Author Archives: Mr Rekey

What Is Rekeying? Is It Expensive?

lock-rekeying-If you move into a new house, or rent a new commercial space or an apartment, change cleaning companies, or fire an employee, you may find yourself thinking about changing your locks. Even if you get back the keys from previous occupants, owners, contractors or employees, they do have had the opportunity to duplicate all your keys. So you don’t have a way to know how many duplicate keys have been made, or who all have them. In almost any situation where you feel lock needs to be replaced, a local locksmith can easily rekey your locks at a fraction of cost and time it would take to choose new locks and replace them. There’s no need to replace the entire lock for protecting your cash, files and property. We had a little help from the Arvada Locksmith Pros in the editing of this article as well.

lock and key doing rekeyUnless your existing locks are flimsy or have been irreparably damaged, both rekeying or replacing locks offer the same degree of security. Rekeyng offers many advantages. First, there no need to install new hardware as it uses the existing one, so the process is cheap. Secondly, rekeying is much faster than installing new locks. A trained locksmith can easily rekey the locks of entire house or building within few hours. What’s more, many businesses and homeowners end up buying locksets that aren’t simply made for their type/style of doors. In such cases, both your jamb and door will need to be retrofitted in order for new lock system to be properly fitted. And if you have to purchase a lock that matches other hardware in color, finish and style, it can be very difficult to find an ideal match. Where match is necessary, some homeowners find themselves buying the complete set of hardware which increases the cost manifold.

What Is The ReKeying Process?

In rekeying process, the locksmith changes the tumblers of the lock cylinder with new tumblers of varying sizes. Once you rekey lock, you can throw away old key as it will no longer be ale to open the lock. The lock will require new key that perfectly coincides with the new lock tumblers. Local locksmiths can easily rekey locks at significantly lower cost than full replacement of locking mechanism. If the lock has ANSI (Grade-1 designation) then there’s no need to replace the entire lock.

rekey processIn addition to rekeying locks to ensure safety, some homeowners also rekey their locks for convenience. An easy way to reduce weight of many keys and confusion is to have all your exterior or interior locks rekeyed to use just one key. A locksmith can easily rekey unlimited number of locks in your house to work seamlessly with the same key. For rental property owners, such as condominium associations and apartment buildings, it’s often necessary to have one master key to open multiple locks. These locks will also have one key that will only open the tenant’s locks. Locksmiths can easily perform master rekeying to almost any configuration to meter the requirements of businesses, property owners and home owners.

The decision to replace or rekey your locks may come down to the expense. In fact, in some states you’re required to rekey your old locks between tenants if you an owner a rental property.

Is It Cheaper To Rekey A Lock Or Replace It?

money-bagChanging door locks involves the total replacement of the door securing unit which comes with its own set of keys while rekeying a lock involves alteration to the tumblers (inside lock cylinder)to match the new set of key(s). All locks in the house can be rekeyed to use only one key. Motives to change or rekey a lock are many! One thing for sure is that a cost will always come with whatever choice you make. Before the article continues. We want to say thanks to auroralocksmith.org for helping with this article as well. They helped us create more accurate article.

 

Among the many reasons we may need to change locks or rekey them include:

New House or Apartment

new homeMoving into a new house, condo or apartment is exciting but it can pose several security issues due to the fact that if you are not the first owner, then knowing who else has copies of keys to the locks in your home is a major problem. This means there is a chance a stranger somewhere has easy entry into your property. It is therefore necessary under such circumstances to change your locks or rekey. It is not rocket science figuring out which is cheaper between rekeying and replacing locks although as they say, “cheap is relative and cheap can eventually be expensive”. It is common knowledge to home owners who have had to make this decision irrespective of their reasons that rekeying costs way less than buying new locks for your house doors. Getting a new lock can cost you from $130 to almost $400 depending on the type and quality of lock while rekeying any type of lock will only set you back $90 or less!

