Times When You Should Replace Your Locks

A properly locked door is a homeowner’s first line of defense against unwelcome intruders. Changing locks in a home should be as essential and routine as any other maintenance job carried out. Locks assist in keeping homeowners’ hard earned possessions and even their lives safe. When planning for reliable home security, being proactive in changing locks is advisable. Below is a look at the times when you should replace your locks.


In case a homeowner loses his/her house keys, having the locks changed is the first thing to do. After all, they have no idea in whose hands they may have ended up. Even if the keys are handed back by a Good Samaritan, one cannot be sure they were not copied first. Outdoor locks that that would give intruders access to the house should be replaced immediately. Once the outdoor area is secured, the home owner can then replace the inner locks in order of his/her personal security priorities.

When moving into a new house, changing the locks is a good idea. Brand new houses or those that have just been vacated have locks that worked perfectly before the new homeowner moved in. However, one cannot be too careful with locks that have set of keys he/she does not own. It’s hard to know if the previous occupants gave out copies of the keys to others or the kind of friends they had. It’s better to change the locks than regret afterwards.

 We worked with staff members over at highlandsranchlocksmith.com to get this article just right for you. Hope that it clears up some of your questions about when you should replace your locks.

Changing locks is also recommended for those who have roommates. This should be done as soon as they leave. As much as a home owner may trust his/her roommates, what happens to the keys once they are gone is impossible to know. The same case applies for those who rent out space in their home. They can protect themselves by replacing the locks each time they get new tenants. Such homeowners will have peace of mind knowing that their locks are secured and protected, and will not have to suspect tenants in case in case of an intrusion.



In case of a robbery or break-in, a homeowner must replace the door locks. The force used during a break-in or robbery can compromise the integrity of a lock’s mechanisms. Locks that are damaged put a homeowner at a higher risk of another intrusion. In addition, any mechanical failures resulting from the damage can leave someone locked out in the cold. After an intrusion, a homeowner can safely assume that his/her keys have fallen into the wrong hands. This necessitates a replacement of all locks at which these keys might provide someone with access to the house.



Changing locks is also a good idea for those going through a divorce or a separation. At times, a spouse may feel that they own some of the shared pieces of property. A homeowner may feel that he/she trusts the other person and is looking forward to an amicable divorce. However, emotions can run high, with possessions becoming an area on contention. It would be an unpleasant surprise to come home one day only to find half of the shared possessions gone.