Nobody wants to be the victim of a robbery. Unfortunately, in the U.S., a home burglary occurs every 13 seconds. One of the best ways to deter home burglary is to have good locks set up on all the doors in your house.
However, if you have just moved into a new house, or if you’ve lost a key to your house, there is an increased risk of someone using an old or missing key to get into your home. To reduce the risk of a stranger being able to walk right through your front door, you should consider two options to make your house safer: replacing locks, or rekeying your locks.
Rekeying
When a lock is rekeyed, a locksmith removes the lock’s springs and pins and replaces them with new ones, which work for a different, new key. This process usually costs much less than replacing a lock, and effectively increases your home’s safety. If there isn’t a locksmith or auto locksmith nearby, you can even try rekeying your locks yourself. Rekeying kits are sold at most hardware stores, and while it may take a bit more work, rekeying yourself is cheaper than having a locksmith do it. Keep in mind, however, that rekeying kits are brand specific, so choose the right one for your brand of lock. It’s also important to note that you will need your old key to perform the rekeying process. If you have already lost your new key fob and don’t have a spare house key, then you will have to call a locksmith anyway.
Replacing
If your locks are too worn down, or you would just like to upgrade them, then you may want to consider replacing your locks entirely. Although this option is more expensive than rekeying, and requires a professional locksmith, it might be best for your safety.
High-quality locks are harder to break and pick, reducing the likelihood of a burglar getting in. Installing a new lock also gives you some freedom to choose the style that you prefer. For instance, lever handle locks are much easier to operate than knob handle locks, and deadbolts with an interior thumb turn can also be bolted more easily. Electronic locks, which can utilize key fob programming, are also readily available. However, electronic locks only offer greater ease of use, not necessarily greater safety. If you choose electric, a lost key fob would just mean the locks would have to be changed again, increasing your expenses.
Rekeying or replacing your house’s locks are both good options to improve your security. Before you make your choice, however, be sure to check in with a professional locksmith, or even a mobile automotive locksmith if none are available, to make sure you make the right choice for your safety.
