Your home is only as safe and secure as the locks on your exterior doors.

Like most things around the house, they don’t last forever. For that matter, neither do doors.  But let’s say the locks go first as time and constant use have a way of wearing them down. So you need to change them. Or maybe a family member lost a key and you decide that re-keying is the best solution.

Both methods ensure that the old keys will no longer provide access, but how do you know if you should replace the entire lock or simply have it re-keyed? Let’s have a look.

Replace Door Locks

Replacing the lock – and the handle, if it’s a combo – is the most comprehensive method of ensuring security, but it also comes with a bigger price tag. While some locks are DIY friendly, others may require professional installation. Here’s when replacing is a good idea:

• The lock becomes damaged over time from repeated use.
• The wrong key or another object was jammed into the lock, resulting in damage.
• The only key has been lost or stolen.
• Your home has been broken into, or your neighborhood has fallen victim to a rash of burglaries – time to upgrade to a more secure and durable lock.
• You wish to upgrade to a lock with a keypad feature instead of a key, or a smart lock that can sync to your phone or tablet, allowing remote locking and unlocking.

Re-key Door Locks

Re-keying is the more common way of changing locks on a door and involves realigning the internal springs and pins to match the new key. Re-keying kits can be purchased for around $20 or you can hire a locksmith to do the job. Consider re-keying if:

• Your new home is under construction and a variety of people (contractors, subcontractors, inspectors, real estate agents, etc.) have their own keys.
• You’re moving into a home and don’t know how many copies of the keys are out here, or who has them.
• Your house keys have been lost or stolen but you have at least one copy to allow for re-keying.
• You want the convenience of a single key to lock and unlock more than one door in your home, assuming you have the same brand of locks throughout. Re-keying styles and techniques vary from brand to brand.

Even by changing or re-keying a lock, are you fully securing your home against unwanted entry?  Of course not. And that’s where a custom-designed alarm system comes into play, one installed and managed by Now Security Systems.  Contact us today for a free in-home security analysis.