Change Locks in San Dimas, CA | Wilshire Lock & Key

What does it mean to change locks, and when should you do it?

People use the phrase change locks to mean a few different jobs. Sometimes they mean swapping out the hardware: a new knob, handleset or deadbolt on the door. Sometimes they just mean making sure the old keys no longer work. Those are two separate goals, and the right job depends on which one you actually have. Part of our work is sorting that out with you before anyone picks up a tool.

The most common reasons a San Dimas homeowner or renter calls us for a lock change are simple. You bought a house and have no idea how many copies of the old keys are floating around. You moved into a rental and the previous tenant never turned in everything. A key went missing, or was stolen with a wallet or a bag. A relationship or a roommate situation ended. Or the hardware is simply worn out, loose, tarnished, or hard to turn.

If any of those fit, changing the locks is a reasonable thing to do, and it is usually less involved than people expect. Most residential lock changes are finished at the door in a single visit, and you leave with keys in your hand that you know are the only ones that work.

Rekey or replace locks: how do you decide?

This is the question we get more than any other, and it is the reason this service exists as its own page. Rekeying and replacing both end with old keys no longer working, but they get there differently.

Rekeying means we keep the lock hardware on your door and change the internal pin arrangement so it works with a new key. The old key stops working. The look and feel of your door stays exactly as it was. Replacing means we remove the old lock and install a different one, which gives you a chance to change the finish, the style, the grade of hardware, or the features. You can read more about each on our lock rekey and lock replacement pages.

Here is how we usually think it through with a customer standing at the door:

Rekey when the hardware is sound, the finish is fine, and your only concern is who holds keys. It is usually the more economical route, and it keeps every door on the same key if you want that.
Replace when the lock is loose, corroded, binding, visibly worn, or a low-grade builder lock you never liked. Putting a fresh key into a failing lock does not fix the lock.
Replace when you want something the existing lock cannot do, such as a stronger deadbolt, a keypad, or a different handle style.
Rekey or replace depending on the brand when a lock is an unusual or discontinued model. Some are easy to rekey; some are not worth the effort.
Decide door by door. A house does not have to be all one or the other. A front door might get new hardware while the side doors and garage entry are simply rekeyed.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

How do we change your locks, step by step?

We keep the process plain so you always know what is happening at your door and why.

You call (213) 577-1366. A person answers, at any hour, and asks what is going on, which doors are involved, and what type of locks you have now.
We talk through rekey versus replace based on what you describe. If you can tell us the brand or send a description, that helps, but you do not need to know anything technical.
A technician comes to your address in one of our mobile vans. We look at every lock you want changed before touching anything, so the plan is based on what is actually on the door.
We confirm the plan with you, including what affects the price, before the work starts.
We rekey or replace the locks. For a rekey, we take the cylinder apart, rebuild it to a new key pattern, and test it. For a replacement, we remove the old hardware, fit the new set, and check the latch and strike alignment so the door closes cleanly.
We test every key on every lock, operate each lock several times with the door open and closed, and hand you the keys. If you want extra copies, we can cut them while we are there.

What affects the cost of changing locks in San Dimas?

We do not publish prices on a web page because the job genuinely varies, and a number that looks good online but changes at your door helps nobody. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost, so you can judge any quote you get from us or anyone else.

The biggest factor is rekey versus replace. Rekeying uses your existing hardware, so you are paying mainly for labor and a few parts. Replacement adds the cost of the new locks, and that ranges widely depending on grade and style.

Number of locks. Every cylinder is work, but a multi-lock job is more efficient per lock than a single visit.
Type of hardware. Standard knobs and deadbolts are straightforward. Higher-security cylinders, restricted keyways and smart locks involve more parts and more time.
Condition of the existing locks. A worn lock that fights us takes longer than a clean one.
Whether you want all doors on one key. That is a nice convenience and usually part of the plan, but it affects the work.
Extra keys. More copies means more cutting.
Time of day. Nights, weekends and holidays are when many people need help, and after-hours service is priced differently from a scheduled daytime visit.
Distance. We are based in Westwood and San Dimas is roughly 40 miles away, so travel is part of the picture.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

Changing locks after buying a house or moving in

If you are searching for a locksmith for a new house or a locksmith after moving, the short advice is this: change the locks before you sleep there. You do not know who the previous owner gave keys to. That might include relatives, a cleaner, a contractor, a neighbor who watered the plants, a real estate agent, or a previous tenant. Nothing about that is sinister, it is just ordinary life. But the only way to know who can open your door is to make the old keys useless.

For most new homeowners we recommend rekeying every exterior door so they all work from one key, then looking honestly at each lock to see whether any should be replaced instead. A front door with a tired deadbolt, a back slider with a latch that barely catches, or a side gate lock rusted shut are all worth upgrading rather than rekeying. If you are adding a deadbolt where there was none, that is a deadbolt installation rather than a simple change, and we will say so.

Renters have a slightly different situation. In California, what you can change in a rental, and who pays, depends on your lease and your landlord, so talk to them first. If you are the owner of a rental, our team also handles turnover work, which you can read about on our locksmith for landlords page. If you are a tenant and simply locked out, that is a different call, covered on our house lockout page.

One more point for people moving in: do not forget the small things. Garage side doors, mailbox locks, gate padlocks, shed locks and any keyed window locks all carry keys from the previous owner too. Tell us about them when you call and we will include them.

Changing locks in San Dimas: what the local homes and weather mean for the job

San Dimas is mostly 1960s to 1980s suburban tract housing, and that matters for locks. Homes from that era were often built with basic builder-grade hardware, and by now much of it has been through decades of daily use. In neighborhoods like the Lone Hill Avenue corridor and the streets running off Foothill Boulevard and Arrow Highway, we see this kind of aging hardware often: knobs gone loose, deadbolts that stick, strikes that no longer line up. When someone moves in and asks us to just change the locks, we usually find a mix of locks worth rekeying and a few that should simply be replaced.

