Your door's safety is a very essential component of your home security system. The reason is that a home is only as safe as the door it uses. You might wish to change these door locks to enhance your safety depending on your situation or due to a security compromise.
There are numerous ways to do this, and we shall help you look at them painstakingly. We'll assist you in understanding the basics of door lock change and the different alternatives available to achieve the desired result. So, here are seven things you must know before changing the locks on a door as gotten from a popular lock locksmith notes.
1- Be well informed about your options
Lock changing does not always involve replacing the whole lock system. Sometimes, all you have to do is what is called Rekeying. Instead of the conventional replacement, rekeying involves redesigning and realigning the lock mechanism without dismantling the whole lock. You only have to adjust the pin and springs to be compatible with a new key. This method is getting increasingly popular as an option when considering lock change. You can do it yourself or have a locksmith do the job.
Total replacement, on the other hand, involves a detailed removal of an existing lock and putting another. It is a more comprehensive procedure usually handled by professionals.
2- Consider rekeying if you move to a new home
Usually, almost all engineers and artisans involved in the building of a property have a copy of the house keys during construction. This is because they need access to the property at different times to do their job. Hence, at the end of the construction, most homeowners rekey them while house to ensure that no one has a copy to themselves.
We implore you to double-check with your agent if the keys have been changed. If not, you should take it up yourself to ensure safety. In this type of scenario, total replacement is not advised as it is more cumbersome and costly.
3- Change faulty locks
When you have a faulty lock in your property, the best option for you is to do a total replacement. This is not the time for rekeying or experimentation. The damage could be from rust, wear, and tear, or an internal fault. Hence, rekeying or adjusting its springs will not be applicable here. If you do that, you will end up with the same problem. So, we recommend a total change that will guarantee optimal security.
4- Consider a door lock replacement when you misplace your home keys
If you misplace your home keys for whatever reason, endeavor to realign your locks as soon as you can. This reason is that the door keys might be stolen and the perpetrator can come back with them to perform the unthinkable. Hence, do not gamble with your safety. You do not need to change the whole system, rather, a realignment should do the trick. However, if the only door key with you is misplaced, you must do a total replacement as the main key is needed to do a realignment.
5- Use one key for all doors
This might sound funny, but the stress of going through a bunch of door keys every time is exasperating. In some other instances, you must label your door keys if you possess many door locks on your property. The helpful solution to all of these is realigning. You can realign all the door locks on your property to work with a single door key. This way, you can access any part of your home with the door key. If you possess many door locks made by different brands, you might have to replace those door locks to make all of them uniform, then, go for a realignment.
6- Consider High-grade locks
Before you change your lock due to a break-in or lost keys, you should consider an upgrade to better locks. There are many high-tech locks out there with mouth-watering features to provide optimal security. These days, you can even have a digital or smart lock installed on your property.
All you need is your smartphone to open and close them. If you use these types of locks, you can monitor the door from afar and grant access to third parties. There are also keypad locks that need you to set a passcode if anyone wishes to gain entry. They are far more secure and easy to use.
7- Consider the expenses
Lastly, you should consider the expenses of any option you choose. Usually, total replacement is more costly than readjusting but if you change it yourself, you might save much more money.
