What does it mean to change the locks on a house?
When people ask us to change the locks, they usually mean one thing: the keys that work today should stop working, and a new set should take over. There are two honest ways to get there. One is rekeying, where we keep your existing hardware and change the pins inside the cylinder so it only responds to a new key. The other is replacing, where the old lock comes off and a different lock goes on.
Both give you the same security result on the key side: nobody holding an old key can get in. The difference is what you want from the hardware itself. A solid, working lock that is simply keyed to the wrong people is a rekey. A lock that is worn, loose, outdated, or just not what you want on your door is a replacement. Many calls end up being a mix, with a few doors rekeyed and one or two swapped out.
If you are not sure which camp you are in, that is a normal place to start. Describe the doors and we will tell you what we would do if they were ours.
Should you rekey or replace your locks?
We do not push one answer. The more economical route is often a rekey, because you are keeping hardware that already works and only changing what the key can do. But rekeying is not always the right call, and we will say so when it is not. Here is how we think it through at the door.
Rekeying usually makes sense when:
- The locks are in good mechanical shape, turn smoothly, and the bolt throws fully into the strike.
- You want all the doors on one key, which is easy to arrange when the locks are from the same maker or a compatible family.
- You just want to cut off old keys from a previous owner, tenant, roommate, or contractor.
- You like the look of the current hardware and have no reason to change it.
When replacing is the better choice
Replacing makes more sense when the lock itself is the problem. A knob that wobbles, a deadbolt that sticks in the damp season, a latch that no longer lines up, or a finish that has worn through are all signs the hardware has had its time. Replacement is also the right move when you want a real upgrade, such as a stronger deadbolt, a keypad, or a smart lock.
If you are leaning toward an upgrade, our pages on lock replacement, deadbolt installation, and smart lock installation go deeper on those choices. This page stays focused on the decision of changing who holds access to your door.
- Replace when the lock is loose, worn, damaged, or visibly low quality.
- Replace when the door has no deadbolt and you want one.
- Replace when you want keypad or smart access instead of a traditional key.
- Replace when the cylinder was already tampered with or a key broke inside and left damage.
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
Every lock change follows the same basic order, whether it is one front door or a whole house. Nothing here is complicated, but doing it in the right order avoids the usual headaches, like a back door left on the old key.
- You call (213) 577-1366. A person answers, any hour, and asks about the property, the number of locks, and whether you are locked out or just want the keys changed.
- We talk through rekey versus replace based on what you describe, so you know the likely plan before a van heads your way.
- At the property, we confirm who we are working for. For a new home or a rental, we ask for reasonable proof that you live there or have authority to change the locks.
- We inspect each lock: how it turns, how the bolt meets the strike, and whether the cylinders can be rekeyed or should be swapped.
- We explain what we recommend door by door and what drives the cost, then wait for your go-ahead before we start.
- We rekey or replace the locks, test each one with the door open and then closed, and check the bolt, latch, and strike alignment.
- We hand over the new keys, test them with you, and point out any lock that deserves attention later, such as a worn strike plate or a sticky latch.
Changing locks after buying a house or moving in
If you are searching for a locksmith for a new house, this is the situation we see most often. You have just gotten the keys, and you have no idea how many other copies exist. The previous owner may have given keys to a relative, a neighbor, a cleaner, a contractor, or a real estate agent. Some people also keep a spare hidden outside. You cannot know, and that uncertainty is the whole reason to change the locks.
The best time to do it is before you spend your first night, or as close to that as you can manage. Because we answer around the clock, you do not have to wait for business hours on the day you get your keys. If the move happens in the evening, you can still get the doors sorted that night.
A few things to think about when you move in:
- Count every door that locks with a key, not only the front and back. Side doors, garage entry doors, and sliding door locks all count.
- Decide whether you want everything on a single key. Carrying one key instead of four is a small daily relief.
- Think about who will need a copy. We can cut extra keys on site, and our key duplication page explains the options.
- Do not forget the mailbox, a shed, or a gate padlock if the property has them. They often share old keys nobody thought about.
- If the property is a rental you moved into, check with your landlord first. Many leases limit what a tenant may change.
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 honest pricing depends on the actual doors. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so nothing at the door surprises you.
The biggest factor is rekey versus replace. Rekeying existing locks is usually the more economical route, since you are not buying new hardware. Replacing means paying for the new lock itself, and that part varies a lot by quality and type. A basic knob is a very different purchase from a high-security deadbolt or a smart lock.
- The number of locks. More cylinders means more labor and more pinning work, though doing several at once is more efficient than separate visits.
- The type and brand of the locks. Some cylinders rekey easily, while others are fussy or need parts.
- The condition of the hardware. A worn lock may not hold a rekey well, which pushes the job toward replacement.
- Whether the doors need fitting work, such as a shifted strike plate or a swollen door that no longer lines up.
- The time of day. Nights, weekends, and holidays are a different service load than a planned daytime visit, and we will say so plainly.
