Lock Rekeying in Pike Creek, DE

When you lose keys with your address on the ring, someone who finds them may know which doors they open.

In Pike Creek, we rekey your existing locks so the missing keys no longer work and a different set opens the doors. We change the small pins inside each cylinder, not the exterior hardware, so the look and operation of the lock stay much the same. Rekeying is also an option when you move in or a roommate leaves with a key.

You choose which entrances to include, such as the front, back and side doors. Consider each entrance that a missing or unwanted key could open. If the existing hardware is compatible, we can set your outside doors to use one key. Replacement is another choice: it changes the hardware as well as the keys, while rekeying leaves the hardware in place. In Pike Creek, we can replace a lock if it is worn, damaged or unsuitable for the key arrangement you want.

If your lost key ring had your address on it, we look at the outside doors the missing keys may open and ask which you want included.

We also check the condition of each lock and whether the locks can accept the same key. A worn or damaged lock may need replacement rather than rekeying. Before we start, we explain which existing locks can be rekeyed, which may need replacement, and what those choices mean for your doors.

You can choose to rekey only the doors connected to the missing keys or include other outside doors for a single key, where the locks are compatible. Rekeying changes the pins inside the existing cylinders so the old keys no longer work, while leaving the visible hardware in place. Replacement changes the hardware itself and may be an option where the current locks cannot share a key. We check each included door with you, testing the new keys and checking an old key if one is available. Any door left out keeps its existing key arrangement.

Keep track of who has a new key, including anyone you give a spare.

Avoid attaching your address to a key ring, and choose a secure place for spare keys rather than leaving them outside. If some doors were not included in the rekeying, their old keys may still work. Make a note of those doors so you know where a key from a previous occupant could still provide access.

Your new key should turn smoothly without force. If it catches, feels difficult to turn, or only works when you push or pull the door, stop using extra pressure and call us to check the problem. A loose lock or a bent key is also worth a call, since either can make the door difficult to secure. For routine care, follow the lock manufacturer's directions before applying lubricant, and avoid household oil. If a new key goes missing or is shared with someone you no longer want to have access, rekeying again is an option.