Rekeying and Lock Changes in Houston
Moved in, lost a key ring or turned over a rental? We rekey locks so the old keys stop working, and we replace locks that are worn out or due for an upgrade.
What Rekeying Changes Inside the Lock
Most house locks are pin tumbler locks. Inside the cylinder sit short stacks of pins on springs. The right key lifts each stack to just the right height, the gaps line up at the edge of the plug, and the plug turns. Any other key leaves a pin in the way.
Rekeying swaps those pins. A locksmith takes out the cylinder, slides out the plug, fits pins matched to a new key and puts it back together. The old keys stop working, while the deadbolt, the knob or lever, the strike and the holes in the door all stay as they are.
Because nothing on the door changes, rekeying is the lighter job of the two. It’s the right call whenever the hardware is sound and the only question is who holds a key.
Choosing Between a Rekey and a New Lock
Both jobs end with keys that only you control. The difference is whether the hardware on the door is still worth keeping.
| Situation | Rekeying fits when | Replacement fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Moving into a home | The locks work smoothly and you just want new keys | The locks are worn, mismatched or not what you want on the door |
| Keys lost or stolen | The lock is sound and only the missing keys worry you | The lock was already sticking, grinding or loose |
| A new tenant moving in | The locks are in good shape between tenants | A lock was forced, damaged or keeps failing |
| Key works only with a jiggle | Worn pins are the cause and the cylinder body is fine | The plug or housing is worn as well |
| A different key for every door | The locks share a keyway and can be keyed alike | The brands differ and the keyways can’t be matched |
| Deadbolt grinds or won’t fully throw | Not the fix: new pins don’t move the bolt | The bolt or its case is bent, worn or cracked |
| Wanting keyless entry | You’re happy carrying keys | You want a keypad deadbolt or a smart lock |
Good Reasons to Rekey
- You’ve moved into a home and nobody knows how many keys are out there
- Keys are lost, or a key ring was stolen
- Former tenants, roommates or partners still hold keys
- Mismatched keys for the doors on one property
- A contractor, cleaner or sitter no longer needs to get in
Landlords and property managers rekey at turnover for good reason: there’s no telling how many copies a past tenant made. Texas law adds a deadline. The Property Code has landlords rekey a rental’s keyed locks within seven days after each new tenant moves in.
Mismatched keys are the everyday version of the same problem. The front, back and garage entry doors can often share one key after a rekey, as long as the locks take the same keyway, the shape of key blade a lock brand uses. If one lock won’t match, a new cylinder in the right keyway solves it.
Lost the car key on the same ring? Car keys and fobs are a separate job, and a locksmith will ask for proof that the car is yours.
When a Lock Has Worn Out
New pins can’t save a lock that has given out. Signs it’s time for a replacement: a bolt that’s bent or won’t throw its full length, a cracked or corroded housing, a cylinder that spins loose in the door, or a knob that wobbles even with its screws tight.
Swapping a lock comes down to the holes in the door. Most American house doors are drilled to one pattern: a hole 2-1/8 inches across through the face, a 1-inch hole in the edge for the bolt or latch, and a backset of 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches from the edge to the center of the big hole. A new lock in that pattern drops right in, while older doors with odd holes or mortise pockets may need a lock made to fit, or filling and redrilling.
Upgrades count as lock changes too: a flimsy builder-grade deadbolt traded for a sturdier one, or a keyed deadbolt traded for a keypad or smart lock, even when the old hardware still works.
Rekeying and Lock Change Questions
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Can every lock be rekeyed?
Most pin tumbler locks can, and that covers the deadbolts, knobs and levers on most homes. A few can’t, or aren’t worth the effort: bargain locks with sealed cylinders, cylinders too worn for new pins to sit right, and some high-security or smart locks that need the maker’s own parts. For those, a new cylinder or a new lock is the better route.
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After a break-in, should I rekey or replace the locks?
Look at how they got in. If a door was kicked or a lock forced, check the bolt, the strike and the frame: a bent bolt, a split jamb or a strike torn loose needs repair, and often a new lock with a sturdier strike. If nothing was forced, assume someone had a key and rekey every door.
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Does a smart lock need rekeying when I move in?
Treat it as two locks in one. Most smart locks keep a key cylinder as a backup, and the previous owner’s keys may still turn it, so rekey that cylinder like any other. Then reset the lock to its factory settings, delete the old codes and users, and pair it with your own phone.
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I rent my home. Can I have the locks rekeyed?
Ask your landlord or property manager first. Most leases say the landlord keeps a working key, and changing locks without telling them can cause trouble at move-out. If you’ve just moved in, ask whether the locks were rekeyed after the last tenant. If you want it done again, the landlord can approve it or arrange it.
Details to Note Before a Rekey or Lock Change
A walk around the house before you call answers most of what a locksmith will ask:
- How many doors need work, counting the back door and the door from the garage
- The type of lock on each: deadbolt, knob, lever, handle set or smart lock
- How many keys you want when the job is done
- The brand stamped on the lock face or the key head, if you can read it
- Whether every door should open with one key
- Any lock that already sticks, grinds or wobbles