We all know how crucial it is to keep our homes safe and secure. One way to achieve this is by having secure door locks, which are crucial to any home’s security. While door locks may not stop a determined burglar, they will deter most opportunistic thieves. It will also give you peace of mind when you leave your home. But how often should you change door lock?
The best time to change your door locks is when you move into a new home, lose your keys, or are renovating your house. You can also change the locks when they get old, stolen, or damaged, after an attempted break-in, or when upgrading your security system.
In this article, we will give you scenarios for when to change door locks at home.
When Is the Best Time To Change the Door Lock at Home?
Changing door locks is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to ensure your home is safe. We know burglars won’t stop invading your home just because it has a door lock. However, a secure lock is 100% safer than a damaged one.
According to statistics, 55.7% of home break-ins involve forcible entry. This means that door locks play an essential part in securing your home. Here are seven times when you should change your door locks.
1. Moving Into a New Home
One of the first things to do, but mostly forgotten by many, is to change the door locks when you move into a new home. Changing the locks is a quick and easy way to give yourself some peace of mind.
You never know who might have a copy of the keys to your home, and you don’t want to take any chances. Change the door locks, especially on any exterior door. Ensure to change them even if it’s a new home, and no one has ever lived there. You don’t know who had access to the house, from the contractor to the plumber.
When you move into a home another family previously lived in, the cleaner may have the keys or the house help. What if, God forbid, one had a grudge against the family living there and was not aware they had moved out?
You’ll be peaceful when you change the door lock to avoid all the “ifs.” Plus, it’s a great way to make your new home feel like yours. Once you’ve changed the locks, you’ll feel like you’ve made the space your own. Here’s a quick and easy guide to changing your door locks.
Besides changing door locks, ensure to take other security measures. You can:
- Install a home security camera system: One in four Americans has installed a security system in their homes. A home security camera system will allow you to monitor what’s happening inside and outside your home. It also alerts you when something suspicious is happening. It would be best to consider installing an alarm system to deter burglars and give you peace of mind. Also, consider home automation to maximize the efficiency of your security system.
- Ensure all window latches are working: Check and ensure all your windows latches are working. Doing this can deter burglars from entering your home through an unlocked window.
- Light up your home: Consider lighting up your home at night, even though having the outdoor lights all night through does not effectively deter crime. You can switch them off, and if you hear a break-in happening, you can switch them on. This element of surprise will deter them from invading your home.
- Trim back any bushes or trees that obscure your windows: One way to make it difficult for intruders to approach your home without being seen is trimming huge bushes. If you have bushes or trees near your windows, intruders may lurk behind them, waiting for the perfect time to ambush or attack you.
2. After You Lose Your Keys or When They’re Stolen
Losing your keys can be a real pain. First, you’ll have to worry about someone finding them and breaking into your home. You’ll also have to go through the hassle and expense of changing your door locks.
Of course, the first assumption is that you’ll find them, and you should take some time to see if you’ll find them. Please don’t risk it because you don’t know who will find the keys. If you’ve lost your keys, it’s essential to act quickly. The sooner you change your door locks, the more secure your home will be.
It would be best if you also change door lock when your keys are stolen, since you don’t know the intentions of the person who stole them.
3. If the Locks Are Old or Damaged
If you have old or damaged locks on your doors, it’s time to change them. An old or damaged door lock is an open invitation to burglars. Some damaged or old locks may be hard to open or close. Picking them is easier than you could do with new and strong ones. So ensure your locks are strong such that they’ll give a burglar a hard time picking.
4. When Upgrading Your Security
Are you thinking of upgrading the security system in your home? Changing door locks is often one of the most overlooked parts of security. You may also upgrade the door locks to a more updated and high-quality version that will be much safer than the ones you currently have. Let’s say you want to install motion or smoke detectors in your home. Why not also upgrade your locks to smart locks?
5. Following a Break-in or Attempted Break-in at Your Home
Every day, there’s a new story about a break-in or an attempted break-in in your neighborhood, right? And while these stories are becoming all too common, that doesn’t make them any less scary. Statistics show that, on average, a burglary happens every 30.48 seconds in the U.S.
Research shows a higher chance of a burglar returning to the same house to rob it again. That’s because they’re now familiar with your home’s layout. So if you’ve been a victim of a break-in or an attempted break-in, the first thing to do is change door lock (s).
6. After Home Renovations
Old locks might seem out of place if you’ve just renovated your house but have yet to change them. You can change door lock to match your home’s new look.
Furthermore, you might need to change the locks after renovations since you are unsure if the contractor has access to your keys. Even if you had a reliable contractor, it’s better to be cautious than to assume only to discover your home has been broken into.
7. When Someone You Were Leaving With Has Left
It’s always a little weird when someone has a copy of your keys, and you’re no longer on good terms. Maybe it’s an ex or a friend you had a fallout with. Either way, it’s not a great feeling. So if you find yourself in such a situation, you’ll probably want to change your door locks.
What’s The Cost To Change Locks On the House?
The average cost you can expect to pay to change the door locks on your house can range between $50 and $300. However, this will depend on a few factors, including the type of lock and how many locks you need to change. It also depends on where you live and whether you choose to do it yourself (DIY) or involve a locksmith. Of course, DIY is much cheaper if you know how to use a screwdriver.
How Long Do Door Locks Last?
The lifespan of a door lock depends on its quality. However, you can expect most door locks to last for seven years, if not longer. Most locksmiths recommend changing your door locks once every seven years.
How Long Does It Take to Change the Locks on the House?
It can take a more experienced locksmith less than an hour to change door lock. However, it depends on how many locks you need to change. If you’re changing the locks on one door, it will take less time than changing all the locks on the house. It also depends on the type of locks you have.
Improve Your Home’s Security With ONIT Home
The best time to change the door lock at home is after moving into a new home, losing your keys, when they are stolen, or when the key is old or damaged. You can also change it if there has been a burglary or attempted break-in at your home.
In addition to having secure door locks, adding a home security system should also be a top priority. A security system can help you monitor your home, deter crime, check on ailing loved ones, and keep tabs on your kids and pets. Furthermore, a security system can help lower your energy bills and home insurance.
ONIT Home is your professional partner when it comes to security system installations. We can help customize a system that best fits your unique home security needs. With our best-in-class products, you can rest assured knowing you’re well protected. We also provide 24/7 monitoring at an affordable rate.
Call us at 1-833-433-0331 to speak to our dedicated experts and let ONIT take your home’s security level to another level. Need security? We’re ONIT.