Some people make the mistake of never changing their door locks, or waiting until they lose the keys, or until the hardware breaks to call a locksmith. You’ll be surprised to know that these are not the only times to change your locks. If you don’t have the skills to change your own locks and you can’t afford to have it done, consider having the locks rekeyed – it has a similar effect, after all.
We spoke to a Denver locksmith who explained to us when you should have your locks rekeyed, or changed completely. Keep on reading to learn more…
Change your locks when…
… your locks are worn or rusted
Criminals know that worn, rusted hardware is easy to pick or break open. So if your lock hardware is worn or rusted, it is time to have it changed as soon as possible, as it leaves your home vulnerable to break ins.
… you have lost your keys
Many people lost their keys, or have them stolen, but don’t bother to change the locks. It’s so easy for keys to land up in the wrong hands. Avoid potential devastation by calling the locksmith for professional advice.
… you’ve had contractors over
Home renovations can be exciting, until you remember that you’ve left your keys with the contractors for weeks. While it’s not nice to think badly about people, it is important to remember that in many cases, home invasions are perpetuated by people known to the family. And that leads to our next point.
… after a break in
If you have experienced a burglary, your home is very vulnerable. Many burglars can pick a lock in 20-30 seconds, and sometimes, the pins inside the locks are damaged, which opens you up to future break ins. Once you have called the police and your insurance agent, get in touch with your nearest locksmith.
… you’ve moved
Probably the most important reason to change your lock, is when you’ve moved. Although you receive keys upon taking occupancy, you don’t know how many sets of spare keys have been given to the previous occupants’ friends, contractors, and family or where those copies ended up.
… after a breakup or divorce
Many people lose their heads during a breakup, no matter how hard we try to be amicable – especially if there are kids involved. It’s a good idea to change your locks in case you come home to a keyed car, or missing that precious vase.
… if you share your home
Whether you have roommates, boarders or a friend who couch surfed and crashed at your place for a while, it’s a good idea to periodically change or rekey your locks. You never know who might have got their hands on a copy of your keys.
Clearly, it’s important to change or rekey your locks regularly to safeguard your family and possessions from unauthorized access.
My wife and I have begun plans to upgrade our house and we want to make sure we cover as many aspects of home improvement as possible. It really helped when you stated that worn-out locks will need to be replaced for more security because we decided to have a lot of appliances and new fixtures installed and some of these are pricey, so we’ll need to add more security after everything has settled down. Once we get all the upgrades done, we’ll be sure to approach a locksmith that can help replace all our locks while remembering the rest of your article. Thank you!