Lock Rekeying in Swarthmore, PA

A lost key ring with your address on it gives whoever finds it a way to identify your home.

If you live in Swarthmore, rekeying changes which keys work in your existing locks. We change the pins inside each lock cylinder so the missing keys and their duplicates no longer work, and provide new keys that fit. The outside hardware stays in place, so your doors keep the same appearance. You can choose which exterior doors to include, such as a side or back entrance.

Rekeying is also an option if you have moved into a home or a roommate has left and you are unsure who still has a key. In Swarthmore, we can rekey compatible locks to work with one key, though some locks cannot share a key. If a lock is damaged or unreliable, or you want a different style or function, replacement is another choice. You can replace one lock and rekey the others, rather than treating every door the same way. Any lock left unchanged will still accept its existing keys.

If you have just moved into a home, copies of the old keys may still be out there.

We start by looking at the exterior doors you want included and the condition of their existing locks. We check whether the hardware is suitable for rekeying and whether the cylinders can accept the same key. That matters if you want one key for the front, back and other outside doors. Some combinations are not compatible, so using one key throughout may require replacing some hardware.

Before work begins, we explain which doors can be rekeyed as they are and where replacement is an option. Rekeying changes the internal setup so the old keys no longer work, while the visible hardware stays in place. Replacement gives you different hardware and may make sense if an existing lock is worn or cannot be matched with the others. After the work, we check the new keys with you at each included door and show you which key operates each one.

With the door open, try each new key in every rekeyed lock, on both sides if there is a keyhole on each side.

An old key should no longer turn the rekeyed locks. If it still works, or a new key catches, call us to check the problem. Avoid forcing a reluctant key, since it could bend or break inside.

After your roommate moves out, make a list of who has the new keys, including anyone who received a spare. Store extras somewhere secure rather than under a mat or near the door. Keep your keys separate from an address tag, and replace a bent key instead of trying to straighten it. If a new key goes missing or someone you did not choose has a copy, we can rekey the affected doors again.