Should I Rekey or Replace My Locks?

Although it’s exciting to receive the keys to your new home, it’s important to know that you are the only person who has access to your property.

When you’re relocating to new premises, it’s impossible to know who else may have a set of keys. Did the previous owner make copies for relatives? Has the real estate company loaned out a set to cleaning contractors? Have the keys been lost in the past, and duplicates made?

Home insurance companies do not look kindly on people who neglect to check the security of their home or business once they move in. Should they discover that the new resident hasn’t taken the proper measures to protect their home, they can be reluctant to pay up if a claim is made. This could end up costing you a great deal of money.

Most people fail to deal with the issue of security because they assume that changing the locks will cost them a fortune. This doesn’t have to be the case. It isn’t necessary to go to the expense of replacing all the hardware in your new home in order to lock out the previous keys. Rekeying, rather than changing the locks, could provide the solution.

Rekeying:

If the previous owner installed locks that can be rekeyed, you may not even have to call out a locksmith. (Click here to find out more information about rekeying your locks.)

Rekeying is a way of changing the configuration of your existing locks, so that they can be opened with a new key. This means that you can be secure in the knowledge that only the new key will work, and the old one will be rendered useless. There are several advantages to doing this.

It saves you money as you don’t have to replace the entire lock hardware.
You can rekey all the locks to work with the same key. This way you don’t have to carry multiple keys around with you.
You can be certain in the knowledge that no unauthorised person can gain access to your property.
When to change the locks:

In some instances however, you may still want to consider changing your locks.
For example:

If the locks are in poor working order, or have so much wear and tear that you experience key jams, or difficulty gaining entry.
To upgrade the level of security at your property, (particularly for vulnerable entry points such as the front and back entrances, or a garage that may house valuable goods.)
In both these circumstances, it’s worth considering consulting a locksmith about upgrading your security. In many cases however, changing the locks for the entire property is unnecessary. Professional locksmith and security systems are able to provide locks to suit all budgets, and offer a full rekeying service to customers who want peace of mind when relocating to new premises.

There are many different methods of securing your property, and with the vast range of products on the market today, it pays to seek advice before you spend your hard earned cash on an expensive security upgrade.

So what features should you look for when purchasing high security locks?

Quality:

Look to purchase products from reputable brands. The extra money they cost is well worth the peace of mind. For example; the door cylinders on your exterior doors are probably the most vulnerable components of your lock hardware. If an intruder can manipulate the cylinder, they can gain entry to your property. Medeco®is a highly respected, leading lock manufacturer, offering a wide range of pick, drill and bump resistant cylinders that in independent laboratory tests have been proven time and again to be highly resistant to attack. It isn’t worth cutting corners when it comes to your security. Always buy the best quality products your budget will allow.

Serviceability:

Are the locks easy to service if something goes wrong? How expensive will it be to cut a duplicate key? Does the installation company offer good customer service if you want to upgrade again in the future? A reputable dealer should be able to answer all these questions for you. Remember, it’s no good investing in a high tech, electronic security system if there are annual or additional costs that make the system unviable.

Special security features:

Do you need the flexibility to adapt your security periodically? Do you require a master key system to be put in place for maintenance staff? Do you want the convenience of a single key to open all the doors on your premises?

Business owners have different security needs to people looking to secure a residential property. Key control is just one aspect of security you may need to consider. For tailor made, individualized security plans at this level, consult the experts. Again, it isn’t worth the trouble cutting corners and trying to do it yourself, especially if you have valuable contents to secure.

ANSI/BHMA standards:

Last of all make sure that all your hardware complies with recognized industry standards.
ANSI is the American National Standards Institute which oversees guidelines relating to consumer goods. The body coordinates voluntary standardization to develop and maintain performance standards for builder’s hardware. It introduced the idea of product grades to help identify the quality and durability of locksets through a series of operational and security tests. 
BHMA stands for the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. This is the trade association for North American manufacturers of commercial builder’s hardware. BHMA is involved in monitoring standards, safety regulations and other activities that specifically impact builder’s hardware.

Products that are marked as ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 are the strongest available residential or commercial lock products.
Always buy locks that are ANSI/BHMA approved if you want to be sure you’re buying the highest quality locks available.
For advice on installing or upgrading a high security lock system for your home or business, ring 1-877-864-4134 to speak to one of our experts.