Lock Rekeying in Ridley Township, PA

When you move into a home in Ridley Township, you may not know who has keys to the outside doors.

A former resident, a roommate who has moved out, or someone who found a lost key could still have a way in. We rekey the existing cylinders by changing the pins inside, so the old keys no longer work and a new key opens the lock. The outside hardware stays in place, and rekeying does not repair a worn or damaged mechanism.

Think about every keyed entrance you want to include, such as a side door or the door between the house and an attached garage. You can choose to rekey all of them or leave some with their existing keys. If you want one key for all your outside doors in Ridley Township, the locks need compatible keyways for that arrangement. When they are not compatible, replacing some hardware may be an option, or you can keep separate keys for different entrances. Replacement is also worth considering if you want a different style or the existing hardware is not working properly.

When a contractor has had a key during a project, you may want to change which keys work at the doors they could use.

We look at the locks you want included, their condition, and whether they accept the same type of key. We also ask which other doors you want to keep on their current keys. If the hardware is in good condition, rekeying changes the cylinder so the contractor's old key no longer works there, while the visible hardware stays in place.

Before we begin, we explain which doors can share one new key and which may need a different key or replacement hardware to match. A worn or unreliable lock may be a better candidate for replacement rather than rekeying. You choose which doors to include, and keys for locks left unchanged will still work. After the work, we check each included lock with you, using the new key with the door open and closed. If the contractor's old key is available, we can check that it no longer works on the doors we rekeyed.

After a roommate moves out, keep track of who has the new keys and where spare copies are stored.

Rekeying one door does not change access through entrances you left out, so consider whether those doors need the same treatment. Keep a spare with someone you trust rather than hiding one outside or labeling it with your address. If you make additional copies, keep a record of who receives them.

Try your new copy with the door open first, then check that it turns and the door closes and latches normally. Do not force it if it feels stiff, and avoid using household oil in the lock. Follow the manufacturer's guidance for lubrication, since the wrong product can collect dirt. If turning remains difficult, the door does not latch securely, or an old key still works on a rekeyed door, call us to check the problem.