Should you rekey or replace your locks?
This is the question behind most lock-change calls, and the honest answer depends on the hardware already on your door, not on what sounds more impressive. Rekeying means we take the existing lock apart, change the internal pins so a new key works and the old keys no longer do, and put it back. The lock itself stays. Replacing means the whole lock comes off and new hardware goes on.
If your deadbolts and handles are in decent shape and you simply don't want anyone else holding a working key, rekeying the locks is usually the more economical route. If the hardware is corroded, loose, worn out, or not strong enough for the door it protects, replacing the locks is the better call, because new pins inside a failing lock don't fix a failing lock.
You don't need to know which one you need before you phone. Describe what is on your doors and we'll tell you which direction makes sense. Once we're standing at the door, we judge each lock on its own, because it's common for one home to need a mix: a couple of locks rekeyed and one swapped out.
- Rekeying fits when the lock turns smoothly, the finish is sound, and the only concern is who has old keys.
- Replacing fits when the lock is stiff, corroded, loose in the door, visibly damaged, or an old style you want to upgrade.
- A mix is normal: sound deadbolts rekeyed, a weathered entry handle replaced.
When does it make sense to change your locks?
People call for a lock change for a handful of reasons, and the reason often tells us which route to recommend. Whatever the reason, the principle is the same: you can't know who holds a copy of an old key, so you change what the key opens.
- You bought a house, condo or townhome and don't know how many keys the previous owner, agents or contractors handed around.
- You moved into a rental and want the locks to belong to you, not to every earlier tenant.
- A key was lost or stolen, or keys went missing along with a wallet or bag that had your address on it.
- A roommate, partner, employee or helper moved out and still has a key.
- The lock is simply worn out: sticky, hard to turn, or the key needs jiggling.
- You want something different, such as one key for every door, a stronger deadbolt, or a keypad.
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
The process is simple, and we explain each stage as we go so nothing about your door is a mystery.
- You call (213) 577-1366, which is answered 24 hours a day. Tell us which doors are involved, roughly what the locks look like, and whether this is a new home, a lost key or worn hardware. If you're also locked out, we'll treat that first; see our house lockout help.
- We come to you in a mobile van and look at every lock involved: the brand, the condition, the door and the strike plate.
- We tell you what we recommend for each door, rekey or replace, and what is driving the cost, before the work starts.
- We do the work. Rekeyed cylinders get new pins and new keys. Replaced locks are fitted to the door, with the bolt and strike lined up so the door closes cleanly.
- If you want one key for several doors, we set the locks up to match wherever the hardware allows it.
- We test every lock with the door open and closed, and test every key, so you aren't discovering a problem the next morning.
- We hand over your keys and tell you which old keys no longer work.
How much does it cost to change locks in Port Hueneme?
We don't quote numbers on a web page because a lock change isn't one job. A single bedroom lock and a whole house with a gate and a garage entry are very different days. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost, so you can judge any quote you get from anyone.
As a general rule, rekeying costs less than replacing because you're not buying new hardware, but a badly corroded lock can make rekeying pointless, and then replacement is the economical choice in the long run.
- How many locks are involved, and whether you want them keyed alike.
- Rekey or replace, since replacement means paying for the hardware itself.
- The grade and brand of new locks: basic builder-grade hardware versus heavier, higher-security deadbolts.
- Condition of the door and frame, such as a worn strike plate or a misaligned bolt that needs correcting.
- Finish. Coastal exposure may justify a more corrosion-resistant finish.
- Extras like keypad or smart features, or added deadbolts where a door only has a knob lock.
- When you call. After-hours and weekend calls are different from a scheduled daytime visit.
- Travel to your address, since we work from vans across a large service area.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Changing locks after buying a house or moving in
If you're searching for a locksmith for a new house, the short advice is to do it before you unpack. Think about everyone who has had access to the property: previous owners, family members, agents, inspectors, contractors, cleaners. Even with good intentions, nobody can tell you how many copies exist. Changing the locks on day one resets that count to the keys in your hand.
Moving into a new place is also a good moment to check the whole entry picture, not just the front door. Look at the back door, the sliding door latch, any side gate, the mailbox, and the door from the garage. Count the deadbolts. If a door has only a knob lock and no deadbolt, adding one is often a smart upgrade, and we handle deadbolt installation separately from the rekey itself. If you'd rather not carry a key at all, we can talk through smart lock installation, though keyed backup is worth thinking about either way.
Keep a short list of who has keys once we're done. Most security problems after a move come from keys handed out and forgotten, not from a lock failing.