- Extras such as additional keys, matching all locks to one key, or adding a deadbolt where none exists.
Changing locks in West Carson: what we see locally
West Carson is an unincorporated Los Angeles County area, and the housing mix here shapes how lock changes usually go. Much of it is modest postwar single-family tract housing, and residential rekeys in those homes are some of the most common jobs we handle. The houses tend to have a front door lock, a back door lock, and often a garage entry door, so a full rekey is a sensible way to bring everything under one new key without replacing hardware that still works.
Along the Vermont Avenue and Normandie Avenue corridors you find garden apartments and small rental complexes. That brings a different pattern. Turnover is steady, and a tenant moving in wants to know old keys are dead. If you manage units, our locksmith for landlords page covers turnover work. And on Vermont, we also hear from renters who are locked out rather than looking to change anything, which is handled on our apartment lockout page.
Newer townhome infill has appeared near the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center area. Newer builds often come with builder-grade hardware, and many owners there decide to upgrade the entry lock when they change the keys.
One detail worth knowing is the mailing address. Despite the unincorporated status, most West Carson addresses use the Torrance ZIP 90502, while the southern edge near Harbor City shares 90710. If you give us your address on the phone, the ZIP helps us confirm you are in the right spot.
On the climate side, West Carson sits on the flat harbor-adjacent plain in the marine layer zone, but without direct coastal salt exposure. So the wear we see is mostly ordinary use, plus doors that swell in the damp season. A door that swells can make a lock feel stiff and sometimes makes a perfectly good lock look like it needs replacing. We check that before recommending a swap.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key
We have been in business since 1987. That is a long time to see every kind of door, every kind of lock, and every kind of mistake people make when they try to fix things alone. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work, so there is a person accountable for how the job is done.
We are one company. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile service vans. When you call, you are not reaching a call center that sells your job to the nearest available stranger. Our storefront is about 22 miles from West Carson, so a lock change here is a mobile job, and we treat it that way. Our mobile locksmith page describes how that works.
We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, but a lock change is a small, personal job, and we treat it like one. We explain what we see, tell you what we would do, and let you decide.
What should you ask any locksmith before they start?
Some questions are worth asking whoever you hire. California requires locksmith companies to hold a Locksmith Company (LCO) license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Ask any locksmith, including us, for the license number, and check it with the state if you want to be certain.
Ask who will actually come to your door and whether the company that answered the phone is the one doing the work. Ask what drives the cost before they start, and not after. Be cautious with anyone who will not explain whether you need a rekey or a replacement, or who pushes you toward drilling out a lock that could simply be rekeyed.
A good locksmith will also expect to confirm that you are allowed to change the locks. If someone changes locks for anyone who asks, without any question, that should worry you.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to rekey or replace my locks in West Carson?
It depends on the hardware. If your locks are in good shape and you simply want old keys to stop working, rekeying is usually the more economical route. If the locks are worn, loose, or you want an upgrade like a stronger deadbolt or a smart lock, replacing is the better call. We look at the doors and tell you which makes sense.
Should I change the locks after buying a house?
Yes, in almost every case. You cannot know how many copies of the old keys exist or who has them. Changing the locks, either by rekeying or replacing, means only the keys you hold will work. Doing it before or right as you move in is the cleanest approach, and we are available at any hour.
Can you change locks at night or on a weekend?
Yes. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366. Night and weekend visits are priced differently than a planned daytime appointment, and we explain that before we begin, but you do not have to wait for business hours.
Will my old keys still work after you change the locks?
No, not if we rekey or replace the cylinder. A rekey changes the internal pins so the old key cannot turn the lock. A replacement installs a new lock with new keys. We test the new keys with you before we leave, and we can also try the old key to show you it no longer works.
Can you make all my doors work with one key?
Often, yes. When the locks are compatible, we can pin them all to the same key, so you carry one instead of several. If a particular lock cannot be matched, we may suggest replacing just that one with a lock that can. We will tell you which doors are easy and which are not.
I rent my home. Can I change the locks myself?
Check your lease and talk to your landlord first. Many leases limit tenant changes, and in many cases the landlord has to approve or handle it. If you are a property owner or manager looking after rental units, we can help with turnover rekeys. We do ask for reasonable proof of authority before changing any lock.
Why does my lock stick in damp weather? Do I need a new one?
Not necessarily. West Carson is in the marine layer zone, and doors can swell when the air is damp, which makes a lock feel stiff or misaligned. Often the lock is fine and the door or strike plate needs adjusting. We check before suggesting a replacement, because you should not buy hardware you do not need.
What if I am locked out and also want the locks changed?
Call us and tell us both things. We can get you back inside first, then talk through rekeying or replacing while we are already at the door. If it is a house, our house lockout page explains how entry works. Doing both in one visit is more efficient than two.
More locksmith help in West Carson
Change Locks near West Carson
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.