Your door needs to be as solid as your security system to work hand in hand. The final verdict in the argument of whether you should get your locks changed or not after losing your keys is this: yes, you should! That's what we as professionals recommend and that's what should be done, essentially.
You can't get into your house without them. Also, you never know if you lost the keys or if somebody actually stole them. Leaving your home unprotected in this situation is not the best idea. To feel safer and protect your home, you should replace or rekey your locks.
It is usually cheaper to rekey the existing door hardware than to completely replace it. A lock rekey is great if you already like your current door knob and want a cost effective safety solution. Rekeying your hardware is a simple way to keep your home and work place safe and secure.
Protective Measures To Take If You Lose Your House Keys
If you have lost your keys and know that they were not destroyed, someone else could have your keys. For the security of your house, you need to change your locks as soon as possible.
If they go missing before you've had a chance to get a spare key cut, what can be done? In most situations a locksmith will be able to create a key for a lock, even when there isn't one to copy.
Occasionally, someone will want the locks they use in their institution, organization etc. to have “mastered” locks. This means that although all the individual locks have individual keys, there's also a “master” key that will open them all.
Key Extraction
You'll need a locksmith to extract the key so you don't damage the lock and have to replace it, too. A key extraction can cost between $50 and $200. If you have a spare key, you won't have to rekey the lock; you can just duplicate the spare.
Leaving the keys in the back of the door is a bad idea for the same reasons and is particularly risky if the front door has a glass panel in or near it. The glass can easily be broken to steal the keys from the lock allowing intruders to gain access into your property.
If you keep your keys on a hook, look below it on the floor. Sometimes keys drop or even fall in shoes. Kitchen counters, dining room tables, and bathrooms are also spots lost keys turn up. When you're in a hurry after getting home, it's easy to forget where you set them down.
Some memory complaints do occur frequently as you get older. Losing keys or not remembering names are usually a normal part of your aging process. Health experts say these are normal aging experiences.
Rekeying a lock is a common task for a locksmith, and this simple project only takes about 30 minutes to complete. The only tools you'll need to rekey your lock yourself are a rekey kit and the current key to the lock. This saves considerable money, especially when you need to access multiple locks with the same key.
If you have a traditional pin and tumbler lock, rekeying isn't as difficult as it sounds. First, you'll need to purchase a rekey kit for the brand of lock you have. The kit should contain various tools to aid in the lock's removal and a set of different sized pins.
Rekeying a lock generally takes about 15 minutes, but this depends on the type of lock as well as the skills of the person working on it. The most time-consuming part of the process is removing the lock from the door – the actual rekeying is much simpler. If it's simple, should you rekey your lock yourself?
Decide whether to cut a new key or change your locks. Locksmiths don't just unlock property in emergencies; they can also provide helpful advice about what to do now that your keys are lost. In many cases, simply cutting a new key for the existing lock is a good choice, and it's usually the less expensive option.
While you get the keys to your new home at the closing, you can't know how many copies of the keys the previous owners had made and how many might still be floating around. That's why it's important to have the locks changed out.
Over time, they will need replacing so that they can function correctly, without any problems and to the latest home security standards. It is recommended that you change your locks at least every 7 years, however, you can change them more frequently for your peace of mind or to simply upgrade.
Esky Key Finder
If you want a budget-friendly key finder, this one from Eksy is one of the most affordable and includes four key trackers. It's easy to use as it comes with one remote for all four key trackers, no app or smartphone required.
It is possible, but not for all types of keys. It won't work with the traditional mechanical key. If you have a key fob, smart key, or transponder key, you can track them. You will need a car key tracking device or an app connected to your key.
To Prevent Other Break-ins
Leaving your door unlocked overnight can potentially give access to those wishing to do more than steal things. So, it's very important that you not only make sure your door is locked at night, but also adding some extra security to your door, such as a door chain.
Burglars may try a number of methods to try and gain access to your home, including picking your lock.
Spare key no-no's
As we have established, hiding your spare key under a mat or a rock outside is never a good idea – no matter how safe your neighborhood might seem. Some people may insist on hiding a key outside.
How much does a local locksmith cost? The national average cost to hire a locksmith is $150, but it can range from $50–$400.