When and Why to Rekey Your Locks — Residential and Commercial Guide

Rekeying is one of the most practical security steps you can take — and one of the most overlooked. Most people only think about it after something goes wrong. But there are plenty of situations where rekeying ahead of time is the smarter move.

This guide covers when rekeying makes sense for homeowners, renters, landlords, property managers, and businesses, along with related services that often come up in the same conversation.

Rekeying a lock means changing the internal pin combination so that old keys no longer work. A locksmith removes the lock cylinder, replaces the driver and key pins to match a new key cut, and provides you with new keys on the spot. The lock hardware stays exactly the same — only the combination changes.

This is different from replacing a lock entirely. Rekeying is faster, leaves your existing hardware in place, and avoids the need to purchase new hardware. If your locks are in good condition and you simply need to change who has access, rekeying is almost always the right call.

This is the single most common reason people call us for a rekey. When you buy a home, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the existing keys are out there — previous owners, contractors, real estate agents, neighbors who were given a spare. Rekeying immediately after closing is standard practice for a reason.

If you lost a key and are not certain where it went, rekeying is the appropriate response. A lost key that ends up in the wrong hands is a security risk. Rekeying eliminates that risk without replacing the hardware.

If your home was broken into — or someone attempted to — the locks should be evaluated and rekeyed or replaced as part of the response. Even if the lock was not damaged, rekeying ensures that any key that may have been taken or copied is no longer usable.

When a roommate moves out, a relationship ends, or a household member you no longer trust had a key, rekeying is the straightforward solution. You do not need to explain the situation to us — this is a routine call.

If your home has multiple exterior locks that currently use different keys, we can rekey them all to operate on a single key. One key for the front door, back door, garage entry, and any other exterior locks. This is a convenience upgrade that many homeowners do not realize is possible.

Renters have the same security concerns as homeowners, but the situation is slightly different. In Washington State, tenants generally have the right to rekey their rental unit — but it is worth reviewing your lease and notifying your landlord. We work with both tenants and landlords regularly.

If you are moving into a new rental and the landlord has not already rekeyed the unit, it is reasonable to request it or arrange it yourself. You have no way of knowing who had keys to that unit before you.

Every time a tenant moves out, the unit should be rekeyed before the next tenant moves in. This is standard practice for professional property management — and a liability issue if skipped. We work with property management companies throughout Clark County on tenant turnover rekeying, often handling multiple units in a single visit.

When a tenant moves out without returning all keys, or when keys are unaccounted for, rekeying is the appropriate response. Do not assume unreturned keys will not be used.

When a property management company or investor acquires a new property, rekeying all exterior locks before any tenant moves in is the right first step — regardless of what the previous owner says about the keys.

We work with realtors and their clients on new-purchase rekeying regularly. If you are a realtor whose clients just closed on a home, we can be on-site the same day to rekey the property. We can also rekey lockboxes and handle any other access control needs that come up during a transaction.

When an employee who had a key to your business leaves — especially under difficult circumstances — rekeying is the appropriate response. This applies to offices, warehouses, storefronts, and any commercial space where key access was granted.

A lost key to a commercial property is a more serious situation than a lost residential key. The potential exposure is greater. Rekey promptly.

If your business has not reviewed its key control in several years, it is worth doing. We can assess your current locks, identify which cylinders should be rekeyed, and recommend whether a master key system makes sense for your operation.

For businesses with multiple areas that require different levels of access, a master key system is worth considering. A master key system allows managers or owners to have a single key that opens every door, while employees only access the areas they are authorized for. Individual keys are cut to specific areas — the front door, the stockroom, the office — while the master key opens all of them.

Master key systems are primarily a commercial application. They require careful planning and are best set up by a locksmith who can design the key hierarchy correctly from the start. We will cover master key systems in more detail in a separate post.

If your home or business uses electronic keypad locks or smart locks, the equivalent of rekeying is resetting the access codes. When a tenant moves out, an employee leaves, or you simply want to change who has access, we can reset electronic lock codes on-site. This applies to Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, and most other electronic lock brands.

Garage door access is often overlooked during a rekey. If you are rekeying your home because of a tenant change, a move, or a lost key, the garage door remote and keypad code should be addressed at the same time. We can reprogram garage door keypads and help you manage remote access as part of the same visit.

Mailbox locks are another commonly overlooked access point. When tenants move out of an apartment or condo, the mailbox lock should be changed along with the unit locks. We replace mailbox locks on cluster box units (CBUs), apartment mailbox banks, and standard residential mailboxes. See our mailbox lock replacement page for more detail.

Rekeying is the right call when your hardware is in good condition and you simply need to change access. Lock replacement makes more sense when the hardware is worn, damaged, outdated, or you want to upgrade to a higher security grade. We can assess your locks and give you an honest recommendation — we are not going to push you toward replacement if rekeying is the right answer.

When we arrive, we remove the lock cylinder from the door, disassemble it, and replace the driver and key pins to match a new key cut. We then cut new keys on-site using a code cutter or high-speed duplicator. The whole process for a standard residential lock takes about 15 minutes per cylinder. Multiple locks on the same visit are done efficiently — we bring everything needed.

We stock pins and key blanks for Schlage and Kwikset — the two brands that cover the vast majority of residential and light commercial locks in the Vancouver WA area. If you have a different brand, contact us first and we can confirm whether we carry what is needed before coming out.

We handle residential and commercial rekeying throughout Vancouver WA and surrounding areas — Orchards, Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Mill Plain, Five Corners, Minnehaha, Felida, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, Vancouver Lake, La Center, and more. Available 24/7.

Call or text (360) 524-2649 — we will give you an honest assessment and quote before we arrive.

Related: Lock Rekey Service Vancouver WA · Residential Locksmith Vancouver WA · Commercial Locksmith Vancouver WA · Mailbox Lock Replacement