What is the first thing that you are expected to do after moving into a new home? Change your locking system. The reasons are obvious – you never know who might have duplicated your house key. In case you were sharing the house with a partner or roommate who recently moved out, it’s advisable to make it inaccessible for the former occupant of your home.
There might be myriad other reasons why you may need to revamp the access system of your home. In such a situation, replacing the existing lock with a new one may not be your only option; you can also rekey your home, and this makes a more affordable alternative than just discarding an expensive locking device.
Besides saving you money, there are a few other benefits of rekeying. In this article, we discuss a few situations where rekeying makes a better option than a lock replacement. If you’re wondering whether you should opt for rekeying or not, this article will help you decide. But before going into that, let us explain what rekeying is all about.
What is Rekeying a lock? How does it work?
To put it simply, rekeying is all about altering the lock architecture in a way so that it cannot be opened with the old key. With that arrangement, you can keep the same lock with a new key to open it. Here’s how it is done. The rekeying process involves replacing the existing tumblers of a lock cylinder with new ones of a different size. After rekeying your existing lock, you would need a new key, which is now compatible with the replaced tumblers. You will need to hire a locksmith to carry out this process.
The locksmith would need the current key to get the job done. In the absence of it, the lock has to be opened. This extra step obviously incurs additional charges, defeating its very purpose, which is cost-saving. If opening the lock makes the entire rekeying process more expensive than expected, it is better to opt for a lock replacement.
The best part about rekeying is that it does not by any means affect the strength of the lock. How secure a lock is depends to a significant extent on the number of pins that a lock has inside of it. Rekeying does not reduce the security of a locking system. As long as the number of pins remains the same before and after the procedure, the lock remains as secure as it was before.
When You Should Consider Rekey Your Home
Post relocation to a new place, rekeying your locks ensures that no one but you has access to your new home.
In case you have a sophisticated locking system, replacing it will be a costly choice. Instead, rekey the lock at a lot lower cost.
In case you have lost your house keys, rekey your home. That way, nobody can access your home using the old key or its copies.
It’s natural for you to use multiple locks and keys for different chambers of your house. Maintaining and carrying so many keys cause inconvenience. Rekeying all the locks allows you to use a single key to match several locks.
Thinking you should rekey your home? Get in touch with us at King Locksmith. Secure your home without burning a hole in your pocket.
