As a home or business owner, you know how crucial it is to secure your premises, but normally you don’t give it much thought until something goes wrong. The locks installed on your property are the first line of defense against intruders, thieves, and other aggressors. In case you feel that your locks are vulnerable to break in for any reason, you should replace them immediately without any second thought. However, changing locks doesn’t have to be a hassle. That’s why it is always recommended to acquire quality residential locksmith services from a reputable company for all your lock installation and repair needs.
Many of you might be unaware of the fact that other than changing your locks, there is a much better and often cheaper solution available to your lost keys, and that is Lock Rekeying. Yes, you heard it right! Lock Rekeying is a more cost-effective and quicker alternative to replacing the locks. A residential locksmith can examine the condition of the lock thoroughly and then suggest a suitable solution, thus helping you decide whether the lock needs to be rekeyed or replaced. There may be times when replacing the entire lockset is necessary, but more often than not, a simple rekeying will do just fine.
Now, you must be wondering how to figure out whether you should rekey your locks or replace them altogether? Well, there’s no need to worry, as this post will help you understand the differences between the two and determine which will suit best for your home.
Rekeying Locks
While replacing a lock is quite self-explanatory, which simply means changing an old lock with a new one, rekeying a lock requires detailed explanation to be understood. It is a very simple and straightforward process (for a qualified residential locksmith at least) that encompasses taking the lock apart and changing the combination of the tumblers (pins, wafers) located within the lock’s cylinder to fit the new key. In simple terms, it is a process that involves changing the working key of the lock without replacing the lock itself. Even though it sounds a bit complicated, it’s an easy and quick process that shouldn’t take much time given the right tools.
When to Rekey
There are a couple of reasons why you might consider rekeying your locks. These include:
- If the current locks are in good condition, but you want to change the keys so that the old ones won’t work anymore, especially in cases like:
- When you move into a new house and don’t know who else may have the key to your property.
- When you loan out a key to a contractor and they don’t give it back.
- In case you want to prevent someone (who has the key to your house) from entering your property.
- If you have lost your keys or you doubt that they have been stolen.
- When you have separate keys for each lock and you want all your locks to operate with one key (given that all the locks have the same keyhole and are of same brand).
Replacing Locks
Locks get old, shaky, and jiggly with time. They tend to wear out and require repairs and maintenance that can be extremely inconvenient and expensive. In many cases, rekeying isn’t an option, and that’s why it’s always advisable to get your locks replaced so as to secure your premises. Even though replacing the locks could cost you more than rekeying, it’s never a bad idea to upgrade them for increased security. For instance, if you have an antique lock set, then it may be difficult for you to find its parts for rekeying. Thus, it is always a good idea to replace your locks periodically, in order to maintain and enhance your property’s security and safety. While some replace locks for safety, others do it for purely aesthetic reasons, i.e. for changing the appearance of their house.
When to Replace
Here are some of the reasons why you should consider replacing your locks rather than rekeying:
- When you want your locks to be of different design or color. For instance, if you’ve recently moved into a new house and you find your locks old and rusted, leaving you with no other option than to replace them.
- If you are looking to beef up your home’s security, then it’s best to replace your outdated locks with high security or electronic locks.
- When you have different brands of locks installed in your premises and you want them all to operate on the same key. For this, you need to purchase locks of the same brand (or the ones that have the same type of keyway) only then you’ll be able to rekey them all to one key.
- In case you have an antique lock set whose parts are no longer available in the market.
- If your lock has been damaged in a break in or another mishap.
As you can see, both the methods have their own merits and limitations. There are some scenarios in which Lock Rekeying is a much more suitable and affordable option, while in other cases, Lock Replacing seems to have an upper hand. In order to determine which method will work best for your home, it’s always recommended to consult a qualified residential locksmith.
Still trying to figure out whether you should rekey your locks or replace them? Contact us today! We will help you decide which service will work best for your home.