Lost Keys

keys in sandEveryone has lost a key at one point in life and this is the most common reason for many lock replacements or rekeying. The fear that someone might find them and use them to gain entry into your house is enough to look for ways to recover your confidence in your home’s security. In cases like this, if all doors have the same type of lock and are in good working condition, then your cheapest option would be to rekey the locks. If different locks are installed on different house doors then considering changing the lock-sets to match then rekeying to your specifications is a more expensive way out. This helps cut costs in future when you have to rekey for whatever reasons.

Special Cases

Some of the special cases that may require you to make any alterations to your locks include (1) a spouse moving out of a shared house or apartment. (2) A fired employee (maid or grounds man) who could poses a copy of the house key(s). (3) Grown up children who have moved out of the house. If you separate from your partner either through a divorce or breakup you might feel the need to have them completely locked out of your house therefore it is cheaper for you to have your locks re-keyed than installing new replacements. The same case applies to kids who have moved out on their own. Sometimes our employees can be fired for different reasons and some may be vengeful due to the circumstances of their dismissal therefore it is advised to rekey your locks since this is more cost effective and still provides the same level of security as would be experienced with a new set of locks.

How to Re-key a Schlage Deadbolt Home Door Lock

Here is a great video from Mr Locksmith about re-keying a Schlage deadbolt door lock. This guy does great videos and I am sure you will enjoy this one. If you are ever in question about installing a lock we always recommend that you call a locksmith to insure the lock is installed correctly.

SmartKey Re-key Technology – Locks You Can Rekey Yourself!

A new technology that has emerged in locks and security for the past few years have been the advancement of SmartKey Re-key technologies to help people rekey their locks. This can be especially helpful for homeowners that rent out rooms or guesthouses like on sites like AirBnb or Craigslist.

We found out about how popular these locks where getting from www.247brooklynlocksmith.net, a popular locksmith service in Brooklyn NYC.

We think these rekey-able locks are great for some applications, but if you need a more high security lock they probably won’t work. For most homes they could be an excellent addition though! Check out the videos below for a more visual demonstration about how they work!

Reviews of the Smartkey by Schlage:

When I decided to replace my entry lock to a combination capable deadbolt as well as conventional key, I had at least two brands to pick from. I primarily chose Kwikset because of the built in motor that activates closure of the deadbolt after I’m inside (after about 20-30 seconds), in case I might forget to manually lock the door. During the decision process, I noticed that the product I was considering, also incorporated a concept called SMART KEY, but dismissed the feature as an extra that I probably would never use. About a year later, I misplaced my keys OR LOST THEM, and was concerned about someone finding them and having access to my home.

I reinvestigated the SMART KEY feature key, and then contacted Kwikset tech support to confirm my understanding that I could re-key my lock using their SMART KEY kit….i.e., the kit, which could be ordered from AMAZON, would contain a replacement key. When I received the kit, it did include a new key plus several duplicates of the new key, together with easily understood instructions on re-keying the lock myself. IMPORTANT!!!! Although I had lost my keys, I did have a duplicate of the old key AND THAT DUPLICATE OF THE ORIGINAL KEY WAS NEEDED during the re-keying process. A slick concept, and if ever needed, a money saver for the home owner.

4 keys is perfect, If the tenant wants more keys, they can go make them, I only ever give the tenants two keys anyway. I’ve always made 4 keys, two for me, two for the tenant.

Before I’ve just told the locksmith to grab some old quickset from his dead pile and duplicate it, but this is just about the same cost as having the locksmith cut 4 keys anyway, plus the bonus of two more.

Here is a model made by Baldwin, another top security brand.

Why You Need To Rekey Your Locks When Moving

family with moving boxesIf you are moving into a new home , then hiring a locksmith to rekey the locks should be your priority. The previous home owner might have kept a duplicate key to the existing lock and this might compromise the security of the premise. Rekeying a lock actually costs less than completely replacing the lock. When rekeying, the locksmith simply changes the tumblers and pins of the lock’s cylinders to another size that cannot be opened by the existing key. The owner of the property you are about to occupy will always assure you of the security. Take your own initiative to rekey all the locks. We talked with the people over at FindGoodMovers.net to give you great in depth information about lock rekeying when moving.