The Via Verde planned community in the southwest, near Puddingstone Reservoir, is a different mix of townhomes, condos and golf-course homes. A common job there is a home rekey after a purchase, where the goal is clean key control across front door, patio door and any garage entry. If you live in a townhome or condo, check whether your association has rules about exterior hardware finish or style before choosing new locks. Rekeying avoids that question completely because nothing visible changes.

Up in the San Dimas Canyon area and toward Horsethief Canyon, properties tend to be larger, and some are equestrian. Those come with more than a front door: gates, barns, tack rooms and outbuildings, each with its own lock and its own key history. When a new owner takes over a property like that, a full lock change can mean a lot of cylinders, and we plan it as a whole rather than door by door. Rural-style gates and outbuildings often call for different hardware than a house door, and we will say so up front. Mobile home parks along Arrow Highway can also have entry doors and hardware that differ from standard tract-home doors, so it helps to tell us what you have when you call.

The weather plays a part, too. San Dimas gets inland valley heat, with summer highs well above the coastal basin. Late in summer, doors expand and latches stick, and people often blame the lock when the real issue is the door. Canyon winds also carry dust into exterior hardware, which can make a lock feel gritty or hard to turn. Before replacing a lock in 91773, we check whether it is actually failing or whether the door has swelled and the strike needs adjusting. Sometimes the lighter-cost fix is not a new lock at all.

We cover all of San Dimas and the surrounding area from our Westwood storefront and mobile vans. For the full picture of what we do in town, see our San Dimas locksmith page, or visit our locations page to see where else we work.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key to change your locks?

Plenty of companies can change a lock. Here is what we think actually sets us apart, and none of it is complicated.

We have been in business since 1987. We operate from a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, with mobile service vans that come to you. When you call (213) 577-1366, you are talking to us, not a call center that sells the job to whichever subcontractor picks it up. That matters because the person who quotes the job is the company that does the job.

David, the owner and lead technician, oversees our work. That means the standards for how a lock gets rekeyed, how a replacement is set, and how a door is checked before we leave are set by someone who has done this work himself, not by a script.

We also tell you when you do not need us to do more. If a rekey solves your problem, we will not sell you new hardware. If a lock is failing, we will say that too, even if rekeying would be the easier visit. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, so if the locks need to change tonight because a key is gone, you do not have to wait until morning.

What should you ask any locksmith before they change your locks?

California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as a BSIS LCO license (Locksmith Company Operator). You should ask any locksmith for it, including us, before they start work, and check it with the state if you want to be sure.

A few other questions are worth asking. What will the total be, and what could change it? Will the technician look at the locks before quoting a final plan? Who is actually coming to your door, the company you called or a subcontractor? Will you get all the new keys, and will the old ones definitely stop working? A straight answer to each is a good sign.

If you want stronger hardware than a standard residential lock, ask what options exist. We cover those on our high security locks page, and some people choose them when they change locks because restricted keys cannot be copied at a hardware store.

What should you have ready when you call?

You do not need to prepare much, but a few details make the first conversation faster and the plan more accurate.

Your address and which doors you want changed, including any garage, patio, side gate or outbuilding.
What you want to accomplish: new keys only, new hardware, or both.
The brand on the locks if you can see it, usually stamped on the face of the latch or the edge of the deadbolt.
How many keys you want when we are done.
Whether anyone will be home. If not, tell us who can let us in or how we can verify you are the occupant.
If your key is lost and you cannot get in, mention that right away. We will handle it as a lockout first and then talk about changing the locks. You can also reach us on our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Should I rekey or replace my locks after buying a house in San Dimas?

For most buyers, rekeying is the sensible first step because it makes every old key useless without changing the look of the doors. Replace instead if a lock is worn, loose, or low quality, or if you want better hardware. We look at each door and tell you which way makes sense.

How long does it take to change locks on a house?

It depends on how many locks and what type, so we do not promise a set time. A few standard locks on one visit is typical, while a larger property with gates, outbuildings or higher-security hardware takes longer. We will give you a realistic idea once we see the doors.

Do I need new locks, or can I just get new keys?

If the locks work fine, you may only need them rekeyed, which gives you new keys and disables the old ones. New locks are only needed if the hardware is worn, damaged, or you want a different style or features.

Can you change all my locks to use the same key?

Yes, in most cases. We can rekey or set up the new locks so your front door, back door and garage entry all work with one key. Some specialty locks are limited by their design, and we will tell you if that applies to yours.

Can you change locks at night or on a weekend in San Dimas?

Yes. Our phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. After-hours visits are priced differently from daytime ones, and we explain what affects the cost before work begins.

I rent my home. Can I change the locks myself or with a locksmith?

Check your lease and talk to your landlord first. Rules and responsibilities differ between rentals, and a landlord may need a key or want to approve the work. If the landlord agrees, we can do the work or coordinate with them.

Will a lock change work on a sticking door in summer heat?

Not necessarily. Late-summer heat in San Dimas can make a door swell so the latch binds, and a new lock will not fix that on its own. We check the door and strike alignment first, so you only pay for the lock work you actually need.

Can you change locks on gates, barns and tack rooms?

Yes, we handle outbuildings and gates as well as house doors, and these often need different hardware than a standard door lock. Tell us what you have when you call so we bring the right parts to your property.

Do you change locks on businesses in downtown San Dimas too?

Our commercial work is separate from residential lock changes, and we handle it through our commercial locksmith service. Call (213) 577-1366 and tell us about the storefront, and we will route you to the right kind of visit.

More locksmith help in San Dimas

Change Locks near San Dimas

Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.