Should you rekey or replace when you change locks?
Most people who search for a lock change service in Glendora are really asking one question: do I need new locks, or do I just need the old ones to stop working for anyone else who holds a key? Those are different jobs, and the honest answer depends on what is on your door today.
Rekeying changes the inside of your existing lock so the old keys no longer turn it and a new key does. The hardware stays on the door. Replacing means taking the lock off and fitting a different one. Both get you the result you actually care about, which is that the keys floating around out there stop working. The difference is what you are left with on the door afterward.
If your hardware is sound, you like how it looks, and it is a standard type, rekeying your locks is usually the more economical route. If the lock is worn, loose, damaged, or you simply want something better, replacing the lock is the better use of your money. We look at what is on your door before recommending anything, and we say so plainly when the lighter-cost option is the right one.
Why change door locks after buying a house or moving?
When you buy a house, you have no idea how many keys exist. Previous owners hand copies to relatives, neighbors, house cleaners, contractors, dog walkers and agents. Nobody keeps a list, and nobody is trying to be careless. That is just how keys travel over years. The same goes for a rental you have just moved into, where a former tenant may have left with a key or never returned one.
That is why changing locks is the first thing we suggest to anyone who just moved. It is not about suspecting anyone in particular. It is about knowing, on your first night, that the only keys that work are the ones in your pocket. If you are looking for a locksmith for a new house, this is the job we mean.
The same call comes up in other situations too:
- A lost or stolen set of keys, including a wallet or bag that went missing with your address on a card inside
- A roommate, partner or family member moving out and keeping a key
- A former employee, contractor or house sitter who had access
- A front door that has gotten stiff, loose or unreliable and deserves a fresh look
- Wanting every door on the property to open with a single key instead of a ring of five
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How we change your locks, step by step
Here is how a typical lock change goes when you call us. The details shift depending on the doors involved, but the order stays the same.
- You call (213) 577-1366, any hour, and tell us about the doors in question: front door, back door, garage entry, side gate, and whether there are separate deadbolts.
- We send a mobile van to your Glendora address. If you would rather bring loose hardware to us, our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood.
- On site, we inspect every lock: the brand, its condition, how smoothly the latch and bolt move, and whether the door and strike plate line up properly.
- We explain rekey versus replace door by door. The answer can differ between your front door and a back slider, and we would rather tell you that than push one approach across the whole house.
- You approve the plan and we do the work. Rekeyed locks are taken apart, the internal parts are changed to match a new key, and they go back together. Replaced locks are removed and the new ones are fitted, reusing the existing holes wherever the door allows.
- We test every lock with the new keys: door open, door closed, bolt fully thrown and retracted, latch catching cleanly. Anything that drags or misses gets fixed before we leave.
- We hand over the keys, set up keyed-alike locks if you asked for them, and talk through where extra copies make sense, so you control who holds a key from here on.
Rekey or replace: what actually decides it?
Nobody should have to guess at this. These are the things we weigh when we stand at your door, and they are the same things you can weigh yourself before we arrive.
- Condition of the lock: if it sticks, wobbles, or the key turns roughly, rekeying a worn lock just gives you a new key for a tired mechanism. Replacement makes more sense.
- Quality of the existing hardware: a solid, well-made lock is often worth keeping and rekeying. A flimsy builder-grade one may not be.
- What you want the door to do: if you are after a keypad, app control or a stronger bolt, that is a replacement job. Our smart lock installation and deadbolt installation pages cover those upgrades.
- Mismatched keys: if the front, back and garage entry each need a different key, rekeying them all to one key is often a tidy fix.
- Whether the lock can be rekeyed at all: most standard residential locks can be. Some cannot, or are not worth it, and we tell you which is which on the spot.
- Cosmetics: matching finishes and handle styles matter to some people. If the look is part of the decision, say so and we will work around it.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of changing locks?
We do not quote numbers on a web page because the job in your hallway is not the job in the next house over. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so nothing about the conversation feels like a mystery.
- How many locks are involved: one front door is a different job than every exterior door plus a garage entry and a side gate.
- Rekey or replace: rekeying generally costs less because you keep your hardware. Replacing adds the cost of the new locks themselves.
- Grade of hardware: a basic deadbolt and a high-security lock are not in the same category, and the difference shows up in the price.
- Condition of the door: if the door has shifted or the strike plate is out of alignment, some adjustment may be needed so the new lock works smoothly.
- Time of day: a middle-of-the-night call is handled differently than a planned weekday visit.
- Travel to your address: we serve a wide area and Glendora is a drive from our Westwood base, so location is part of the picture.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a lock change?
There are plenty of ways to get a lock changed. Here is what we think is worth knowing about how we work.
- We have been in business since 1987. That is a long time of seeing which locks hold up and which ones cause callbacks.
- We run a real storefront in Westwood plus mobile service vans, so there is a physical shop behind the van that shows up at your door.
