How to know when its time to replace your door lock

A properly locked door is your first line of defense against unwanted intruders in your home. When arranging for reliable home security, it is best to be proactive in replacing locks. Replacing a lock is a small cost which can cost a lot more if it is not done before the lock malfunctions. To avoid expensive late-night calls to professionals, keep an eye open for signs that your locks need to be replaced

Wear and Tear

Worn or rusted locks are a serious weakness in home security. Old, worn out locks are easier to pick and break, and they are more difficult to open legitimately with a key as time goes on. If your lock has severe tarnish, rust, or other visible signs of wear, it may be time to look for a replacement lock. If your lock is becoming increasingly difficult to open with the key, especially on cold nights, you need to replace or service the lock immediately to avoid an inconvenient malfunction that may leave you locked out.

Lost or Stolen Keys

For better security in your home, you must replace or re-key your locks if your keys are lost or stolen. Figure out which keys you have lost, and replace the locks in order of security priority. Outdoor locks which would give an intruder access to your home should be replaced immediately. After your outdoor area is secured, you can replace inner locks in order of your personal security priorities.

If you frequently lose your keys, you might benefit from a combination door lock such as a digital door lock. Combination door locks can be opened by inputting a code into the lock. Most combination locks also have a keyed lock for backup in case the combination input malfunctions, or to gain entry if the code is lost. You should change the combination whenever you feel that its access may have been compromised, just like you would replace keyed locks if you had lost your keys.

New Roommate

If you rent out space in your home, protect yourself by replacing locks or re-key every time you change tenants. You will gain peace of mind knowing that your locks are secure and protected, and you won’t have to suspect your past tenants in the event of a break-in. Even if the last tenant turned in their key, you can’t be sure they didn’t make a backup copy. They may not even remember having given a copy of their key to a neighbor or friend in the past.

Follow these simple and practical tips and increase your chances of keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.