Price is always a major factor when hiring any business or service for the majority of people. So, in many cases, when a person finds themselves in the dilemma of questioning whether they should rekey or replace their locks, they might opt to go for the cheaper option, which would typically be to rekey the locks. Of course, this is going to depend. There are various reasons for considering replacing and rekeying locks, and here, we are going to go over whether it might be in your best interest to rekey or replace your locks.

First, let’s go over the difference between rekeying and replacing locks, as many don’t even realize that rekeying is a potential option!

Rekeying Locks

When providing this service, a lock and security expert is going to take the time to take out the springs and pins which are in your lock cylinder. Then, this person is going to swap them out with new springs and pins, and these springs and pins are going to be designed to work with a different key. Locks can definitely be rekeyed, but you might want to opt for replacement if the lock is not working in any way, or if you would simply prefer to switch the style you have or type of lock.

Here are some things to ask yourself to determine if rekeying your lock is the best route for you to take...

• Are you tired of having to use a different key for each of your locks? If this is the case, rather than going through and replacing all locks, you might consider rekeying the locks so that they are all a match for the same key. 
• Did you recently go through a break up? If your partner was living with you, and they are no longer welcome at your home, then you might want to consider having the locks rekeyed. If the locks are not damaged in any way, and you don’t trust your ex to stay away from your property, rekeying the locks is certainly a valid option. Again, this is assuming that there is not any damage to the current locks you have in place. 
• Has there been a change in who owns your property? Or did you just purchase a new property? If you live in a community that was put together by the same builder, then you could have a lock that has been master keyed for construction. Your lock, therefore, could have master pins that were left inside and this enables multiple keys to be able to be used with one lock. Think about how many people had access to a key – contractors, realtors, and so on. Sometimes, you have well over a dozen keys that work with just one lock. Rekeying the locks means having the master pins taken out, so others can no longer access your locks. 

You can see that rekeying a lock means a lock and security expert is able to fix certain concerns without replacing the lock completely. 

Lock Replacement

Now, let’s go over scenarios that might require lock replacement. There are certainly different situations in which you would want your locks to be replaced rather than rekeyed. Ask yourself...

• Are the locks worn out? If they are, they might be past the point of repair. This would mean that rekeying is not necessarily a good idea, because it would not be able to fix the functionality of the lock. 
• Are you tired of how your locks look? Maybe they aren’t a good fit for your property when it comes to aesthetics. If you have had the same locks forever, you might want to consider replacing them merely to switch up the overall appearance. 
• Do you need to accommodate a person who has a disability? If this is the case, then there are certain locks that are by and large easier to use than other locks. For example, a lever handle lock is quite popular because of its ease of access. A person would not have to fumble around with a knob lock, for example. You might need the type of lock that can be used without the person having to grip the lock. This is understandable. You might even opt for a smart lock or electronic lock. 

As you can see, different scenarios would warrant replacing a lock versus rekeying a lock. If you have any doubt at all, it would be a great idea to get on the phone with a local locksmith in your location. They can help you decide if you should rekey your locks, which is likely going to be more affordable for you, or if you would be better off replacing your locks with ones that might utilize better hardware or have better ratings overall.