Lock Rekeying in East Whiteland, PA

When a roommate moves out, you may not know who has a copy of the house key.

Rekeying gives you a way to change which keys work without changing the lock you see on the door. In East Whiteland, we change the pins inside the existing cylinder so a different key operates it and the old keys no longer do. The handle and other visible hardware stay in place. Rekeying is also an option when you move into a home or lose a key.

You can choose which entrances to include, such as the front, back and side entrances. If you want one key for all of them, the existing locks need to be compatible with that key. We can rekey compatible hardware alike, while replacement may be needed where it is not compatible or is damaged. In East Whiteland, that gives you a choice between keeping suitable hardware and changing it where needed. Any entrance left out will continue to use its current key.

If a contractor had a key during a project, we first look at the doors that key could open and the condition of their existing locks.

You may want to include the front door, a side entrance, or a door between the house and an attached garage. We explain which cylinders can be rekeyed and whether they can use the same key. If the contractor's key also fits a door you leave out, it will still work there.

Rekeying changes the internal pins so a different key operates the existing hardware. It does not change the handles or repair a worn mechanism. If a lock is damaged or cannot use the same key as the others, replacement is another choice. We explain what each option means for the doors you choose, including whether you will need more than one key. After the work, we check the new keys with you at each included door and test any available old keys to see that they no longer operate those locks.

With each outside door open, try your new key and turn it both ways.

Check that the door latches when closed, too. If the key catches, make sure it is fully inserted rather than forcing it. Bending, resistance or trouble on one door but not another is worth a call to us. For routine care, follow the manufacturer's lubricant guidance and keep household oil out of the keyway.

One key for every outside door means a lost copy may leave all of those doors accessible. Keep spare copies with people you trust, and avoid attaching your address to them. If a copy goes missing or someone you no longer trust has one, call us to talk through which doors need attention. A door left out of the original rekeying may still accept its original key.