Are More Secure
Because a cam lock physically pulls the sash tight rather than relying on a latch simply catching, it’s both harder to force open from outside and less prone to failure from years of normal use. A worn spring latch can develop play or fail to catch fully, small issues on their own, but ones that add up to a real security gap over time. Our Window Safety Features guide covers other hardware and film options worth pairing with quality lock hardware.
Upgrading Existing Window Hardware
If your current windows use spring latches and you’re not planning a full window replacement, it’s worth asking a window professional whether the locking hardware can be upgraded or replaced independently, rather than assuming a full replacement is the only path to better security. This is often a smaller, more affordable fix than a full window swap. For windows that are due for replacement anyway, our Smart Window Locks guide covers a further upgrade path beyond a standard cam lock, and our full lineup of replacement windows includes hardware options across every style.
Choosing the Right Window Lock Hardware
When comparing windows, don’t overlook the locking hardware itself, a mechanical cam lock offers a meaningful, lasting security advantage over a basic spring latch. Our Casement Window Security guide covers similar hardware considerations for casement-style windows specifically, which use a different locking mechanism altogether.
Curious whether your windows have secure locking hardware? Schedule a free consultation with our Salt Lake City team for a free quote. You can also check out our business profile and reviews from other Salt Lake City homeowners.