What Is Rekeying Locks?
If you've ever moved into a new house, lost your keys, or had to fire an unhappy worker, you've probably thought about changing your locks.
Most people don't know that rekeying locks is a better and often cheaper way to keep their locks than replacing them. In this article, we'll talk about what it means to "rekey" a lock and, more importantly, when it's better to rekey than replace a lock.You might wonder why this is so important. Because it can help you save a lot of money every year. Some locksmiths choose the more expensive option themselves instead of explaining the differences to the customer, taking advantage of their lack of knowledge.
What is Lock Rekeying?
"Changing a lock" is easy to understand because it just means replacing an old lock with a new one. "Rekeying locks," on the other hand, needs some explanation. To rekey a lock, you replace the key that works with a new one, but you don't have to replace the lock. In other words, the lock hasn't changed, but the old key doesn't work anymore.This is done by taking apart the lock and replacing what are called "tumblers" or "key pins" on the inside
Each set of key pins in your lock goes with a specific key pin, so when you replace these pins with new ones, you've made a new key that can now open the lock. If you have the right tools, this is a simple process that shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
For rekeying, the locksmith needs a key that fits the lock right now Without the matching key, the only way to rekey the lock is to pick it open.This is usually not a problem for a skilled locksmith, but it often costs extra money and can make the process more expensive than just replacing the lock
Rekeying a lock doesn't change how secure it is or make it more secure.The number of pins inside a lock is part of what makes it safe.As long as the locksmith puts in five new pins to replace the old five, the lock will be just as safe as before. If you want to make your locks safer, you should change them out for new ones that are more secure.
Because key pins in locks are so cheap, rekeying is almost always a much cheaper option than replacing locks. When you get your locks changed, you pay for both the work and the parts When you get your locks rekeyed, you only pay for the work
It's important to remember that all locks can have their keys changed, so you don't have to worry about whether or not yours can But the process for rekeying locks isn't always the same, and you often need different tools. Some high-security locks, like "Medeco" and "Mul-T-Lock," need a certain set of tools and key pins to change the key
Locks are rekeyed when an old key needs to be thrown away or when more than one lock needs to use the same key. For example, if your home has many locks and each lock has its own key, which can be inconvenient, you can rekey the
locks so that they all use the same key. Keep in mind that in order to match two or more locks to the same key, the locks must be the same brand or have the same keyholes If your key fits into one lock but not another, this means that their keyholes (or "keyways") are different and can't be matched.
When is it Important to Rekey Locks?
Most often, a lock needs to be rekeyed because:
YH Locksmith can help if you like your locks but want to change the key so that the old key won't work anymore As an example:
● If you just moved into a new home and don't know who else has a key, you're in a tough spot.
● You have lost a spare key and are worried that someone will find it
● You don't want anyone with the key to be able to get in
● When you have different keys for different locks and want them all to work with the same key. (Since all the locks are made by the same company or have the same keyhole)
When ShouldYou Pick Change Locks?
● You want to change the color or style of your hair. For example, if you moved into a new house and found that the locks were old and rusted, you might want to replace them with locks that look better
● When you want to make your home safer by switching to high-security or electronic locks.
● If your home has locks from different brands and you want them all to work with the same key, you will need to change some locks so that they are all the same brand (or have the same type of keyway) before you can re-key them to one key.
When you have installed one or more locks but don't have the key, you need to compare the cost of buying a new lock to the cost of rekeying them without a key, which requires more work, and decide which option is more cost-effective Only if it costs more to pick the lock or change the key than to buy a new lock should you replace it.
When you get your locks changed, the locksmith should be able to give you at least a few locks and keys. Most hardware stores match locks for free when you buy something
Can you change the key yourself?
Not only do you need to know how to do it, but you also need expensive, specialized tools.Aprofessional pinning kit that can rekey most locks costs about $250, which is a lot more than the price of 10 new basic locks Keep in mind that if you try to change a lock yourself and fail, you won't do much damage to it, but if you try to rekey a lock and fail, you will almost always completely destroy it.
Some modern locks are easy to change the key on at home, without taking them apart or calling a locksmith.These locks are becoming more and more popular as technology improves, but they still have some problems So, if you don't change locks often, we suggest that you keep the locks on your door the way they are for now.
Don't let strangers in, have YH Locksmith rekey your locks.
All over Las Vegas, YH Locksmith offers rekeying services To find out more, call (702) 840-1465 If you want to rekey your locks, you can count on YH Lock & Security to give you the service and tools you need We offer the best key and lock services in Las Vegas.Talk to us right away.