Precision Locksmiths Melbourne

Different people are comfortable with different levels of home security, so the answer will be different for different people.

The most common time people change locks is after being locked out and calling a locksmith to let them in to their home or business. Fortunately we are able to offer responsive locksmith services in Melbourne so we’re able to meet urgent needs for locks to be replaced in Greater Melbourne including surrounding suburbs. However, there are several other times when you might want to plan to have your locks replaced:

• when moving into a new residence – there is no way of knowing who has held keys to your new home or business in the past, or whether any keys have been lost or stolen. Some landlords automatically re-key locks at the end of each lease but it’s always worth checking.
• other changes in occupancy – from divorce or family separation to changing tenants in a share house, sometimes you’ll want to make sure someone no longer has access to your locks.
• when there are too many different keys – some houses have different keys for front and back doors, garages and sometimes different keys for different windows, a locksmith can re-key all your doors and windows to work from a single key.
• If you have damaged locks or keys – sometimes you can see that a lock or key won’t last much longer, or is becoming difficult to use. Having it replaced before it breaks can save the hassle and expense of having to call an after-hours locksmith.
• after a burglary or if your security has been compromised – if your home or business has been broken in to one of the first things you should do is get your locks changed

If your locks are un-damaged often they don’t have to be replaced; they can just go through a process known as re-keying. The actual barrels of the lock are left in place, the pins inside the lock are re-configured and you are given new keys to suit the new configuration. Think of re-keying like changing the password on a computer – the security system stays the same, it’s just the password (in this instance a key) that changes.

Re-keying is usually cheaper than replacing whole locks but may not be possible if your locks are damaged. This is why it’s recommended you don’t attempt to pick your locks if you’ve lost keys or locked yourself out.

Different locks have their own advantages and disadvantages. Keys can be lost or stolen, passwords can be overheard or seen. Your preference might come down to whether you think you are more likely to lose a key or forget a password, but the actual locking mechanisms that are installed can be very similar no matter how they’re opened. The level of security will depend on your particular choice of lock not whether it’s digital or mechanical. We stock digital deadbolts, mechanical dead latches, fingerprint scanners and a range of domestic and commercial solutions. We can talk you through the benefits and disadvantages of each system. There are some additional considerations with electronic locks, such as changing batteries but there are also many code locks that do not require power. Codes or passwords can usually be changed easily without a locksmith, so if you want to regularly change your locks to maintain security digital locks may be a more convenient solution than calling a locksmith to re-key your locks.