Lock Rekeying in Caln Township, PA

A contractor who had a key during a project may no longer need access to your home, but that key could still open your door.

In Caln Township, we rekey existing cylinders so the keys you choose to retire no longer operate them, and new keys do. Rekeying changes the working parts inside the lock, not the hardware you see. The handles and exterior appearance stay the same, provided you choose to keep them.

If you have lost a key, are moving into a home, or have a roommate leaving, consider which entrances that key opens, including side and back doors. We can rekey selected doors in Caln Township and, where the hardware is compatible, set them to use one key. If a lock is damaged or you want different hardware, replacement is another choice. A door left out of the work will keep using its existing key, which matters if that key has been shared.

When a roommate moves out, we start by looking at the doors you want to secure and the condition of their locks.

You may want to include a side or back door as well as the front entrance. Before we start, we explain which doors you have selected and whether their existing hardware is suitable for rekeying. If you want one key for all outside doors, we check whether the locks are compatible. Some may need replacement hardware to work with the same key.

Rekeying changes the cylinder so a new key works and the old one does not, while leaving the exterior hardware in place. A worn or damaged lock may be a better candidate for replacement, which changes the hardware as well. Once the work is complete, we check each selected door with you, using the new key to lock and unlock it. If an old key is available, we check that it no longer works on those doors. Any door you leave out keeps working with its existing key.

With one key for your outside doors, try it in each lock while the door is open.

It should turn smoothly in both directions. Then close each door and check that it latches and locks without needing extra pressure. Keep the key clean and avoid forcing it if it sticks. For a stiff lock, follow the manufacturer's directions for a suitable lubricant rather than adding household oil.

Keep track of spare copies and give them only to people you trust. If one goes missing, remember that it may open every outside door included in the rekeying. Call us if a copy no longer turns smoothly, a door will not secure properly, or you want to change access after a copy is lost or someone moves out. We can check the trouble and explain your options.