Benefits of rekeying your locks when moving

Rekeying locks is much cheaper

money bag - cheaperWhile moving you will probably incur numerous costs, especially in terms of transport. Instead of replacing the existing lock with a brand new one, rekeying can save you money. You will still be guaranteed the same level of security but at a more cost effective price. It is good especially if you are moving into a big home with several rooms. Purchasing a new lock for all the rooms will make the total cost of moving very high. Besides being very expensive, changing locks also take some time.

Guarantee complete safety and security of your home

Security is the first thing a tenant considers when he/she moves into a new home. Remember , no landlord will tell you that the locks have been compromised. You cannot just trust anyone, even the landlord himself. This is because more often than not people tend to have a duplicate key to the premise. Take charge and get a trustworthy locksmith to rekey the locks. This will block the previous home owner , his friends, relatives and any other unauthorized persons from accessing your home.

In addition some people even loan keys to care givers and cleaners who come around in their absence. When a house is under construction the home owner might have distributed copies of the key to workers like carpenters , and electricians.Some of these workers might end up using the key maliciously and hence compromise your privacy and security.

Provides you with higher chances of getting claims from insurance firms

hands holding homeMost homes have been insured for burglary or theft.when such an unfortunate thing happens you will expect the insurance company to compensate you. As you know insurance companies would want to ascertain that it was not your neglect that led to the theft. As such they will look around for obvious signs that the house was forcefully entered into. If there are no such signs , you might as well forget about getting any compensation from the firm.

Grants you peace of mind

When you rekey your locks, you will be at peace no matter where you are. Rekeying locks helps eliminate constant worry of someone else accessing your new abode without your authorization. Whether you move into a new home or business premise , you can’t just be sure of who has an extra key to that place.

Three simple ways to re-key your locks

rekey diagram open lockIf you have adequate knowledge on how to rekey locks, just take the locks to a trusted locksmith. A security expert will alter them for you.

Another way is to check the technology of the locks. If it is possible for you to rekey them without the help of a locksmith, then just do it yourself.

Lastly , you can call in a professional locksmith to remove, rekey and then reinstall the locks. As much as this might cost you some money, it is worth it. A locksmith will be able to identify any other malfunctions with your lock and fix them before you eventually settle down.

It is also important to check if your new home has remote garage door openers. While you are rekeying the locks remember to also change the frequency codes of the remote garage door opener. Just ensure that you hire a trustworthy locksmith. Do not rely on the landlord or previous tenant for rekeying. These people might find a way of getting your new key since they know each other. Search for a reputable locksmith who will in no way compromise the security offered by your new locks. Once all is done , avoid giving your key to just anyone, only trust close family members.

Are There 24 Hour Locksmiths?

lock and key in darkMany people are looking for locksmiths late at night. When they have problems with their car or home locks they may want to hire a professional locksmith that offers 24 hours service. Where are there 24 hour locksmiths? This is a common question that many people have when they want to solve their lock or key problems. So we asked the people over at Scottsdale Locksmith Pros to tell us all about 24 hour locksmiths.

There are several places that they can visit when they want to find emergency locksmiths. Here are some recommended tips that people can follow, so they are able to find the best lock experts who offer 24 hours service for all customers.

hand holding keys in front of carFirst, people can take a look on the Internet. There are some locksmiths that may offer their service on the Internet these days. They can compare some available experts easily. It is a good idea to consider using some search engines, such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo, for finding the best lock expert. After finding the best locksmith, people need to ask for their services. Not all locksmiths may offer 24 hour service for all customers. It is important to compare some available ones by looking at the customer reviews. Good locksmith usually has a lot of good testimonials or reviews from other customers and clients.

24 hour signThey are some useful tips that people can use when they want to find 24 hour locksmiths. These locksmiths are usually ready to help all clients in any emergency situation. All customers can simply contact them for getting some services from these emergency locksmiths. This 24 hour emergency service is very recommended for people who have some problems with their locking system during night time. Call some professional locksmiths today to compare their services. There are some service companies that may have some customer representatives up late and ready to answer the call. These customer care agents are ready to help all clients find the best service or package for current emergency.