When to Replace Your Home Locks

When you lock your doors at night or upon leaving, you might just assume that it’s adequate protection against any potential criminal activity. However, a lot of people take their locks for granted, and you may be one of those people without even realizing it. Your home’s security in Strongsville, OH, is only as good as your locks. They create the foundation of your home security. If your locks aren’t up to the task, then it’s crucial to consider whether or not you should replace them. This is an affordable way to give your home security a boost.  

So, when is the right time to replace the exterior locks on your home? While common sense can come into play, this article can act as a guide to help you determine whether or not you should consider replacing or upgrading your locks. A professional locksmith can assist you in replacing your door locks with high-quality, tamper-resistant lock hardware.  

When You’ve Experienced a Break-In:

If you’ve experienced a criminal breaking into your home, your locks may very well have been completely damaged which would obviously require replacement. But even if your locks are still usable, they’ve been shown to be completely ineffective against the very job they’re supposed to do: protecting your home against criminals. Whenever you’ve been a victim of a break-in or theft in your home, it’s time to not only change the locks, but discuss with a locksmith other security measures that can be taken to improve your home security so you never have to experience such a distressing situation again.   

When Your Key Has Been Lost or Stolen:

It happens to all of us at one time or another, no matter how careful we try to be about checking to make sure we have our keys. You set them down in the wrong place or just plain lose track of them. If this happens, unless you find your keys right away, it’s best to have your locks either changed or rekeyed, a process during which a locksmith takes your existing lock cylinder and rearranges the pins inside to fit a new key instead of the old one.  

An even worse scenario is if your keys are outright stolen. It only takes a second of setting your keys down or leaving your purse in a compromising place to have your keys stolen by an opportunist with sticky fingers. If your house keys have been stolen, it’s important to have your locks changed or rekeyed immediately to avoid a break-in, especially if that person knows where you live. Even if your keys are returned to you, it’s so cheap and easy to have a key copied, it’s best to still change your locks just to be on the safe side. 

When You Change Residences:

When you move to a new home, getting your brand-new set of keys might be a very exciting moment if you’re like most people. However, if you’re not entirely sure that the locks were changed since the last occupants lived there, it’s a good idea to have your locks changed. There might still be spare keys floating around, and if the last tenants left due to less-than-ideal reasons, you may walk into your home one day to find a stranger who let themselves in with one of these keys.  

When Someone Leaves Your Home:

A divorce or the break-up of a long-term relationship is always a painful struggle. Sometimes these personal situations can get messy, especially if the other party is leaving with resentment. If you’re worried about them coming back or retaliating, it’s crucial to have your locks changed by a professional locksmith. You may also want to ask about additional security measured that can be implemented to protect not only your property but your peace of mind.  

Another situation in which it may be necessary to change or rekey your locks is if a roommate or tenant leaves your home. Make sure you follow the local laws regarding a lease, if there is one, and that they have full notification that you will be changing the locks when they leave. As mentioned above, even if they give you your keys back, you have no guarantee that they didn’t make a spare (or two). Better to keep things secure by opting to have the locks changed. 

When Your Locks are Old and Worn Out:

Like anything you use often, locks and keys can wear out over time, especially if you’re not particularly careful and you treat them carelessly. At first, signs of a worn-out lock may include the key sticking, difficulty getting the key out, or having to perform maneuvers with the doorknob to get the lock to open. If left unattended to, these situations can escalate to a full-on lockout from your property. If the locks on your exterior doors are showing signs of wear and tear, especially if they haven’t been changed in the last 15 or so years, it’s time to call a locksmith for professional advice. 

When It’s Time to Change Your Locks 

While you could perform a DIY job on changing your locks, it’s important to stop and consider the importance of your exterior door locks in protecting your home from unwanted invasion and possible theft. A professional locksmith is the best option to change your locks in most cases. While you may worry about high prices or unnecessary charges, a high-quality locksmith service will have access to the strongest, most feature-laden security hardware to keep your home safe at an affordable price with no extra charges. A locksmith can also advise you on whether or not you can opt for the slightly lesser charge of rekeying instead. 

Doesn’t your home deserve the best protection it can possibly have? By relying on an expert locksmith service to change your locks, you’ll be ensuring the protection of your property and family for a long time to come.