When to Rekey a Lock and When to Replace It?

When to Rekey a Lock and When to Replace It?

There are several reasons that might cause you to consider rekeying your door locks in Denver or replacing the door locks in your home, office, storage shed, or any other location.

Following are some of the most common reasons people consider rekeying or replacing door locks in Denver:

A New Home: If you moved into a new home, you might want to rekey or replace the locks because you don’t want previous owners or renters to have access to your home.

Lost Key: If you or anyone else lost the key to your door lock, you might want to rekey or replace the lock for safety reasons.

Stolen Key: If someone stole your key, you will probably want to rekey or replace the lock because you don’t want the person who stole the key to have easy access to your home.

The Lock Doesn’t Work Well: If you have a lock that is difficult to use, you might want to rekey or replace it.

Once you have made the decision that a change should be made to one or several locks, you will also have to decide whether you would prefer to rekey or replace them. If you’re not sure which option to choose, a Denver locksmith company should be able to help.

What is Rekeying a Lock?

Rekeying door locks in Denver involves altering the inside of the lock so that old keys will no longer work in the locks. A rekeying requires that new keys be cut. Rekeying locks is one of the most common services that Denver locksmiths provide to customers.

When Should a Lock be Replaced Instead of Rekeyed?

In most situations, it’s easier and more cost-effective for a Denver locksmith company to rekey a lock instead of replace it. When a lock is damaged or cannot be repaired, it usually makes sense to replace the entire lock. Or, if you want a lock that looks different from the existing lock, you will have to replace the entire thing. Additionally, wanting a lock that provides a different level of security from the original lock will require replacing the lock instead of rekeying it.

Cost Rekeying a Lock vs. Replacing a Lock

The cost of rekeying a lock is almost always significantly less expensive than replacing a lock. While there are pros and cons to both rekeying a lock and replacing a lock, rekeying a lock usually takes less time when the work is completed by a Denver locksmith. Additionally, an experienced Denver locksmith company should be able to rekey all of the locks in a home (or office) to be compatible with the same key.
Replacing a lock requires that new lock hardware be purchased, but this may be an unavoidable necessity if the existing lock is in poor condition and cannot be repaired.

How to Decide if Rekeying or Replacing a Lock is Right for You?

The best way to make the decision on rekeying vs. replacing a lock is to schedule an appointment with a professional locksmith in Denver. An experienced locksmith in Denver should be able to evaluate your locks and make a recommendation.