Rekeying Or Replacing Your Locks? Find The Best Method
When homeowners realize that something like rekeying a lock exists, their faces always light up with intrigue. To most of them, the word “rekey” appears to be magic. If you haven’t heard the phrase before, that’s perfectly normal; you’re not alone. Somewhat of rekeying, many homeowners entirely choose to replace the locks on their doors. This isn’t to say that changing your door locks is wrong; it’s not always the only solution.
Homeowners have the option of rekeying their door locks; in some cases, it may be a better alternative than replacing the entire lock. There’s no need to be concerned if you’re unsure how to determine which option is ideal for your house. Today, I’ll try to assist you in answering this question by explaining what rekeying and replacing a lock entail and how they affect your doors and home. We’ll look at what rekeying and replacing a lock involve and other variables that might influence your decision after that.
What Does “Rekey Locks” Mean?
The term rekey is sometimes used to describe this procedure. You’re attempting to adjust the internal mechanics of the lock to work with a different key without jeopardizing your house’s security. This appears straightforward, but if you’re not a professional locksmith who has been adequately trained, doing it may be difficult. You may, in essence, keep your old lock, but the key you previously had will no longer work. Before diving down the rabbit hole of lock rekeying, you must grasp this fundamental idea. Because it utilizes the existing lock body to function with a different key than before, rekeying is cost-effective.
A locksmith will need access to the lock cylinder to rekey a lock, which necessitates removing the lock from the door it is installed on. If you’re familiar with locks, you might be able to do this yourself, but as I said before, this is not always simple. When it comes to your hair, you don’t want to risk jeopardizing your safety simply because you’re afraid of calling a locksmith. If you undertake this rekey operation on your own and make a mistake, you could put your house’s security at risk. You can attempt to do this yourself, but I wouldn’t advise unless you’re familiar with locks and how they work.
Rekey a Lock
To rekey a lock, you must concentrate on the lock cylinder and key pins that are housed within it. These fundamental elements must be replaced and rearranged for a lock to be rekeyed. In addition to focusing on the lock cylinder, you’ll need the proper key. If you don’t have the current key, you’ll have to pick the lock to begin the rekeying process. If you choose to handle it yourself and are familiar with how pins operate inside a primary pin tumbler lock, everything will go a lot smoother.
The pins within a lock match the pins on the key that opened it. When the key hooks are altered or rearranged, the key will no longer function in conjunction with the lock. To properly set the key pin sizes, you must first know which pin sizes correspond to which critical depths. Interpreting this data is tough without a depth chart, pin size chart, or essential decoder. When locksmiths try to determine which key pins to utilize, a key decoder saves time by eliminating much of the guesswork.
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Advantages of Rekeying Locks:
Improved Security Sense of security has improved
Rekeying your locks might make you feel safer in the long run. This is because it’s a simple method to reset your essential control and erase all other keys that may have operated your lock. This is frequent among first-time homeowners as soon as they move in. The reason people do this is to prevent past owners or anybody who may have a copy of the key from entering a house that isn’t theirs. It effectively closes any open ends in their security and provides them with a clean slate.
Cost-Effective
When rekeying a lock, the most significant elements that are altered are the key pins, which are stored within the lock cylinder. These key pins are very inexpensive, especially when compared to the cost of a new lockset. Rekeying is a highly cost-effective alternative for individuals wishing to update just a few security elements without breaking the bank. When you call a locksmith, the most you will have to pay for is labor or the amount of time it will take you to put it together yourself.
In A Snap And Easy
Rekeying (when done by a professional locksmith) is relatively quick and straightforward and does not need many human resources or tools. Aside from a critical decoder, a catch tool, spanner, and the current key for the lock are rekeyed, all you need to know how to do it is.
Disadvantages of Rekeying Locks:
Limited Security Upgrades
Another disadvantage of rekeying is that it only provides a limited level of security improvement. This doesn’t imply that it doesn’t assist in any way; instead, you don’t replace any other lock security components. As a result, if you upgrade the locks and install a more secure lock, you will be left with a subpar lock. This is why I classified it as a limited security upgrade.
What Does It Mean To Change A Lock?
The most significant distinction between rekeying and replacing a lock is that you’ll be using an entirely different (and, in some cases, brand new) lock. The whole lock body will typically be diverse when you replace a lock. It is much more expensive than rekeying the lock, but it does have certain advantages. The primary reason for the more significant expense is that you must buy a new lockset for the door when replacing it. As previously stated, this is not required when rekeying a lock. To replace a lock, you must first select which safety you wish to replace.
Conclusion:
Rekeying your locks is a great way to improve your home security without spending too much money. It’s quick, easy, and cost-effective, giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your home is safe and secure. Replacing a lock is more expensive, but it provides a higher level of security. Whether you rekey or replace your locks, consult a professional locksmith to ensure the job is done correctly.
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