When you consider everything, you keep in your pockets, such as the keys to your vehicle, front door, side door, back door, mailbox, and maybe even your mother-in-house, the law, and several tiny rewards cards curved and perforated to hang easily.
It is easy for key chains to get packed very quickly. Because of this, you’ll constantly search for the right key to open the door or locker you are trying to enter and squander precious time each day.
Rekeying a few of your locks is a simple, inexpensive, and do-it-yourself option that may alleviate some of your stress. This comprehensive guide will teach when, why, and how to do a lock rekey.
How Does A Lock Operate?
Having an understanding of how locks function is helpful before rekeying a lock.
A pin and tumbler lock is the kind of lock that is often seen on doorknobs and deadbolts. There are pins and springs within a cylindrical plug. A precise key shape must fit between the pins of various lengths to insert and operate the lock. To make this function, the pins’ size must match the depth of the key’s grooves.
It is necessary to dismantle a lock, remove the pins, and then replace them with new pins that have cuts that correspond to those on the key that will be used to open the lock. Only then will the lock be able to be opened with the desired key. Let’s have a look at the process.
How Does A Lock Operate?
Tumbler And Pin Lock
A steel cutaway is used to rotate a given key shape in a pin and tumbler lock, which can be found on locking doorknobs and deadbolts. This steel cutaway carries a cylindrical plug and many springs and pins. For a key to spin the locking mechanism, its pin arrangement must match the depth of the key’s different grooves.
In order to use a different key to open the door lock, you must dismantle the lock and remove and replace the pins, which have varying heights, with new pins that match the cuts and grooves in the new key. Alternatively, you may use the same key to unlock all of the doors.
For Homeowners, This Is Ideal!
Rekeying is the finest option if you want a single Key To Unlock All Your House or apartment locks. A complete key ring may be reduced to only the essentials, saving you time and space in your wallet or handbag and enabling you to locate the right one quickly.
When it comes to security, rekeying a lock is a good option. To ensure that they are the only ones with access to their new house after it has been constructed and numerous others, including builders, subcontractors, and inspectors, have duplicate door keys, new homeowners should confirm this before taking possession.
You may trust a qualified locksmith for your home’s security.
For Homeowners, This Is Ideal!
Are You Replacing Or Rekeying?
In the same way, landlords and property managers often rekey door locks when a new tenant moves in. Replacement of the whole lock is an option when moving into a previously owned home or when you lose your extra keys. Your house is safe and secure since no one else has the key.
Both are replacing and rekeying a lock, effectively modifying a lock to restrict access; however, both processes are only necessary in exceptional cases.
- If you lose your key, you won’t be able to dismantle your current locks for rekeying. First and foremost, get a new lock installed.
- Rekeying is not an option for repairing a worn or broken lock. When a lock is broken or bent, your locksmith will likely need to fix it sooner rather than later. Unless you want many locks to share a single key, you don’t need to rekey them if your goal is to have the only key.
Locks Made By The Same Manufacturer
To rekey several locks to fit one key, they must be made by the same manufacturer.
For example, you must use Schlage locks for any other locks you want to be rekeyed to match if your front door lock is a Schlage. You can’t rekey a Kwikset or Sargeant lock to open with the same key as a Schlage lock since each lock has a distinct keyhole size that only accepts its key.
Before rekeying, you’ll need to pick one lock brand and replace the others to match.
Locks Made By The Same Manufacturer
Bottom Line
Because of all the keys the previous owner had lying about, you are anxious to move in. Alternatively, if you are sick of carrying about a jumble of keys in your pocket or handbag, you may want to have a single key that can unlock all of your doors.
Rekeying your home’s locks may serve both of these purposes. You may be shocked at how simple it is.
