When to Replace Your Locks

Your locks are the basis for your home security, but most people take their locks for granted. You lock the doors at night or when you’re leaving and assume that your possessions or your family will be protected. However, the locks on many homes are substandard and easily defeated by criminals looking to gain access. Some locks are so worn down that you are risking a lockout situation by continuing to use them. By having your locks replaced, you can prevent these and other anxiety-provoking situations with proactive solutions that ensure you easy access to your property while keeping criminals out. It’s important to inspect the performance of your locks from time to time to make sure there are no signs of problems, such as the locks slipping, keys sticking, or loose hardware.   

The Importance of Changing Locks

If you’re not absolutely positive that no one you don’t approve of has keys to your locks, it’s important to change the locks as soon as possible. Anyone with a key to your building can come in. This advice also applies if your keys are lost or stolen, because it’s very inexpensive and easy to have a key copied and you would never know who had them. Changing or rekeying—a process of rearranging the pins in the existing lock—locks is a relatively inexpensive measure to ensure your home security remains in tip top shape. By staying on top of any lock problems and replacing worn out or damaged locks promptly, you will ensure that your home security is at its best.     

When to Replace Your Locks

• When You Lose Your Keys: As stated above, if you lose your keys, especially away from home, and are unable to find them, it’s important to consider changing your locks. While you could just have a new key made in many cases, if you’re not sure if someone else has a copy of them, it’s best to go ahead and rekey or change the locks. 
• When You Move In: When you receive the keys to your new home, you may want to treasure them forever. However, if you’re not entirely positive that the locks were changed from the last owner, it’s important to be safe instead of sorry and have the locks changed. If you’ve just moved into an apartment or duplex, usually the landlord will have to have a copy of the keys as well. But if you’re not sure that the locks were changed in between the last tenancy and the beginning of yours, ask about changing the locks.
• When a Problematic Housemate Leaves: In cases of divorce, domestic disputes, or strife between former housemates, it’s a good idea to change the locks after the other person leaves. Make sure if they are on the lease that you follow the appropriate local laws. If you’re in any way concerned that the other person might try to come into the home without permission or may have copied the key, it’s a good idea to invest in changing the locks.  
• After a Break-In: During the process of most break-ins, the lock hardware is usually destroyed. However, even if your locks were not damaged, any lock that was defeated has proven that it wasn’t up to the task of protecting your home. Many high-quality locks exist on the market that you may want to consider, especially if you live in a high-crime area or a neighborhood that has seen break-ins. 
• When Your Lock is Otherwise Damaged: Criminals are not the only potential cause of damage to your locks. Locks can also be damaged by bent keys, by hitting them when you’re moving especially if you’re moving furniture or heavy objects, or other causes. Have your damaged locks inspected by a locksmith professional to determine the best course of action. 
• When Your Key Sticks: All lock hardware wears down over time, with all of the manipulation of daily inserting your lock and turning. While locks are generally designed to last for a long time, with all of this use over the years, the pins and tumblers inside the lock can begin to wear down and warp. Your key itself, whether hung up on a hook or shoved inside a purse, can begin to show signs of wear and tear. When the two are used together, it can cause your key to stick or be difficult to use or pull out of the lock. 

Lock Rekeying vs. Changing?

When you’re in the position of needing your locks changed for whatever reason, the next step is to determine whether you can have your lock rekeyed or if it will need to be replaced entirely. As mentioned above, rekeying a lock is the process a locksmith uses to take an existing lock and manipulate the interior parts to fit a new key. Inside a standard pin and tumbler lock are pins that are shaped to correspond to the grooves on your key. Rekeying changes the position of these pins. This is generally done if your lock hardware is relatively new and in good shape and can save you money over changing the locks. Once rekeyed, as the name suggests, the old keys will not work.   
New locks are preferred if the current locks are older, worn, damaged, or otherwise in poor shape. Lock changes are more common than lock rekeying generally because the reason for the service is caused by one of the reasons listed above and necessitates full replacement.