I Have Lost My Keys - Should I Change Locks Or Rekey?
The “lost my keys” issue is never a stress-free endeavor for most people. Depending on the circumstances that have led to your keys being lost, you will be presented with several solutions. In some cases, you will need to find an immediate solution so you do not jeopardize the security of your home and the people and prized possessions in it. If you are not sure how urgent your problem is or have no idea if you can get a house key made without the original, we are here to answer your questions and concern. Before you get started, take a few deep breaths, as keeping your calm will help in any situation and prevent you from making any rash decisions that you could end up regretting later on. Remember, if you are in a desperate situation and you need to immediately enter your home and you cannot do it because of a lost key, give us a call and we will immediately send over the nearest emergency locksmith to assist you.
I Have Lost My Keys: Now What?
Losing, misplacing, or having the keys to your home stolen from you, whether original keys, spares or master keys, together with an ID or home address information are different scenarios that will require different solutions. One thing, however, is certain: you will need to take action as soon as possible. Postponing whether you should rekey your old locks, get new keys made using an old lock, or have a new lock installed will ultimately put you and your family at risk. Below you will find a few quick and obvious solutions that should match the most common problems related to lost home keys.
I've lost the keys to my home and there are no spares to use.
Assuming you have lost the only set of keys to your home and you do not have any spares you can use to get in, you will need to change the locks as soon as possible. This is particularly necessary in case you are not sure how it happened and when was the last time when you had your keys on you. Call an emergency locksmith and have them restore your access to your home straight away, using safe lock picking solutions, then ask them to install a new lock for you. This will cancel the lost keys to your home and render them useless, so no one can use them to enter your residence without your consent. Fitting a new lock on a door only usually takes a few minutes when hiring an expert locksmith that offers residential services. The great news is that you can also use their expertise and guidance and make sure you will be installing the best-branded lock, whether you will choose a single- or double-cylinder lock or a modern-day electronic lock and finally make the switch to a keyless home security experience. Different types of locks feature different advantages and drawbacks and a professional locksmith with experience in the field should have no problem explaining everything to your best understanding.
You could also opt for rekeying a lock in case of a missing spare key. This will mean that none of the old spares will work with the new lock, which is exactly what you want. If you wish to save money while still restoring protection on your home, re-keying the lock will oftentimes prove to be the more affordable solution.
Your house keys have been stolen.
If you think someone might have taken your keys from you, the immediate solution would be to have new locked installed in order to make your property safe again.
You have misplaced the keys to your home.
You are not sure how or when it happened and you fear someone might be able to use them to enter your property when you are not there and take off with your electronics and other prized possessions. If you have also lost a wallet or an ID card attached to the keys, anyone could easily trace your address and plan a burglary during the day, when no one is home. Changing the locks would be the right solution here, to make sure no one can get near your home and your family. However, in case there is no way of telling which home your lost keys belongs to, you might want to limit your action to re-keying the locks instead. The process is even simple since it is possible to re-key a lock on the spot and cut a house key made without the original key. However, you will need to contact an expert home locksmith to throw you a hand.
You have lost or misplaced a master key.
Master keys are used to manage several door locks at a time, which means using a single master key will jeopardize several rooms at a time. If this is the case, you are advised to install new sets of locks, no matter if you think you have left your key behind somewhere or a thief might have taken it out of your pocket.
Not sure which brand of locks to opt for in case of a missing key emergency that requires a lock replacement solution? Need someone to remove the cylinder, change some pins for you and cut some keys to match the new pins?
We are here to assist you 24/7.