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Start here for a better grasp on when—and how—to rekey rather than replace them altogether. Think you might need a locksmith? Find the best local pros and compare multiple quotes for your project.
Talk to a Pro. More From Bob Vila. The Best Smart Locks of Generally, as long as you own the property to which the lock and key belong, you may rekey the lock. This assumes no other factors are involved. One notable set of factors may be landlord-tenant laws that limit or prohibit rekeying when the renter is still living on the property. Similarly, as a tenant, it is unlikely that you may rekey a lock without the landlord's permission.
As these can be complicated issues, consult a qualified attorney about this or any other question about the legality of rekeying your lock. If all of the keys are missing, you'll need to call a locksmith. At least one working key is required to rekey a lock by yourself. Insert the key and turn it a quarter-turn to the right.
Use the remover tool included in the kit to press the clip that allows you to remove the knob from the shank. Turn the key a quarter-turn back and remove the key. Remove the cylinder. The kit will have a tool that helps you remove a C-shaped clip from the cylinder lock. The kit will have a pusher device that helps you to push the key plug from the key housing. On a clean, flat surface, drop the old pins from the plug. Push them to the side so they don't get mixed in with the new pins. Remove the old key and insert the new key.
The kit should have a chart that shows the new pins' order. Follow this chart and insert the new pins, using the included tweezers. Always be sure that the rounded or pointed not flat ends of the pins are facing the key.
Otherwise, the lock will not turn. Make sure the pins are flush at the top. With the key still in place, slide the key plug back into the housing.
With the included tool, snap the clip ring back on the cylinder. Reinsert the cylinder into the doorknob from the back. Slide the doorknob back onto the shank. Rekeying locks is different from replacing them because the current locking mechanism stays in place.
What the locksmith does, in this case, is take the lock apart and replace the tumblers, also known as key pins, inside. Tumblers or key pins are the moving parts inside of the lock that align with the grooves on the key and allow it to unlock the door.
In other words, once the pins are changed, the old key will no longer work, and you will receive a new key that matches the new pins. The only things you will have to pay for are cheap replacement pins, a new set of keys, and the labor. Since a professional locksmith can usually rekey a lock in a matter of minutes, the costs to you are minimal. Rekeying a lock requires a particular combination of tools and expertise.
A locksmith will use something called a pinning kit to change the pins inside the lock. Keep in mind that to quickly do so, the locksmith needs a copy of the original key.
If this is the case, you should consult with the locksmith first to compare the prices for changing vs. You also run the risk of permanently damaging the lock if you try to rekey it yourself and do it incorrectly, which would result in you having to replace the lock entirely. When you want to upgrade the overall security of your locks, changing them entirely to something more robust makes the most sense. When you rekey a lock, the strength of the locking mechanism stays the same and only the key changes.
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