Most homeowners do not think about their locks until something goes wrong. A key that no longer turns smoothly, a deadbolt that sticks, or a lockout that forces the issue — these are the moments that bring lock hardware to the front of mind. But there are a number of situations where thinking about a lock change proactively, before a problem forces your hand, is the more sensible approach. Here are the circumstances that should prompt the question.

Moving Into a New Property

The most straightforward reason to think about a lock change is moving into a home or apartment you did not build yourself. The previous owners or tenants may have given keys to family members, contractors, cleaners, dog walkers, or neighbours — people you have never met and have no way to account for. The real estate agent, the property manager, and anyone involved in the sale or rental process may also have had access.

Changing or rekeying the locks on the day you take possession is the only way to establish genuine control over who can access your home. It is one of the most cost-effective security measures available and one that is easy to defer indefinitely — which is exactly why so many homeowners never get around to it. If the hardware is in good condition, rekeying is often sufficient and costs significantly less than full replacement.

After a Break-In or Attempted Break-In

A break-in or a visible attempt — a damaged door frame, a scratched cylinder, a lock that has been forced — is an obvious prompt for a lock change. But the reasoning goes beyond replacing hardware that has been physically damaged. A break-in is evidence that someone targeted your property and that the existing security measures were insufficient to deter them. Replacing like-for-like hardware does not address that underlying issue.

A lock change following a break-in is an opportunity to upgrade to hardware that provides a higher level of resistance — a Grade 1 deadbolt with a reinforced strike plate, long screws anchored into the door frame, and a cylinder that resists picking and drilling. A professional assessment of the door and frame at the time of the repair can identify vulnerabilities that contributed to the breach.

Lost or Stolen Keys

A lost key is an inconvenience. A stolen key — taken in a bag theft, a home burglary, or any situation where someone may have taken the key deliberately — is a security concern. If there is any possibility that a lost key was taken rather than misplaced, rekeying the affected locks is the appropriate response. The cost of rekeying is modest; the cost of assuming the key was simply lost and being wrong is considerably higher.

The same logic applies when a key has been given to someone who no longer needs access — a former partner, a previous tenant, a contractor whose work is complete, or a house sitter from a trip that ended months ago. Rekeying is faster and less expensive than replacement and achieves the same result: the old key no longer works.

Aging or Worn Hardware

Locks do not last indefinitely. A deadbolt that has been in service for fifteen or twenty years may still function, but the internal components — the cylinder pins, the springs, the bolt mechanism — wear over time. A lock that requires more force to operate than it once did, that occasionally fails to engage cleanly, or that has developed visible play in the cylinder is approaching the end of its reliable service life.

Worn hardware is also more vulnerable to manipulation. A cylinder with worn pins is easier to pick than one in good condition. A bolt mechanism that does not engage fully provides less resistance to forced entry than one that does. Replacing aging hardware before it fails entirely is less disruptive and less expensive than dealing with a failure at an inconvenient moment.

Builder-Grade Hardware That Was Never Adequate

Many homes — particularly those built in the last two decades — were fitted with the lowest-cost hardware available at the time of construction. Builder-grade deadbolts and knob sets are functional under normal use but do not perform well under forced entry. They are typically Grade 3 hardware, the lowest classification in the ANSI/BHMA grading system, and are not designed to resist the kind of attack that a determined intruder would apply.

If you have never changed the locks on a home you purchased new, there is a reasonable chance the hardware on your exterior doors is builder-grade. Upgrading to a Grade 1 deadbolt from a manufacturer like Schlage, installed correctly with a reinforced strike plate, is one of the most cost-effective security improvements available for a residential property.

Change in Household or Tenancy

A change in who lives in a property — a relationship ending, a roommate moving out, a tenant vacating a rental unit — is a practical prompt for a lock change or rekey. Even in circumstances where the departure is amicable, the previous occupant retains a key that works. Rekeying the locks at the time of the change is a straightforward step that removes any ambiguity about access.

Locksmith Care — Lock Change and Rekey Services Across Toronto

Locksmith Care provides licensed and insured lock change and rekeying services for residential and commercial customers across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Our PSISA-licensed technicians assess your hardware, recommend repair or replacement based on its actual condition, and complete the work in a single visit. Complete all-inclusive quotes before any work begins. Available 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us at 416-828-2596 for a free quote.