| Often we tend to overlook or neglect the | | | | instructions that walk you through the process of |
| necessary steps to ensure that our locks are | | | | re-keying the locks. This involves removing the |
| secure. If you have just purchased a previously | | | | cylinder within the lock. You will need to retain the |
| owned home one of the first things that you | | | | original key to remove the cylinder. |
| should do is secure your door locks. You never | | | | The process of re-keying the lock is a very |
| can be overly cautious about this when purchasing | | | | simple process which anybody can do with the |
| a new home. I can personally recall walking into | | | | right kit. The most popular brand of lock re-key |
| our new home to discover a stranger in the living | | | | kits are from Change-A-Lock. These kits come |
| room who had been given a key by a previous | | | | with a retainer ring tool, wire tool, a plug follower, |
| owner. | | | | color coded plugs and instructions. Re-keying the |
| When moving into a new home the first order of | | | | lock to secure your home is a simple five step |
| business should be rekeying the locks. Next you | | | | process. |
| will want to have the code for your home | | | | 1. Insert the wire tool into a hole in the door knob |
| security system changed. Some systems come | | | | to push in the clip. The knob can then be pulled |
| with instructions that will allow you to modify the | | | | off the door. |
| code without the need for a professional to visit | | | | 2. Remove the sleeve around the knob to |
| the home. Many of the older security systems | | | | remove the cylinder. |
| are hard coded to a specific security code. You | | | | 3. Use the kit's retainer ring tool on the cylinder to |
| will need to get this updated soon after moving in | | | | remove the retainer ring. |
| to ensure the safety of your home and family. | | | | 4. Using your existing key in the cylinder turn it |
| Other times that may warrant a re-key of your | | | | while pushing the plug follower through the |
| locks may be the loss of one or more keys, | | | | cylinder. This will remove the cylinder plug which |
| unintentionally including your house key when | | | | holds the pins. |
| dropping off your vehicle for work or having a | | | | 5. Remove the old pins, put the new key into the |
| vehicle towed, or even a divorce. If you have | | | | cylinder plug and replaced the pins with the color |
| multiple access points to your home hiring a | | | | coded pins provided in the kit. |
| locksmith to re-key the locks can prove to be an | | | | Changing the locks in your home is an important |
| expensive service. A trip to your local hardware | | | | step to protect your home but should not be a |
| store can provide you with a simple re-key kit. | | | | substitute for a good security solution. A home |
| These kits can also be found on the Internet | | | | security system is the best protection you could |
| from various dealers and typically sell for | | | | have against potential intruders. When selecting a |
| approximately ten dollars. | | | | home security system, look for a provider that |
| Before re-keying the locks in your home it is | | | | can monitor your home around the clock from |
| important to identify the brand of locks that you | | | | multiple Customer Monitoring Centers. Multiple |
| have. Different manufacturers have specific pins | | | | centers will ensure that your home is truly |
| that are used to re-key the locks. A set can be | | | | protected at all times. It is advisable to speak with |
| purchased based on the manufacturer of the | | | | a security specialist to determine the needs that |
| locks in your home. These kits come with simple | | | | are specific to your home. |