A lock that wiggles or requires superhuman strength to turn is annoying, but it can also put your home’s security at risk. That’s when you need to call a locksmith In Sandalfoot-Cove. They’re available 24 hours a day and will show up fully equipped.
They can rekey your locks so that one key works in all of them, which reduces the chances that someone could gain unauthorized access to your home or business.
Rekeying locks
Rekeying is a way of making a lock work with a different key without replacing the entire lock assembly. This service is often provided by locksmiths and is a less expensive alternative to replacing the lock entirely. It’s a great option for people who want to reduce the number of keys they carry or to ensure that only their own key can open a lock.
The process of rekeying is fairly simple and involves disassembling the lock cylinder and changing the pins, which are located inside the lock tumblers. These pins are shaped in a variety of ways and have grooves to guide the key when it’s inserted. They can be removed and replaced with a new set of pins that match the cuts on your key.
Rekeying is a great option for those who have recently moved into a new home or office and are worried about whether previous owners may have copies of their key. It’s also an excellent choice if you’ve had a break-in and want to ensure that only you have access to your property.
Lockout service
When you’re locked out of your car, it can be very frustrating. You might be trying to get to work on time or you may have small children in the vehicle. Fortunately, there are many locksmiths who offer emergency car lockout services. In fact, most of them have a 24/7 service line so you can call them no matter what the situation is.
A locksmith can also help you make your home or business more secure. They can install new locks or rekey your existing ones to reduce the chance of someone gaining unauthorized access to your property. They can even help you with other security services, like alarm systems.
Some locksmiths specialize in forensic locksmithing, which involves studying a lock to determine whether it has been tampered with or not. These professionals have extensive training and experience, which makes them the best choice for a job that requires a lot of skill and knowledge.
Key duplication
Key duplication is a service offered by many locksmiths that allows you to have a second copy of your key. This can be useful for sharing access with family members or trusted individuals, like a house sitter or cleaner, without jeopardizing your home’s security.
A locksmith’s most common method of making a duplicate key is using an impression, which involves pressing down on the original key with a soft metal. This produces high-quality results and is usually the preferred option. Other methods include hand key cutting, which involves a locksmith manually filing down a blank key to match the cuts on the original.
The process starts by placing your original key in a machine and aligning it with the cutting blade or “blank key.” Once the blank key is cut, the blank key will have unique side millings, which make it easy for locksmiths to identify it as a restricted key. It is then sanded for a smooth finish and tried in the lock to ensure it works properly.
Car key replacement
If you’ve lost your car keys, it can be frustrating and expensive. You can get a traditional key made at a hardware store, but you’ll need an automotive locksmith to make a replacement that will work with your specific vehicle. This is because modern cars use a specialized chip built into the key that communicates with your car.
You may also have a key fob, which communicates with the ignition. You’ll need to visit your dealership to have this replaced, since the key fob needs to be programmed to your vehicle.
Before you go to your dealer, write down the year, make, and model of your car. You’ll need this information to determine the type of key you need. Also, you should keep a spare mechanical key in case the car is stolen. This will help prevent you from having to pay for a costly towing service. It will also save you money on a new key fob, which can cost upwards of $200.