Golden Locksmith is proud to provide both rekeying and lock replacement services – however, each of these services has its own set of benefits, and it’s own ideal time and place to be provided. In this blog entry, we’ll detail some information to help you determine whether it’s a better idea to rekey or replace your locks.
When to Replace Locks
Replacing locks on the surface is simply installing a brand new lockset on a door. This involves the purchase of a new lock, the removal of the old lock and deadbolt, and the installation of a new deadbolt and deadbolt lock. Locks should be replaced in a number of scenarios including: when locks are broken and lubrication doesn’t solve it, when you want to upgrade the appearance of your locks, when you want to increase your security level, if your current lock has been picked or messed with, if you want to master key your property, or if you want to upgrade to a keyless entry lock to make entrance easier for individuals at your property.
Benefits of Lock Replacement
Some benefits of lock replacement include: the upgrade of your security level in order to better protect your assets, the ability to customize locks to fit new appearances or your existing property’s aesthetics, and, of course, the lowering of the chances of future lock issues. By replacing your lock with a brand new lubricated lock means that you won’t experience any sticking or grinding lock issues for many years.
Drawbacks of Lock Replacement
Lock replacement is more labor intensive and more costly than simple lock rekeying – and it may not be ideal in all living situations, like in situations where you need landlord permission or assistance to replace your lock.
When to Rekey Locks
Rekeying is the process of changing your lock’s keys without hanging the lock itself. By replacing your lock’s springs and key pins, matching it to a new key, all previously used keys will be rendered useless. Rekeying involves opening the lock up, removing existing springs and pins and replacing them to those that match a new key. Locks should be rekeyed when you want to restrict access to your property for someone that has a pair of your keys, if you lost your keys or if they got stolen, if you moved to a home with high quality locks already in place, if you purchased a new home, if you have a limited budget, or if you want a master key for different locks that are all from the same brand.
Benefits of Lock Rekeying
Lock rekeying increases your security after previous tenants move out, is a quick, affordable, and easy process, and can be a simple solution for lock issues as locks can be relubricated during the process of rekeying.
Drawbacks of Lock Rekeying
Lock rekeying doesn’t beef up security to the same level that lock replacement does – as you will still be working with the security level of the lock itself. Additionally rekeying older or low quality locks isn’t a good idea, as you might need to eventually replace it anyway, so you should usually opt to replace older locks in order to save more money in the long run.