Is it Better to Change Locks or Rekey?

Whether you just moved into a new home or you’ve been in the same house for a while, it might be a good time to look into changing your locks. But is rekeying your locks a better option? And does your American Home Shield® home warranty cover them? Read on to find out.

When to consider a lock change

When you change a lock, you or a locksmith will replace the old locking door hardware, giving you all new locks and all new keys. But changing your locks is usually more expensive than rekeying, and it isn’t always necessary.

You should only change your locks if:

1. You need new ones—your locks are old and wearing out.       
2. You want to replace your locks with more modern, secure or electronic locks.
3. All of your home’s doors have different brands of locks and you want to be able to open them all with the same key.
4. You’ve lost the key to a lock. A lock change may be cheaper than rekeying it, although a locksmith may be able to rekey it without the key.

When to rekey locks

When you rekey locks, you’re altering the lock mechanism so the old key will no longer open it. Rekeying makes more sense than a lock change if:

1. All your locks are the same brand or have the same type of keyhole, but use different keys. Rekeying your locks will make them all operate from the same key.
2. You’ve lost a copy of your old key, and you’re afraid someone will find it and get into your home.
3. You’ve moved into a new home. You never know who may have gotten keys from the previous owner and how many copies have been made.

How to rekey a lock

If you know the brand or keyhole style of your locks, you may be able to buy a lock rekeying kit from your local home hardware store. But while you might have the tools to change locks, rekeying them can require special—and expensive—tools. You can buy them as a kit, then follow the instructions.

1. Remove the exterior doorknob. Give the key a quarter-turn to the right. Use the remover tool to press the clip and remove the knob from the shank.
2. Remove the cylinder lock from the knob. Turn the key a quarter-turn back and remove the key, then the cylinder. 
3.  Push the clip ring off. The kit will have a tool to remove the c-shaped clip from the cylinder lock.
4.  Remove the key plug from the key housing. Use the pusher device to push the key plug from the key housing.
5. Pull the existing pins. Drop the old pins from the plug and keep them separate from the new pins.
6. Insert the new key. 
7. Insert the new pins. Follow the instructions using tweezers from the kit.
8.  Insert the key plug into the housing. With the pins flush at the top and the key still in place, slide the key plug back into the housing.
9.  Snap on the clip ring back on the cylinder.
10.  From the back, put the cylinder lock back into the knob. 
11.  Insert the knob on the shank. 

If you don’t know what kind of locks you have, or if you have several brands of locks on your home, hiring a locksmith to rekey your home is the best option. If you try to rekey locks yourself and fail, you could end up ruining them altogether.

Rekeying made easy

American Home Shield offers rekeying as a benefit to our members. Simply submit a rekey service request, pay your normal service fee, and a locksmith will rekey up to six keyholes with four identical keys on functioning, non-electronic deadbolts and knobs on doors accessing your home’s structural walls. You are, of course, free to make copies of these keys if you need more. 

Whether you change locks or rekey, it’s one of the most important things you can do to protect your home and belongings. American Home Shield has your back.

At American Home Shield, we help you feel at home from the minute you walk in the door.

Helping you rekey locks is just one way American Home Shield can enhance the experience of owning a home. Look into our home warranty options that offer coverage for parts of up to 23 home systems and appliances. And check out some other great ways to save money. It’s all about protecting your time, your money, and your way of living.

AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.