Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks — What Edmonton Homeowners Should Know
You just picked up the keys to a new place — or lost a set, or had a roommate move out — and now you're wondering whether your locks need dealing with. The instinct is usually "buy new locks." But a lot of the time, you don't need new hardware at all. You just need the locks you already have to stop working with any keys that are still out there. That's the difference between rekeying and replacing, and knowing which one you need can save you a fair bit of money.
What rekeying actually means
Rekeying keeps your existing lock on the door and changes which key opens it. A locksmith takes the cylinder apart, swaps out the small spring-loaded pins inside, and matches them to a brand-new key. The moment that's done, every old key stops working — including any copies floating around that you don't even know about. The deadbolt, the handle, the hardware — all of it stays exactly where it is. Only the key changes.
Because the hardware stays put, rekeying is usually the faster and cheaper route, especially if you've got several doors to handle. And if you've ever wanted every lock in the house to open with the same key, rekeying is how that's done — it's called keying them alike, and it turns a ring of four keys into one.
What replacing means
Replacing swaps out the whole lock: new hardware, new key, everything. It costs more, but there are times it's the right call — when the lock is worn, sticking, or damaged; when you want to step up to a higher security grade; or when you're switching to something different entirely, like keyless or a smart lock. If a lock is failing mechanically, rekeying won't fix that. You'd just be putting a fresh key into a tired lock.
So which one do you need?
Rekeying is usually right when:
You've moved into a home someone else lived in and don't know who still has keys
You've lost a key or had one stolen
Someone with a key is no longer welcome — a former roommate, an ex, a contractor
You want all your doors on a single key
The locks themselves are in good shape.
Replacing is usually right when:
The lock is worn, stiff, or not latching properly
You want to upgrade the security level or the style
You're moving to smart or keyless entry
The hardware is simply old and due
There's some overlap, and the surest way to know is to have someone look at the actual lock — but that covers most situations.
Edmonton is different
Our winters are hard on locks. Cold, road salt, and constant freeze-thaw work their way into the mechanism, and a lock that's gone stiff or gritty over a few seasons can be closer to the end of its life than it looks. If your key gets harder to turn each winter, that's worth mentioning — it can tip a decision from rekey toward replace, since there's little point rekeying a lock that's about to fail anyway. (That said, a stiff lock sometimes just needs a proper clean and lubrication, not replacing — so it's worth asking before assuming the worst.)
Summary
For most homeowners, rekeying covers it. It's cheaper, it's quick, and it solves the real worry — which is who else can get in. If that sounds like where you're at, here's more on our lock rekeying service and what it involves.
And if you're genuinely not sure which you need, that's normal. Tell us the situation and we'll give it to you straight, even when the answer is the cheaper one. We won't quote you new hardware when a rekey would do the job. Serving Edmonton and surrounding areas.