If you are a homeowner, the question of whether to change your locks or simply rekey them must have come up at least once. Rekeying is a cheaper, sometimes safer option for homeowners who need the assurance that their valuables and loved ones are safe.
In this article, discover everything you need to know about rekeying and why you should rekey your house.
Why is Rekeying Important?
If you’re wondering why rekeying is important or why you should rekey your locks, keep reading. There are several reasons why it is important to rekey your locks, some of which include:
For security purposes
Rekeying your locks can reduce your risks of becoming a crime victim significantly. As a new homeowner, one of the first things you should do is get your locks rekeyed. It doesn’t matter if you are moving into an older house or a construction house – rekeying is necessary.
You can never be completely sure how many duplicate keys to your home exist. If you have just moved into a newly built home, construction contractors and realtors may still have your keys. For older homes, friends and family of the previous owners might still have the keys to the locks.
It is better to be safe than sorry by investing in lock rekeying to make your home a lot safer.
Also, if you misplace your home keys, rekeying your locks is the best option for you. It is easier to be cautious than to be the victim of a crime. If any member of your household misplaces their key, you might want to get your locks rekeyed. It is very easy for the key to fall into the wrong hands, and criminals who know your home’s exact location may attempt getting in by using the misplaced keys.
To make your locks new again
This point is especially true for people who own old houses. Most older homes have never had their locks changed. Rekeying your locks can help the clocks function a lot faster and smoother. Rekeying is a sure way to handle severe rusting or a door that keeps getting stuck all the time.
For a security upgrade
installing a deadbolt is a great way to start if you want to improve your home’s security. If you want maximum security, however, you should opt for rekeying a high-security grade 1 lock.
For organization
Rekeying allows you to make use of a single key for several locks; if you want all the keys in your home to open with a master key, you can have them rekeyed, so one key opens all the locks.
If you’ve locked yourself out of the house, it can be pretty frustrating. Home lockouts are pretty common and push homeowners to depend on the “tools" they have to force the door open, resulting in damage to the lock.
It is very human to forget to carry your keys but attempting to remedy the solution yourself can create even bigger problems. The good news is a professional locksmith can salvage your door lock, saving you money that you would have spent on a full replacement. The damage from a forced entry can render your old keys unusable. In such a situation, the best solution is to get your locks rekeyed and keep a spare key where you can easily access it I’m case of a lockout.
Lock rekeying can save you from tricky situations
Imagine you break a key inside the lock. This can be very frustrating, especially when you have accidentally inserted the wrong key and gotten it broken in the lock. You should consider rekeying the different locks you have on one door. If you have two or more locks from one brand, you can get them rekeyed, allowing one key to open all the doors. Your locksmith Toronto should be able to do the same for keyhole locks, even if they are from different brands.
Is It Cheaper To Rekey or Replace Locks?
Rekeying a lock involved changing the working key of the lock to a different key without changing the lock itself. In other words, the old lock remains but will now be operated with a different key from the original. This change is done by taking the lock apart and reassembling some of the parts inside, known as key pins or tumblers.
All the series of key pins in your lock are fashioned to correspond to a particular key. This means when those pins are replaced, you set a new key that will now operate the lock. Although this sounds complicated, it is a procedure that should not take more than ten minutes with the right tools.
The key pins contained in the locks are very affordable, making rekeying a cheaper option than getting your locks changed. When you rekey your locks, you only pay for labour, while with changing your locks, you have to pay for parts and labour.
When Should You Rekey Your Lock?
You should rekey your locks if you lose a copy of your key and are afraid someone will find it. If you move into a new place and you are not sure who else has a copy of your keys, you should also consider rekeying your lock. Also, if you have different keys for different locks but need all your keys to match a single key, rekeying is the option for you.
Is Lock Rekeying Safe?
Rekeying a lock does not reduce or increase the security of a lock. What makes a lock more secure is the number of pins that are in it. As long as the old pins are swapped with new pins, your lock will remain as secure as it was previously.
Can You Rekey a Deadbolt?
If your deadbolt has a separate key from your entry doorknob, you will be able to rekey the deadbolt if they have the same brand. To rekey a deadbolt, take it out of the door and repin it like a doorknob.
Ensure that the bolt is out and take out the screws holding the deadbolt to the door. Take the cylinder out of its housing and the cap from the end of the cylinder. Next, take the retainer pinout.
Once the retainer pin is out, repin like a doorknob, then return the cylinder into its housing. Replace the endcap and the retainer pin and place them in the housing. Check that the bolt is out, then reattach the lock to the door.
Can You Rekey a Lock Yourself?
Replacing a standard residential lock is a fairly straightforward task that you can carry out with a screwdriver. However, rekeying may prove a bit tricky, requiring practice and the correct tools. A professional kit for rekeying costs about $300, which costs way more than the lock. Attempting to rekey a lock and doing it wrongly can almost ruin it completely.
Can You Rekey a Lock Without the Original Key?
In many cases, a locksmith can rekey your locks even if you have misplaced or lost your original keys. The locksmith can pick or shim the lock to unlock the door. When a locksmith is rekeying a lock cylinder, it will be easier to take out the lock cylinder after the lock has been opened. Even though locks come in all sizes and shaped, most of them can be rekeyed without a key.
A trained locksmith will be able to rekey your lock without a key; however, this is subject to a few conditions. You need to consider the locks and handles, the type of locking mechanisms and your budget. Weigh your options and determine which is most suitable between buying a new lock and rekeying.
Conclusion
If you are in Toronto or the GTA and need to get a professional locksmith Toronto , check out TBC Locksmith. We provide expert solutions to every locksmith need you might have.
Our services include lock installation and repair, top-notch door repairs, transponder keys, and relaying new locks. We are available 24/7 with a 15-30 minute response time. You can trust us for both your regular and emergency services