Tips From a Locksmith that Will Help You Know When To Change Your Locks

Locks Are Required!

Changing the locks on your house or in your business is not necessarily an extremely expensive endeavor. Nevertheless, the cost can run into the hundreds of dollars. This type of expenditure must not be done lightly and without consultation with a professional locksmith. The locksmith will be able to tell you what kind of lock is needed, where to buy it and how much he/she will charge you to install it. Your locksmith will also be able to tell you when certain locks should be replaced.

The locks you have are awesome deterrents to crime and unwelcome people in your home or business. Locks have been around for centuries. They allow us to have a sense of peace regarding the safety and security of our own selves and the possessions we have made part of our lives. Locks keep the bad guys out and give the good guys inside a sense of calm. Locks are necessary!

You will want to make sure the locks you have are in good working order and are still able to do what they were originally intended to do. The keys used for these locks or the electronic openers must be in the hands of people you know and trust.

Locks in your Business

There are many entrepreneurs these days and the number of businesses is always on the increase. The idea of making one’s own way in the world is still very attractive to a great many people. Keeping your business and the people who work for you safe is an important consideration. You are adding a great deal of value to the marketplace by having this business and the value you add to your customer base is tremendous.

So, keeping it all secure and safe is the very basic foundation upon which everything else rests. The equipment you have invested in sits everywhere in your business and it makes your business work every day. Keeping your equipment safe and secure is a must if you are going to continue to make an impact in the business world.

Changing the locks on a regular basis keeps the bad guys on their toes. It makes it a great deal more complicated to break into your place. Not only will it keep the thieves out, but your employees will be calmer, get more work done and just be better employees when they know they are safe.

Contract Labor

Businesses and homes require the employment of certain service providers such as landscape workers, cleaning crews, roofing teams, irrigation companies and others. You may also need the services of a gardener, housekeeper, driveway cleaner, landscape company and others. Sometimes these companies will need to be at your home or business when you are not there. You will have to give them a key or a security pass. Even if you absolutely know you can trust the people you contact, the fact is labourers that work for these kinds of companies change jobs often and without much notice. Because of this change in the workforce, it will be necessary to change your locks periodically.

Somebody Has Lost a Key or a Key Has Been Stolen

Replacing locks whenever a lock is stolen or lost is necessary. Even if you find the key that was lost/stolen, you will not know if they were duplicated. It may interest you to know that the number one reason people call a locksmith is to replace a lost key. We, humans, lose things and a key happens to be at the top of the list.

Many people have switched over from keyed locks to passcodes. We are accustomed to using passwords with our computers and phones, so it is natural that the use of a password for an electronic locking system is more in use these days.

Moving Into a New House or Flat

Another good and appropriate time to change locks is when you move into a new place to live. Not only will it give you peace of mind, but just in case the previous tenants were friendly and gave some neighbours a key to their flat you can halt that activity by just changing the locks.

Moving into a new home is a big investment and major life-changing event. You will be moving all of your possessions into this home and those possessions may be worth a great deal of money. You will want to change the locks on any new or used home before you move into it. Secure your home and it will secure you in the future.

Roommate Change, Divorce and the Firing of An Employee

Another reason to change your locks is when someone leaves your life on less than perfect terms. Especially if there were some hostile or angry words spoken during the separation phase. Even if everything was done with a “velvet glove,” and everyone parted ways amicably, it is a wise thing to go ahead and change the locks.

Divorces can be nasty. When one party is emotionally hurt, there may come a day when retaliation is considered. You don’t want your “Ex” getting into your home or business and taking things that were not allocated by the court system.

Losing a job is traumatic. The person losing their employment is losing their income and very possibly their lifestyle. Emotions can run high so change the locks in the areas that this previous employee had access to and everyone will sleep better.

Locks That Are Old, Worn Out or Malfunctioning

Locks are mechanical devices made of metals, alloys, and hardened plastics. The metals can change properties over time. Similarly, the inner workings of the locks can wear out and not work as well as they did when first purchased. If locks are used outside, they are exposed to a variety of weather scenarios that cause damage to them. They must be cleaned, maintained and lubricated on a regular basis. If they are not, they will break down and become ineffective.

Burglaries, Break-Ins, and Other Shenanigans

No one wants to be a victim of a burglary or be on the receiving end of a breaking and entering crime. If this does happen you, make sure you call the authorities. After they have done whatever is required for the break-in, begin to change your locks.

When a burglar attempts to break in, they are usually using force or prying something open. This will compromise the structural integrity of any lock and render it useless. Even if they were not successful in completely opening a lock, the damage will have been done during the handling of the lock. They may have done enough damage to come back later and finish the job. Go ahead and replace whatever lock was impacted by the burglary.

Keep in mind that technology is changing every day and people who commit burglary are able to make use of technology to break into your home or business. If you have old locks, it may be easy for a 21st-century burglar to pick it. You will want to have the latest locks with the latest technology keeping your property and self safe.

So, How Often Should You Change Your Locks?

It really is a simple thing.

If you own a business, it is recommended you change the locks once per year. It is also suggested you change up the month during which you change the locks.

For your home or personal items that you secure, it is recommended you change locks anytime you feel like you need to do so. Your peace of mind is at stake here. If you feel you must change the lock, then do so. Nothing lost if you do.

Knowing when to change your locks and changing them is the very basis of security. If you would like to consult with a professional about your locks, then contact me.