When and Why You Need to Rekey Your Locks: A Homeowner’s Guide
Your home’s locks are the first line of defense for your family and belongings. While you might not think about them daily, there are critical situations when rekeying your locks becomes essential for your security. Understanding when and why to rekey can save you money, provide peace of mind, and keep your home safe.
What Does Rekeying Actually Mean?
Rekeying is the process of changing the internal pins and springs inside your existing lock cylinder so that old keys no longer work. A professional locksmith removes the lock cylinder, replaces the pin configuration, and provides you with new keys—all while keeping your existing hardware in place.
This differs from lock replacement, where the entire lock mechanism is removed and replaced with a new one. Rekeying is typically faster, more affordable, and just as effective for most security concerns.
Critical Times When You MUST Rekey Your Locks
1. Moving Into a New Home
This is the most important time to rekey your locks, yet many homeowners overlook it. When you purchase or rent a new property, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the keys are floating around. Previous owners, their family members, contractors, real estate agents, cleaning services, and neighbors may all have had access to keys at some point.
Even if the previous owner seems trustworthy and hands over all their keys, you can’t be certain they haven’t made copies or given them to service providers over the years. Rekeying immediately after moving in ensures you’re the only person with access to your home.
2. After a Break-In or Attempted Break-In
If your home has been burglarized or someone attempted to break in, rekey your locks immediately—even if nothing was stolen. Burglars may have compromised your locks during the attempt, or they might return with more preparation. This situation calls for a comprehensive security assessment, but rekeying is the essential first step.
3. Lost or Stolen Keys
Lost your keys at the gym, mall, or anywhere public? If your keys were attached to anything identifying your address (car registration, gym membership with your address, etc.), rekey immediately. Even without identification, a determined person could potentially trace keys back to your home, especially in smaller communities.
Stolen keys are an even greater concern. If you suspect your keys were stolen rather than simply lost, treat this as a security emergency.
4. End of a Relationship or Roommate Situation
When relationships end—whether romantic partnerships, roommate arrangements, or tenant situations—rekeying protects everyone involved. This isn’t about distrust; it’s about establishing clear boundaries and ensuring everyone’s security and privacy moving forward.
This applies to:
- Divorce or separation
- Breaking up with a partner who had keys
- A roommate moving out
- Ending a tenant arrangement if you rent out part of your home
- Adult children moving out (especially if they’ve had issues with substance abuse or concerning friends)
5. After Home Renovations or Service Work
Contractors, painters, landscapers, cleaners, and other service providers often need temporary access to your home during extended projects. While most are trustworthy professionals, keys can be misplaced, lost, or even copied without your knowledge.
Once the work is complete, rekey your locks to ensure your home’s security hasn’t been compromised. This is especially important if:
- Multiple workers had access over weeks or months
- You don’t personally know all the workers who entered your home
- The contractor used subcontractors
- Workers came and went unsupervised
6. When You’ve Lent Keys That Haven’t Been Returned
Did you lend keys to a house sitter, pet sitter, or neighbor for vacation coverage? If those keys weren’t returned or if you’re not certain about their security, rekeying is the safest option. This also applies if you gave keys to service providers who may have forgotten to return them.
7. After a Domestic Dispute or Safety Concern
If you have a restraining order against someone who previously had access to your home, or if you have any safety concerns about a former friend, acquaintance, or family member, rekeying is essential for your protection. This is a situation where you should also consider upgrading to high-security locks and potentially installing additional security measures.
Additional Situations Where Rekeying Makes Sense
When Your Locks Are Worn Out
If your keys are sticking, difficult to turn, or your locks feel loose, it might be time for rekeying. While this might eventually require lock replacement if the cylinders are too worn, a locksmith can assess whether rekeying with fresh pins and springs will restore smooth operation.
When You Want Master Key Systems
Rekeying allows you to create a master key system where one key opens multiple locks in your home while each lock still has its own individual key. This is particularly useful for larger homes, rental properties, or if you want to give different access levels to different people (like a housekeeper who can access certain areas but not others).
When You Want All Locks Keyed Alike
If your home has multiple locks that all require different keys (a common situation in older homes), rekeying can configure them all to work with a single key. This simplifies your life and makes it much harder to accidentally lock yourself out.
Why Rekey Instead of Replacing Locks?
Cost-Effective: Rekeying typically costs 30-50% less than completely replacing locks, especially if you have multiple doors.
Faster Service: A professional locksmith can rekey most homes in under an hour, while lock replacement takes considerably longer.
Environmentally Friendly: Reusing existing hardware reduces waste.
Keeps Your Aesthetic: If you love your current door hardware and it matches your home’s style, rekeying lets you maintain that look while upgrading security.
Same Level of Security: For most residential situations, rekeying provides the same security benefit as replacement. The only exception is if you’re upgrading to high-security locks with pick-resistant features.
When You SHOULD Replace Rather Than Rekey
While rekeying solves most security concerns, there are times when replacement is the better choice:
- Your locks are damaged, rusted, or mechanically failing
- You want to upgrade to smart locks or high-security cylinders
- Your locks are very old or outdated styles
- You’re experiencing frequent lock problems despite rekeying
- You want to add features like keyless entry
How Quickly Should You Act?
For security emergencies (lost keys, break-ins, restraining orders), contact a locksmith immediately—ideally within 24 hours. Many professional locksmiths offer emergency services and can respond quickly when your security is at risk.
For non-emergency situations like moving into a new home or ending a roommate arrangement, schedule rekeying within the first week. Don’t let convenience delay your security.
Professional Rekeying vs. DIY
While DIY rekeying kits exist, professional rekeying offers significant advantages:
- Expertise: Professionals can identify wear or damage you might miss
- Proper Tools: Specialized tools ensure precision work
- Speed: What might take you hours takes a professional minutes per lock
- Security Assessment: A locksmith can evaluate your overall home security and make recommendations
- Warranty: Professional work typically comes with guarantees
- Key Control: Professionals ensure new keys are properly cut and work smoothly
Protect Your Montgomery County Home
Your home’s security shouldn’t be left to chance. Whether you’ve just moved to Rockville, experienced a break-in in Bethesda, or simply want to upgrade security in Silver Spring, professional rekeying provides affordable peace of mind.
At Multi Locksmith LLC, we provide fast, professional rekeying services throughout Montgomery County with 24/7 emergency availability. We come to you, assess your security needs, and rekey your locks on-site—usually in under an hour. Our mobile service means no downtime and immediate restoration of your home’s security.
Don’t wait until a security issue becomes a crisis. If you’re in any of the situations described above, contact us today for professional rekeying service you can trust.
Call Multi Locksmith LLC at 240-706-4799 or visit our website to schedule your rekeying service in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Your security is too important to postpone. Take action today.