Rekeying changes which key opens your existing lock. Replacing swaps the hardware entirely. Rekeying is cheaper almost every time, and it is the right answer more often than the industry admits.
Rekey when
- You have just moved in and the hardware is sound.
- A tenant, contractor or ex-partner still holds a key.
- You want several doors on one key and they are the same brand.
Replace when
- The lock is below the grade the door needs.
- The mechanism is worn — the key already has to be jiggled.
- The door has been forced, even if it still latches.
If a locksmith recommends replacement on hardware that is only a few years old and shows no wear, ask what specifically has failed. There should be a concrete answer.
