When a key goes missing, the first instinct is to buy new locks. Often that isn't necessary. Rekeying changes which key opens a lock without replacing the lock, and in many cases it is exactly what the situation calls for.
Here is what each option does, and how to decide.
What rekeying actually does
Inside every cylinder is a row of small pins of different lengths. The cuts on your key line them up so the cylinder can turn. Rekeying replaces those pins with a new set, so the old keys stop working and a new key takes over.
The lock itself stays: the cylinder comes out, gets its new pins and goes back in. The hardware you chose stays the same, and you get new keys that match.
When rekeying is the right call
- You have just moved into a home and have no idea how many copies of the old keys exist.
- A key was lost, or wasn't returned by a roommate, a contractor or a former partner.
- A tenant has moved out and a new one is moving in.
- You want one key for every door. If the locks share the same type of keyway, they can be rekeyed to the same key.
When it makes more sense to replace the lock
- The lock is worn out: it sticks, the key has to be jiggled, or the cylinder feels loose.
- It was damaged in a break-in or an attempt at one.
- You want a different kind of lock, such as a deadbolt where there is only a knob, or a smart lock.
- The hardware is old enough that matching parts are hard to find.
A lock that is already failing is not worth rekeying. New pins in a worn cylinder still leave you with a worn cylinder, and in that case lock replacement is the better use of the visit.
Moving into a new home? Do this first
Before the boxes are unpacked, it is worth taking stock of every lock that the previous owners, their family, their dog walker or their contractors may have a key to.
- Front door, back door and any side door.
- The door from an attached garage into the house.
- Basement and cellar doors.
- The mailbox, if it has a lock.
- Any keypad or smart lock: delete every old code and add your own.
One key for the whole house
If you are rekeying anyway, ask about keying the doors alike. One key for the front, back and side door is easier to live with, and it means fewer copies floating around.
What to expect when we come out
We rekey at the door, on site. We check each lock as we go, and if one of them is too worn to be worth rekeying, we tell you before doing anything. Every new key is tested in every lock it is meant to open before we leave.
