When to Replace Your Locks

The locks on your home’s doors have an important job to do every day in keeping you, your family, and your belongings safe from theft and other criminal activities. Over time, however, your locks can begin to show signs of wear and tear and other problems due to their repetitive use day in and day out. A faulty lock could be putting your property and its contents at risk by being vulnerable to tampering or breaking. In this article, we will discuss the situations in which you should consider changing your locks.

Replacing vs. Rekeying?  

Rekeying is a common service that you may have never heard of. It is generally less expensive than a full replacement of your locks and can be performed by a professional locksmith. Where a lock replacement requires the locksmith to take the entire lock assembly including the handle or knob it is attached to out, rekeying is a process involving replacing or rearranging the pins in the existing lock assembly to fit a different key instead of the old one. This is usually performed if the existing hardware and knobs or handles are in good condition and not very old. Ask your locksmith if rekeying is right in your situation. 

You’ve Just Moved into a New House  

Getting the keys to your new home is always a memorable moment, but before you settle in, consider whether it may be a better idea to change your locks. If you’re not absolutely certain that the locks have been changed since the last people lived at your residence, then anyone could have a key that would allow them access inside. It’s better to be safe than sorry and invest in a different set of locks to protect your new home. You can always save your old keys as a memento.   

You’ve Been the Victim of a Break-In  

It’s always very stressful and unsettling to come home to a busted open door and your things lying in disarray all over your home. It can make you feel vulnerable and afraid. Usually in these cases your locks will have been broken by the criminals, but even if they are intact or still capable of being repaired, they have proven that they can’t stand up to criminal tampering. In these situations, it is best to replace your locks with higher-quality hardware that is resistant to techniques such as lock-picking and lock-bumping. It also may be worth it to install a new, stronger deadbolt if yours was compromised or if the door did not have one. A deadbolt is a relatively inexpensive feature that offers a significant amount of protection.    

This is just a handful of the many situations in which it’s best to change your locks. New innovations in lock and key hardware have made the current locks on the market by companies like Kwikset, Mul-T-Lock, and Schlage far harder to defeat than the locks that most homes currently have. Door locks are the foundation of your Snellville, GA home’s security, and just like with anything, if the foundation is not strong, the entire structure will collapse. Replacing your locks is a quick, easy solution to increase not only your security but also your peace of mind. If you think that your home would benefit from changing the locks, contact a local locksmith today.