- You are dealing with one company. There is no call center passing your job to a stranger who happens to be nearby.
- David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. Questions about a tricky door do not get lost.
- The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, so a lock change after a late move-in or a lost key does not have to wait for morning.
Changing locks in Glendora: Village bungalows, foothill homes and Route 66 condos
Glendora's housing is varied, and the right lock change depends on which kind of home you are in. Around Glendora Village, you find citrus-era bungalows alongside broad postwar ranch tracts. Older homes can carry a mix of hardware added over decades, sometimes a front door lock from one era and a back door lock from another. That mix is exactly why we inspect each door rather than assume. Sometimes rekeying everything to one key is a clean answer. Sometimes one tired lock needs replacing and the rest are fine.
In the foothills, the work looks different. Rekeys and smart-lock installs are a regular part of what we do in foothill neighborhoods like Morgan Ranch and Gordon Highlands, where larger custom homes are common. Foothill and hillside homes also tend to carry perimeter gates and secondary hardware, which means a house purchase there can involve more locks than the front door. If you just bought in Gordon Highlands, Silent Ranch Estates or North Glendora, the lock change is worth planning as a whole: house doors, garage entry and any side gate that came with the property. Gates on their own have specific needs, covered under gate lock repair.
The climate matters too. Glendora summers are hot and dry, with Santa Ana wind events coming off the canyons. South-facing doors see heat expansion and weatherstripping wear, and hillside homes collect more wind-blown dust in exterior locks. If you are changing locks, it is a good moment to check how the door is sealing and whether dust has been working into an old cylinder. A lock that feels gritty is sometimes one more reason to replace rather than rekey.
Along the Route 66 (Alosta Avenue) corridor, condos and apartments concentrate. Tenants and new owners there often want a lock change on move-in, and the process is more straightforward when we know whether the building has any rules about hardware before we start. Whether your address falls in 91740 or 91741, the approach is the same: we come to you, look at the doors, and tell you what makes sense.
One thing we do not do is guess from a distance. Photos and a description help us prepare, but a lock change starts with seeing the door.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What to ask any locksmith before they change your locks
Whoever you call, a few questions protect you. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start. A professional will not be bothered by the question.
Ask them to explain, door by door, why they recommend rekeying or replacing. Ask who exactly will be doing the work and whether they work for the company you called. Ask what happens to your old keys and whether the new keys will be cut on site. And ask about the full scope of the job before it begins, so the final cost does not surprise you.
If you are standing outside right now with no way in, that is a different call, and our house lockout service is built for it. If you need spare copies after the change, key duplication is the way to do it with control over who gets one. And if you would rather we come to you, our mobile locksmith vans cover Glendora.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to change my locks after buying a house in Glendora?
It is strongly worth doing. You have no way to know how many copies of the old keys exist, who has them, or whether a former owner's cleaner, contractor or relative still does. Rekeying or replacing means only the keys you hold will work from day one.
What is the difference between rekeying and replacing locks?
Rekeying changes the internal parts of your existing lock so old keys stop working and a new key operates it. Replacing removes the lock and installs a different one. Rekeying keeps your hardware and is usually more economical. Replacing makes sense when the lock is worn, damaged, or you want an upgrade.
Can you change the locks on every door at once so they use one key?
Yes. We can set up the front door, back door, garage entry and other locks to work with a single key. That is a common request after a move. We inspect each lock first, because a few older or odd locks may not be worth including.
How quickly can you come to Glendora to change locks?
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we dispatch mobile vans to Glendora. We do not promise a specific arrival time because it depends on where our vans are and the conditions that day, but we will tell you honestly what to expect when you call (213) 577-1366.
Do you change locks at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our phone line is open every hour of every day of the year. A late move-in, a lost set of keys or a worrying break-in attempt does not have to wait until morning. Time of day can affect the cost of the visit, and we will explain how when you call.
How much does it cost to change locks?
It depends on how many locks are involved, whether you are rekeying or replacing, the grade of hardware, the condition of the door, the time of day, and the travel to your address. We talk through those factors with you before work starts so you can decide with the full picture.
Will changing the locks work on my gate or garage side door too?
Often, yes. Hillside and foothill homes commonly have perimeter gates and secondary hardware in addition to the front door. Tell us everything you want covered when you call and we will look at each one. Some gate hardware needs different handling than a house door lock.
Can you install a smart lock when you change the locks?
Yes. If you want keypad or app-based access, that is a replacement job rather than a rekey. We can look at your door, tell you what will fit, and explain how the lock would work day to day before we install anything.
How do I know a locksmith is legitimate?
Ask for their BSIS LCO license number. California requires locksmith companies to hold that license. Also ask who will come to your door, how they explain their recommendation, and what the full scope of the job is before they begin.
More locksmith help in Glendora
Change Locks near Glendora
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.