Whether you just moved into a new home or have been in the same house for a while, it might be a good time for you to look into changing your locks. But is rekeying a better option? Most home warranties cover at least one of these.

Do you know how to rekey a lock? It’s knowledge that can come in handy when you buy a new home. They say that one of the first things you should do when you move into a new home is change the locks. You never know who might have a key to your new front door. Changing or rekeying your home’s locks might be a good idea if you’ve lived in the same house for a while or if you’ve recently had a roommate move out, too.

But should you change or rekey the locks on your home? And does your American Home Shield® Home Warranty cover it? Read on to find out more.

When to Change a Lock

When you change a lock, you or a locksmith removes the old locking door hardware and replaces it with new hardware. You’ll have all new locks and all new keys, but changing your locks can be expensive and isn’t always necessary.

You should only change your locks if you want or need new ones because it’s generally more expensive than simply having your locks rekeyed. For example, if your locks are old and wearing out, changing them will be a better option than rekeying them. The same goes if you want to replace your locks with more modern, more secure or updated electronic locks. If all of the doors on your home have different brands of locks and you want to be able to open them all with the same key, you may need to change them. If you’ve lost the key to a lock, changing it may be cheaper than rekeying it, although a locksmith may be able to rekey it without the key.

When to Rekey Locks

When you rekey your locks, you’re altering the lock mechanism so that the old key will no longer open it. Instead, a new key will be necessary. In many circumstances, rekeying your locks makes more sense than changing your locks. For example, if all of your locks are of the same brand or have the same type of keyhole but use different keys, you can have your locks rekeyed to operate from the same key.

If you’ve lost a copy of your old key, and you’re afraid someone will find it and access your home, you can rekey your locks so the old key doesn’t work anymore.

If you’ve moved into a new home for the first time, rekeying your locks can be an affordable way to guarantee that no one but you and your family has keys to your new home. You never know who may have obtained keys to your home from the previous owner and how many copies of those keys have been made.

A1 Lock and Safe

Whether you need a replacement key or you need to change your locks, be sure to visit A1 Lock and Safe to see how we can help you protect your home. Notably, we sell safes where you can store firearms and your most prized possessions in the event that you are robbed. Thankfully, A1 Lock and Safe specializes in changing locks, making duplicate keys, and more for your safety. If you so much as suspect that someone could break into your home or office because your locks are faulty, let our Durham locksmiths know and we will replace your keys and locks for an affordable price. Contact us today to get started!