When the average person pictures needing a
locksmith, they see key duplication or assistance with a vehicle lockout.
Although these are common services that locksmiths are requested to assist
with, you may be surprised at the wide array of services a modern locksmith can
perform. From hardware upgrades to fingerprint entry systems, today’s
locksmiths can take care of the full spectrum of security needs for their
customers. High-quality locksmiths make sure to stay informed and trained in
all of the latest advances in security. Read on to discover the many ways in
which a professional locksmith could be of assistance to you.
Areas a Locksmith Can Service
Most locksmiths nowadays are trained in all
fields of locksmith services, including automotive, commercial, and residential
locksmith skills. This is to provide optimum service for their customers. Each
locksmith specialty requires a separate set of skills—for example, an
automotive locksmith has to be able to assess the security of each make and
model of car and know the best option for regaining access to the vehicle,
whether it is equipped with standard car keys or transponder chip or smart
keys. When you hire a locksmith, make sure to ask clear questions about the
exact services that they can help you with.
Emergency Locksmith
One of the most heavily requested locksmith
services is lockout assistance from cars, homes, and to a lesser extent,
businesses. Lockout situations are always frustrating and unexpected. Yet as
our lives become busier and more hectic, lockouts are becoming more common. It
only takes a few moments to lock your keys in the wrong place or lose them. An
emergency locksmith, like Locksmith Colonial Heights in Colonial Heights, VA,
has a mobile 24/7 locksmith truck that they can use to get anywhere in the area
they are needed fast. They carry all of the tools that they will require for
auto or building lockouts right on the truck for easy access.
A locksmith is the best option to call when
you’re facing a lockout because lockouts comprise much of what professional
locksmiths deal with on a daily basis. An expert locksmith has likely had years
of experience in unlocking different types of doors, and therefore is
knowledgeable about many different methods of entry.
Repairs to Keys and Locks
Locksmiths can perform a thorough assessment of
your damaged locks and determine whether they can be repaired or need a full
replacement. Whether you’ve been the victim of a break-in or are just dealing
with old hardware that is difficult to use, a locksmith can identify the
problems and recommend the best course of action to optimize your security.
If your key has broken in half, even if half of
the key is still in the lock, locksmiths can attempt to repair the broken key
and reattach the blade to the fob. Even if a locksmith cannot repair the key
because the damage is too great, they can copy the existing pieces and create a
brand new key that will fit the lock. If you’ve lost your key to your lock
entirely, a locksmith will probably be able to make a new one, although the
process of duplication in that case is more difficult, expensive, and
time-consuming because they have to replicate the key from the lock.
Rekeying, Lock Changes, & Hardware Upgrades
Depending on the existing condition of your lock
hardware, you have several options if you would like them to be changed. Maybe
you just moved into your home, or maybe you’ve been living there for years, but
it’s always good to perform an assessment of the functionality of your lock and
key security every few years to make sure everything is in working order.
Otherwise, if you’re dealing with faulty locks your property is more vulnerable
to break-ins.
- Rekeying: Rekeying may be a good option for you if your current locks and keys are newer, solid, and in good working condition. Rekeying involves the locksmith taking the lock cylinder out of the mechanism and rearranging the pins inside to fit a new key.
- Lock Changes: Lock changes refer to actually taking the existing lock hardware off of the door and replacing it with brand new lock hardware. Usually this refers to basic knob and lever door locks.
- Hardware Upgrades: Standard door locks can be replaced by upgrading your hardware. This hardware is tougher and more durable to stand up to daily use. Higher quality door locks can be purchased that have features that make them pick and bump resistant, such as Kwikset locks.
