Rekey or Replace? What to Do With Your Locks After Moving In

Rekeying means a skilled locksmith reconfigures the internal pin tumbler mechanism inside your existing lock cylinder so that old keys no longer work — only a fresh-cut set does. The lock hardware itself stays in place. This is typically the faster of the two services and is a smart move when your existing locks are in solid mechanical condition but you simply can't account for every key that was ever cut. Think of it like changing a password: same account, new credentials.

Full lock replacement means removing the existing hardware entirely — deadbolt, mortise lock, door knob lock, strike plate and all — and installing new equipment from scratch. This makes sense when the current hardware is worn, damaged, a mismatched patchwork left by previous tenants, or when you want to upgrade your security level altogether. A mortise lock replacement, for example, is one of the most meaningful security upgrades you can make on a Brooklyn home with older wood-framed doors. Mortise locks are embedded directly into the door body rather than surface-mounted, making them significantly harder to defeat by force. Our team installs and services mortise lock hardware on everything from pre-war apartment doors to newly renovated single-family homes across Brooklyn.

If you've just moved into a rental and your landlord hands you a single key, rekeying is often the fastest, most cost-effective path to security. It's also the responsible move for new homeowners who received a full key packet at closing — those keys have often been duplicated multiple times over years of ownership. A trained locksmith can rekey a standard deadbolt or door knob lock in minutes, and the result is every bit as secure as a brand-new lock, assuming the hardware itself is sound.

Rekeying is especially practical when you have multiple entry points — a front door, a rear door, a gate lock, a basement entry — because a locksmith can often key all of them alike to a single new key, cutting down on the number of keys you need to carry. If you're unsure whether your existing hardware is worth keeping, a qualified locksmith can inspect each lock on-site and give you an honest assessment before any work begins. That inspection costs you nothing when you call us out for a rekeying job.

There are clear situations where rekeying simply isn't enough. If the lock cylinder is visibly corroded, stiff, or wobbling in its housing, rekeying it just gives you fresh keys to a failing mechanism. Similarly, if the door has a cheap builder-grade knob lock with no deadbolt — common in older Brooklyn rental stock — a full replacement is the upgrade your door actually needs. Door knob locks alone offer minimal resistance to forced entry; pairing or replacing them with a quality mortise lock or heavy-duty deadbolt is a tangible security improvement.

Full replacement is also the right move if you're moving into a home that has mismatched or non-standard hardware, if the previous occupant had locks re-cored so many times the cylinder is no longer seating properly, or if you simply want modern smart-lock functionality. Our team works with a wide range of hardware including Schlage and Kwikset product lines, and we'll help you choose the right equipment for your door thickness, material, and security needs — not just the easiest thing to install. If you want a quote before we touch anything, just call (347) 284-0532 and we'll walk you through the options.

One of the most common questions we hear is: How much does a locksmith cost in Brooklyn, or how much do locksmiths charge on average? The honest answer is that no two jobs are identical, and any locksmith quoting a flat rate before seeing your door and hardware is guessing. The factors that shape your final price include the type of lock being serviced (a mortise lock replacement involves more labor than a simple deadbolt rekey), the number of entry points, the specific hardware brand and grade you're choosing, the time of day the call comes in, and how far our mobile unit is traveling to reach you. A standard call-out to Canarsie at noon on a Tuesday looks different from an emergency locksmith call at 2 a.m. on a Sunday near Jamaica Bay.

What we commit to is transparency: before any work begins, we confirm an exact price with you upfront. There are no surprise fees added after the job is done. Questions like 'What is a locksmith call-out fee?' and 'What are the typical costs of locksmith services in NYC?' are fair ones, and we welcome them. We'd rather spend five minutes on the phone explaining the variables than have you feel blindsided at the end of a job. We are insured, and our team is experienced across residential, emergency locksmith, and commercial locksmith work throughout Brooklyn.

Moving day chaos is real, and sometimes the question isn't rekeying or replacing — it's figuring out what to do if locked out of your house with your new keys sitting on the kitchen counter. If you find yourself locked out of your house, start with the basics: check every window and secondary door, ask a neighbor or building super if a spare was left, and look for any alternative entry that doesn't involve force. What to do when locked out of your house is not to attempt to pick, shimmy, or force a lock yourself — beyond the risk of injury, you can damage the hardware, the door frame, or both, turning a simple lockout into a much more expensive repair.

If none of those options resolve the situation, call a professional. What to do if you get locked out of your house is exactly what our mobile team handles every day — and night. A trained emergency locksmith can open most residential locks non-destructively, verify your identity and right of access, and get you inside without damaging your door or your lock. Emergencies don't follow a schedule, which is why our team operates around the clock — including holidays and weekends, which are statistically high-risk times for lockouts because routines change, people are rushing, and locksmiths are harder to find. If you're ever wondering what to do if your locked out of your house at midnight on a Saturday before a holiday, the answer is simple: call (347) 284-0532 and we'll be on our way.

Beyond rekeying and replacement, Canarsie Locksmith offers a comprehensive set of services for Brooklyn homeowners, renters, and businesses. Our residential services include mortise lock installation and repair, deadbolt installation, door knob lock replacement, high-security lock upgrades, smart lock installation, master key system setup, lock rekeying for single and multi-unit properties, sliding door lock repair, garage door lock service, mailbox lock replacement, and interior privacy lock installation. For commercial locksmith needs, we handle storefront door lock installation, access control system setup, exit device and panic bar installation, master key and keyway systems for multi-tenant buildings, filing cabinet and desk lock service, and after-hours emergency commercial lockout response. Our automotive services cover car lockout assistance, transponder key programming, key fob replacement, broken key extraction, and ignition lock service for a wide range of vehicle makes. We also provide safe opening, safe lock repair, and combination change services for both residential and commercial clients. Every job — from a single door knob lock swap to a full commercial locksmith buildout — is handled by experienced technicians using professional-grade tools and hardware.