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Should You Replace Your Locks?

Your door locks are arguably the most important basic component of your home’s security system. Without properly functioning locks doing their job of protecting your home from unwanted invasion and theft, you might as well leave your doors open. Criminals known many ways to gain entry to homes by exploiting vulnerabilities in low-quality or worn out locks. Luckily, locksmiths such as West Chicago Locksmith of West Chicago, GA, are well aware of the tricks that criminals use and know how to combat them. One of their major recommendations is to ensure that your locks are functioning at their best. This article will help you decide whether or not you should replace your locks.

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Rekeying vs Replacing Your Locks

One question you’ll need to answer when considering your options for changing your locks is whether you should have them rekeyed or replaced entirely. While replacing your locks obviously involves replacing the entire lock assembly, rekeying is a less expensive option that involves rearranging the pins and tumblers in the existing lock to fit a new key instead of the old one. Benefits of this include a lower cost and being able to use your current lock hardware.

To rekey a door lock, the locksmith removes the lock cylinder from the rest of the hardware and exposes the pins, also known as plugs, inside. Even deadbolt locks can be rekeyed. It’s important to have a professional do this, as trying to do this yourself can damage the spring mechanism of the lock or the pins. After the pins are reset, the lock is reassembled and ready to use. If your lock hardware is relatively new and in good shape, rekeying may be an option. A professional locksmith can help you determine which is right in your situation.

When You Should Replace Your Locks

  • After Moving – If you’ve just moved to a new residence, it’s wise to have your locks changed or rekeyed unless you are absolutely positive that no one else holds a key to your locks. If your house is new and you are the first owners, this isn’t a problem. However, if the house had other owners or tenants before, you can never be 100% sure that they didn’t hand out a spare key to someone else. Better to be safe than sorry.
  • For Damaged Locks – Your locks can become damaged due to a break-in or attempted break-in, or as a result of a worn out or damaged key, among other reasons. Your lock may not even show damage externally but your key will refuse to turn or maybe not even fit in the lock. Damaged locks should be replaced as soon as possible to prevent a lockout or a break-in.
  • Upgrading Old, Worn Out Locks – Your lock security is only as good as how well your locks are functioning. This applies to both knob locks and deadbolts and may seem like common sense, but do you really pay attention to how well your locks work? Most people just lock their doors and assume that the locks can hold up to any kind of attempt to break in. However, criminals often take advantage of poorly functioning, worn out locks to gain entry into a home. By upgrading your locks, you can have superior lock hardware installed that is resistant to picking and bumping. Another cause of wear on your locks is moisture, which can cause the components to rust and degrade over time.
  • If Your Key is Lost or Stolen – Losing your keys is always annoying and if you don’t have a spare could cause you to have to call an emergency locksmith service to get you back inside your home. If your key is lost, rekeying or replacing the lock is one option. Replacing the key is another option. If you discover that your key has been stolen, it’s important to replace your locks as soon as possible to prevent the thief from using the key to get inside your home. Even if your key is returned to you, it’s very easy to make a copy of a house key. By changing your locks or having them rekeyed by a professional locksmith, you are ensuring that you are the only one with the key to open them.
  • After a Break-In – If your home has been a target of a break-in, even if the locks weren’t damaged by the intruder, it’s important to replace your locks right away. That’s because your locks have shown to be ineffective against criminals looking to gain entry. A locksmith can perform a security assessment to not only recommend upgrades for your locks but also additional security features, such as CCTV cameras, that may be beneficial in protecting your home.
  • To Boost Security – If you want to upgrade your home security for whatever reason, your locks are the best place to start. Never before have there been so many options available for homeowners for locks, including digital locks, smart locks, and fingerprint locks, all of which use cutting-edge technology to keep your property locked up tight. A professional locksmith company worth its salt will be able to outfit your property with any one of these types of lock systems and can help recommend the best one for your particular home.

This is only a partial list of circumstances that should make you consider changing your locks. Only you can ultimately decide whether it’s worth it to change or rekey your locks. By weighing the pros and cons and gathering information on the process, you can make an informed decision.

When the time comes to have your exterior door locks replaced, look no further than a qualified locksmith company, such as West Chicago Locksmith. A locksmith company has access to high-quality hardware and the knowledge needed to get the job done right. You’ll be able to rest easy knowing that when you lock up your doors they are forming the barrier they are supposed to, keeping out any unwanted invaders.

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