We’ve covered instances when it would be wise to rekey your home, but these situations don’t apply to everyone. This begs the question: when should you rekey your home in general? Here’s our take on factors to consider as we answer the question, “how often should you rekey your home?”

What Is Rekeying?

If you’re not familiar, rekeying involves adjusting the lock mechanism so that the existing key will no longer operate it. Instead, a new key is provided, rendering the old one obsolete (and thwarting many burglary attempts in the process). It’s an effective security measure, especially when you move into a new home or certain situations apply that compromise your security.

Factors to Consider

Speaking of these situations, there are certain factors that dictate how often you should rekey your home. While there is a general cadence for residential rekeys, you should also consider rekeying your residence if any of the following factors apply:

• New home: you can’t be certain how many copies of the keys are floating around, so taking this proactive step ensures that only you and your family have access.
• Lost or stolen keys: it’s a security risk to assume keys not in your possession won’t end up in the wrong hands. Rekeying the locks promptly helps mitigate any potential threat.
• Wear and tear: locks can deteriorate over time due to wear and tear, potentially making them easier to compromise. If you notice signs of aging or difficulty in using your locks, it might be time to consider rekeying.

Best Frequency for Rekeying

If your locks or keys aren’t broken down or worn down, you should still consider rekeying your locks periodically as part of your home’s maintenance routine. This practice ensures that your security remains up-to-date and prevents any unauthorized access. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but a good rule of thumb is rekeying them every three to five years. When that happens, a residential locksmith like A-1 Locksmith should be able to take care of you.

If you need to rekey your home—regardless of the reason or how often it’s needed—trust us to handle it. Contact us today or stop by any of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations.

If you find yourself facing this question, then, how can you decide whether to re-key or replace your locks? To understand the benefits and drawbacks of both options, read through the following guide, and consider speaking to a professional for help.

Cost Considerations

When facing the choice of either re-keying or replacing the locks in your home or business, one of the most important factors to consider is the cost of the project. And here, in nearly every situation, you will find that it is less expensive, perhaps significant, to choose to re-key. By choosing to re-key, you will only need to make slight modifications to the existing locks on your structure; choosing to replace the locks entirely, however, requires the purchase of new equipment, which can be costly.

Simplicity of Re-Keying

In addition to allowing you to save money, re-keying also happens to be a much simpler process, as well, potentially one that you can facilitate at home with the help of professional instructions. To be sure, an individual in need of re-keying a lock may be able to do this at home; however, when in doubt, it is always a smart choice to contact a professional locksmith in the area who can provide assistance.

Of course, you may also be able to replace your locks yourself, yet doing so requires a significant larger investment of time, and is, again, best left to a professional who can ensure the locks are installed properly.

When is it Necessary to Replace the Locks?

There are, undoubtedly, very clear benefits to re-keying a set of locks over replacing them, including the cost and simplicity of the process. When, then, should an individual consider replacing the locks altogether?

Ultimately, you should opt to replace a set of locks entirely if the lock has sustained damage, has become worn over time, or is not working properly for some other reason. In this case, re-keying the lock may not provide a solution to the problem, and you may instead be required to replace the set.

In turn, this begs an additional question: how can you tell if a faulty lock can be re-keyed, or if it needs to be replaced? To find the answer to this question, you should consult a locksmith at A-1 Locksmith in Dallas. By speaking with a professional locksmith you can find answers to this and any other questions you may have, and pursue the best option for your specific circumstances.

When you’ve lost your keys, making a replacement set is possible, but is not always the best option. An auto locksmith can easily use an impression key to make a new set that fits your old lock, but those keys you lost are still out there somewhere. Do you want to take the risk of having your vehicle stolen?

Motorcycle enthusiasts invest a lot in their bikes, and want to do everything they can to prevent theft. If an auto locksmith rekey your motorcycle ignition, the old keys will no longer be able to start the engine. You won’t have to worry about your pride and joy going missing.

Regardless of why you need your motorcycle rekey, the process is simple for an experienced auto locksmith like the ones we employ. We simply adjust the inside of the lock so that it no longer opens to the pattern of the old key. We make a key for you that matches the new pattern, and you’re ready to go.

We pride ourselves on our customer service. We’ve been the auto locksmith for the Dallas/Fort Worth area for more than 60 years. We like to think we’ve learned a thing or two along the way about how to treat a customer properly. So if you want professional, high quality work you can trust, and fast, friendly customer service, look no further.

There’s nothing worse than worrying about the security of your bike—have it rekey with us. Call A-1 Locksmith DFW today for all your lock and key, safes, and security needs.