Lock Rekey in Covina, CA

What does lock rekeying actually do?

Rekeying keeps the lock you already have and changes which key opens it. Inside most door cylinders is a column of small pins cut to match one specific key. We take the cylinder apart, swap those pins for a set that matches a new key, and put it back together. The old key still slides in, but it no longer turns. The deadbolt, knob, or handle stays on the door, the finish stays the same, and nothing gets drilled or patched.

That is why rekeying is the usual answer when the problem is who holds keys, not the condition of the hardware. If you cannot say how many copies of a key are floating around, or you know exactly who has one and no longer want them to, a rekey closes that door in a way a spare hidden under a planter never will. It also lets us put every exterior lock on a single key, so you stop carrying a ring that looks like a janitor's.

What a rekey does not do: it does not make a weak lock stronger, and it does not repair a lock that sticks, spins, or is already damaged. We will tell you which situation you are in before we start.

When should you rekey your locks?

The plain rule is to rekey whenever you cannot account for every key that opens the door. These are the situations we hear about most from people calling about rekey service in Covina.

• Rekey locks after moving or after buying a house. Previous owners, their relatives, agents, contractors, and the neighbor who watered the plants may all hold copies. A rekey gives you a clean starting point, and you can have every exterior door matched to one key while we are there.
• Rekey locks after a tenant moves out. Tenant turnover is the most common reason a rental gets rekeyed, because a former occupant may still have keys, or may have made copies you never heard about.
• Rekey locks after losing keys. If a key vanished with no clue where, a rekey is usually the more economical route compared with living with the question. If you are also standing outside the door right now, that starts as a house lockout call, and the rekey can often be done during the same visit.
• After a breakup, a roommate leaving on bad terms, or a falling-out with someone who had a key.
• After a break-in or attempted entry, once the door and frame have been checked for damage.
• When an employee, manager, or contractor leaves a business and still holds keys.

How does a lock rekey visit work, step by step?

Here is how a typical visit goes. The details shift with the type of lock and the number of doors, but the order does not.

1. You call (213) 577-1366. A person answers at any hour. We ask which locks are involved, what kind of doors they are, and whether the property is a house, an apartment, or a business.
2. A mobile service van comes to your address carrying pinning kits, key blanks, and tools. We confirm that whoever is hiring us has the right to change the keys, whether that is an owner, a property manager, or a tenant with permission.
3. We look at each lock before opening it. A loose, corroded, or badly worn lock does not hold a rekey well, and we say so rather than rekey something that should be replaced.
4. We remove each cylinder, replace the pins, and cut new keys. If you want several locks to share one key, we set that up at this stage.
5. We test every lock with the new key from both sides, with the door open and closed, and confirm the old key no longer turns.
6. We hand over the new keys and talk through extra copies. If you need more, key duplication is a separate, quick job.

Should you rekey or replace the locks?

Rekey when the hardware is sound, you like how it looks, and the only issue is key control. Replace when the hardware itself is the problem. A rekeyed lock is exactly as secure as it was before the rekey, no more.

If you want a different level of protection, a rekey will not give you that. Replacing the lock is its own job, covered under change locks and lock replacement.

• Rekey: the lock operates smoothly, is firmly mounted, and is in decent condition.
• Replace: the lock is worn, loose, rusted, or has a damaged cylinder or faceplate.
• Replace: you want a higher-security cylinder, a different handle style, or electronic features.
• Replace: a front door has only a basic knob and no deadbolt, which is a hardware gap, not a key problem.
• Either way: we tell you what we see on the door, and the decision stays yours.

How much does lock rekeying cost in Covina?

We do not post prices on a web page, because a rekey for one back-door deadbolt and a rekey for an entire house or a row of apartment units are very different jobs. What we can do is tell you what moves the cost, so the quote you get makes sense. We explain the cost before we begin work.

• How many cylinders need rekeying. This is the biggest factor by far.
• The lock brand and type. Some are quick to pin; others take more care or need parts.
• The condition of the locks. A worn lock may need a part replaced, or may be a better candidate for replacement.
• How many new keys you want cut, and whether all locks should be keyed alike.
• Whether the locks are on a master key system, which adds planning.
• The time of day. After-hours and holiday calls take a technician away from other plans.
• Travel distance and how easy the locks are to reach, such as gated driveways or locked utility rooms.

What about apartment lock rekey and tenant turnover?

Rental units are where rekeying earns its keep. Apartment complexes line Arrow Highway and parts of Azusa Avenue in Covina, and every time a unit changes hands, the question is the same: who still has a key? A tenant turnover rekey answers it without the cost of new hardware on every door.

For property managers and owners with several units, a batch approach saves effort. We can rekey a set of doors in one trip, label the keys, and keep each unit on its own key or tie units to a building-wide key where you want one. If you manage rentals regularly, our page on locksmith services for landlords covers how that works.

If you are a tenant and want your locks changed, check your lease first. Most rentals require the landlord's approval, and we will ask who is authorizing the work before we open a lock.

Can you rekey commercial and business locks?

Yes. A commercial rekey follows the same logic as a home rekey, but with more doors and more people carrying keys. Restaurants, shops, and offices see staff change often, and a key that left with a former employee is a real exposure. Rekeying the front, back, and storeroom locks is a straightforward fix, and it keeps your existing door hardware in place.

If you have outgrown a single key for everything, a master key system lets a manager open every door while each staff member opens only what they need. Planning that system takes more thought than a basic rekey, so we work out the key structure with you first.

For broader commercial work such as door hardware, closers, or exit devices, see our commercial locksmith page. This page stays focused on changing keys.

What does a lock rekey look like around Covina?

Covina calls vary a lot by area. Near the Citrus Avenue district downtown, there are older Craftsman-era and early-20th-century homes, and some of those doors carry decades-old hardware. We look at the lock on site and tell you whether it takes a rekey cleanly. Those same blocks have storefronts and restaurants, where a rekey after a staff change is routine.

Around the 1950s and 1960s ranch tracts, we often find a mix of locks added over the years, so one house may have three or four different brands. That is a good reason to rekey all house locks together, so a single key works at every exterior door.

Along Arrow Highway, apartment rekeys are the bread and butter, usually between tenants. Covina Hills, in the southeast, has larger, semi-rural lots and many gated driveways. A rekey there can include a side gate or pedestrian gate lock, and if the gate hardware itself is failing, gate lock repair is the right service. Charter Oak addresses and the Badillo Street and Azusa Avenue corridors are all part of the same service area.

Covina's hot, dry summers matter too. Older wood doors, especially near downtown, can swell and bind in the heat. If a key feels stiff in August, the cause may be the door rubbing the frame, not the cylinder. We check this before pinning anything, because a rekey will not fix a binding door.

We serve ZIP codes 91722, 91723, and 91724. Our storefront is in Westwood, about 32 miles away, so Covina visits are handled by our mobile vans.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a rekey?

We have been in business since 1987. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles plus mobile service vans, and we are one company, so there is no dispatch middleman passing your job to a stranger. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366.

One practical tip about any locksmith: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask whoever you hire for it. A legitimate company will not mind the question.

We also tell you when a rekey is not the right answer. Sometimes the honest recommendation is to replace a lock, repair it, or leave it alone. For other jobs in Covina, our Covina locksmith page lists everything we handle.

More locksmith help in Covina

• Change Locks in Covina
• Deadbolt Installation in Covina
• Gate Lock Repair in Covina
• High Security Locks in Covina
• Key Duplication in Covina
• Lock Installation in Covina
• All services in Covina

Lock Rekey near Covina

• West Covina
• Azusa
• Glendora
• Baldwin Park
• San Dimas
• Irwindale