When Should Your Locks Be Changed

You might not know it but changing your locks too often can attract undo attention and can be an expensive process. That being the case, you should really consider when it is best to change your locks. In some instances changing your locks is necessary. However, if you do not want the inconvenience and the costly expense of doing so too often, take note of the instances for which it is most appropriate to change your locks. When it is time to do so, you’ll need to find a dependable Tuckahoe locksmith service, such as, Tuckahoe Locksmith Services to perform the job for you.

Lost Keys

You never want your keys to fall into the wrong hands, it can put your entire households safety in jeopardy. If you should happen to lose or misplace your keys, by all means, have every exterior lock changed on your house. You may have an idea of where you lost your house key but without knowing for certain that they were not taken, you could be putting yourself in harms way, unnecessarily. Even if your keys are later returned, you never know if the person who held them had another one made. Once the keys have been out of your sight, you have no way of knowing how many people had them before they were returned to you. In this case, it is best to veer on the side of caution. Change your locks, immediately! If you lose your keys often, you might want to consider having a keyless lock installed to avoid this problem in the future.

Worn Out Locks

Since locks eventually rust and wear out, they can and will become problematic. This poses a threat to you and your family’s safety and security. Older locks can be picked and broken more easily than newer more sturdy ones. If you recognize signs of wear with any of your locks or you see them tarnishing and rust building, contact a local Tuckahoe, VA locksmith to replace your them. They may also advise you to have the locks replaced that are difficult to open even with your keys. When you do not pay attention to your locks because you’re just too busy, perhaps knowing the chance you are taking by not doing so should convince you of just how important doing so actually is.

Home Intrusions

It makes perfect sense to have the locks of your home changed when you have experienced a break-in or if someone has attempted to break-in. Once the locks have been damaged, they will not be able to serve the purpose they are intended to. If someone has successfully broken into your home, they then become familiar with the breaches of security in your home. This makes it even more vital to change the locks. This also affords you the opportunity to re-evaluate the durability level of the rest of your locks. If someone was successful in breaking through the lock, it means the lock wasn’t durable enough. Research some of the more durable alternatives and have it installed instead of having the same type of lock installed again.

When You Move

If you are about to move into a new home, do not put any of your valuables inside until you have had the locks changed. It is likely that the previous family members still have keys to the house. It isn’t necessary to take chances by avoiding having the locks changed. It could be more costly for you if someone were to break-in and steal your valuables. It is a rather small price to pay for the peace-of-mind that comes from knowing that no one else has keys to your home. Also, in the event that someone has moved out of your existing home on bad terms, it would be a good idea to change the locks so that they do not attempt to come back and take things that do not belong to them.  The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to have the locks changed as soon as they have moved out. Don’t wait for even a day, do it immediately. If there has been a recent divorce, regardless of how civilized the divorce proceedings were, it is still a good idea to have the locks changed. You simply cannot afford to take chances with your safety and security by not taking precautions to protect yourself. It is definitely better to be safe than sorry.

Spare Keys

You may not realize just how many spare keys you have until you experience a break-in. Perhaps you had to give someone a spare key in order to do some work in your house or you gave a family member a key to hold for you. You may forget to get them back. And while none of these people themselves might try to gain access into your home without your permission, someone that they know or may not know, just might. Whenever you have given someone a spare key, always have the locks changed after you get them back.

While we do not encourage you to change your locks anymore than you need to, we would encourage you to do so at least once annually. This just whips the slate clean and gives you a new sense of security. Regardless of whether or not any of the above occurrences have happened to you, it is in your best interest to make sure you are aware of and locks that might pose a problem. Locks will inevitably wear out over the years, making them ineffective. Perhaps when they do, it affords you the opportunity to look into more efficient lock alternatives. If you’re not sure as to which types of locks will serve your needs, simply consult with a local Tuckahoe, VA locksmith. Since they work on locks everyday, they are the best place to start when consider having new locks installed. It certainly can’t hurt anything to have your locks changed, when necessary.