What lock changes look like in Port Hueneme
Port Hueneme (ZIP 93041) is a compact coastal city, and most of its housing stock is postwar single-family homes alongside a large number of condos and townhomes. Nearly all exterior hardware here sits within blocks of the ocean. The marine layer is heavy for much of the year, so salt air and damp are constant, and exterior locks, gate latches and door closers corrode and stiffen noticeably faster than hardware inland. For that reason, periodic replacement is routine here rather than a sign that something was installed badly.
On homes near the Hueneme Beach area, a typical lock change is swapping out corroded deadbolts and entry sets. A key that has gotten rough to turn is often an early warning. If a deadbolt fights you in the morning, it is better to change it on your schedule than to be stuck with it on a bad day. We look at the cylinder, the latch and the finish, and recommend rekeying only when the lock inside is still healthy.
In the Surfside condominiums, the situation has an extra layer: these are condo and HOA complexes, so the association may have rules about exterior hardware, finishes or who holds a master or spare key. Check before you buy new locks, and we will work within what your HOA requires.
Hueneme Bay is a gated 55+ community, so gate and access hardware are part of the picture, and a front-door lock change there often goes along with questions about shared entry points. Where the problem is the gate rather than your own door, gate lock repair is the right page for it.
Because the city sits next to Naval Base Ventura County (Port Hueneme), rental housing here serves Navy personnel, and tenants move in and out. For rentals around the base and near the Bubbling Springs greenbelt area, rekeying at turnover is a common job: new tenant, new keys, existing hardware kept when it is in good shape. Property owners handling many turnovers can read about locksmith service for landlords.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you ask any locksmith before they change your locks?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) Locksmith Company license, known as an LCO license. Ask any locksmith you call for that license number, and check it with BSIS if you want to be sure. It is a reasonable request and a good company won't be bothered by it.
A few other questions are worth asking, because lock changes are a case where vague answers cost people money:
- Will the person who comes to my door work for the company I called, or is the job being passed to someone else?
- Will you tell me what drives the cost before you start work?
- Can you explain why you are recommending rekey or replacement for each lock?
- Will the new keys and old keys be tested before you leave?
- Any reputable locksmith should also expect to confirm that you live at the address or have authority over the property.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key
We have been in business since 1987, and lock changes are some of the oldest and most routine work we do. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, Los Angeles, plus mobile locksmith vans that come to you. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Port Hueneme among them.
When you call (213) 577-1366, it is one company, not a call center passing your job to whoever is free. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We would rather tell you your existing locks are fine to rekey than sell you hardware you don't need, and we would rather tell you straight when a lock is too far gone to be worth saving.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rekey or replace the locks when I buy a house in Port Hueneme?
If the existing locks are in good working condition, rekeying is usually the more economical route and does the same job of cutting off old keys. If they are corroded, loose or dated, which is common this close to the ocean, replacing is the better choice. We check each lock and tell you which one makes sense.
Will my old keys still work after you change the locks?
No. After rekeying or replacing, the old keys will not turn the lock. Only the new keys will. We will tell you which doors have been done so you know exactly which old keys are now useless.
How long does a lock change take?
It depends on how many locks are involved and what shape they are in. A single rekey is a quick job, while a whole home with deadbolts, handles and a garage entry takes longer, especially if a frame or strike plate needs adjusting. We will give you a sense of the time once we've seen the doors.
Can you change locks at night or on a weekend?
Yes. Our phone line, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. After-hours calls are priced differently from scheduled daytime visits, and we will explain that when you call.
Does salt air really wear out locks faster?
Yes. In Port Hueneme the ocean air and heavy marine layer keep hardware damp, so exterior locks, gate latches and door closers corrode and stiffen faster than inland hardware. Replacing exterior hardware periodically is normal here, and a more corrosion-resistant finish can be worth asking about.
Can all my doors use the same key?
Often, yes. We can set up multiple locks to work with one key where the hardware allows it. Some older or mismatched locks can't be matched, and in that case replacing one or two locks gets you there. We will tell you what is possible before we start.
I rent near the base. Can I change the locks myself?
Check your lease and talk to your landlord first, since many leases limit changes to the locks. If the landlord approves, or the owner is arranging a turnover, we can rekey or replace as needed and set it up so the right people have working keys.
Do you work on locks in the Surfside condos?
Yes, we handle condo and HOA lock service. Before you swap hardware, find out what your association allows for exterior finishes and key control, because some complexes keep rules or spare keys. We can work within those requirements.
Do I need to be home when you change the locks?
Someone with authority over the property should be there, or you should arrange access with us in advance. We need to confirm you live there or have the right to approve the work, and you will want to receive the new keys directly.
More locksmith help in Port Hueneme
Change Locks near Port Hueneme
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.