Your home is the place where you feel safe and secure. However, keeping your home safe is the duty of the homeowner. You need to ensure the safety and security of your home. An important aspect of maintaining home security is maintaining the integrity of locks and keys.
Though you might have the best locks on your entrances and exits, you need to be sure that the keys to these locks are not in the wrong hands. At many times, we share the keys to our homes with various people. When you handover the keys to someone, the sanctity of your lock and key is at the mercy of the person handling your keys. Whenever you have any reason to doubt that your house keys might be with the wrong person, you must get your locks rekeyed. Though Chicago Locksmith Expert provides residential and commercial locksmith services in the Chicago metropolitan area, this guide is applicable to all locations.
What is Rekeying?
Rekeying is the process of modifying the internal mechanism of a lock to make it work with a new key. The existing lock pins and tumblers are rearranged so that old keys become useless. This is a cost-effective alternative to replacing the entire lock. Rekeying ensures that only those who have the new key can access your home or property, and that any previous keys will no longer work. Rekeying can be done by a professional residential locksmith, and it typically takes less time and costs less than replacing the entire lock.
Here are some common scenarios in which we recommend you to rekey your home.
Moving into a new home: When you move into a new home, the first thing that you must do is rekey all the locks. When you buy or lease a new house, you never know who all had access to the keys before you. It could be a disgruntled tenant or a past worker. Keeping the old locks is an open invitation for someone to gain unauthorized entry. By rekeying your locks, you can ensure that any previous residents or real estate agents who had access to the keys no longer have access to your home. Instead of taking the risk, it’s always better to invest in your safety.
Lost or stolen keys: If you lose your keys or if they are stolen, you must rekey your locks without any delay. The person who finds or steals your keys could use them to gain access to your home. Rekeying your door locks ensures that your keys will no longer work, and that your home remains secure.
Broken or damaged locks: With regular use and weather, locks can wear out over time or become damaged. A break-ins or an attempt would also damage your locks. If your door locks are showing signs of damage or are not functioning properly, you must get the locks repaired and rekeyed. This way you ensure that locks are in good working condition and your home is secure.
Changing roommates or tenants: When you have a roommate or tenant moving out, it’s important to rekey your door locks immediately. Even if the roommate or tenant hands over the keys, you cannot be certain they aren’t holding copies. Rekeying your doors will prevent past tenants from gaining access to your home. With a new set of keys, only those with a valid reason for being in your home will have access to it. A divorce or a break-up could also be a similar situation.
Suspected unauthorized access: If you suspect that someone entered your home without your permission or if you no longer trust someone with keys to your house, it’s important to rekey your locks. It will prevent any unauthorized access and you can sleep peacefully knowing that your home is secure.
In conclusion, rekeying your home is an essential aspect of maintaining home security. If you’re unsure whether you need to rekey your locks, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and have a professional locksmith assess your situation. By doing so, you can ensure that your home remains secure and that you and your loved ones are safe.