Lock Change and Rekey in NoMad: Which One Your Door Needs

Rekey your lock when the hardware works well and you only need old keys to stop working. Replace the lock when it is damaged, worn out, or no longer suits the door. Rekeying changes which key opens the lock. A lock change swaps the hardware itself. NoMad Locksmith & Security does both for homes and businesses in NoMad and nearby parts of Manhattan.

What rekeying changes and what a lock change changes

Many apartment and office locks use a pin tumbler cylinder, the round part your key slides into. Inside the cylinder sits a row of small spring-loaded pins of different lengths. The right key lifts each pin to the height that lets the cylinder turn. Any other key leaves something out of line.

Rekeying swaps those pins for a new set matched to a new key. The lock and trim stay on the door, and old copies stop working. A lock change replaces the hardware itself. That is the path when the problem is the lock rather than who holds a key.

Matching your reason for the change to the right fix

Your reason for the change points toward one option. The condition of the lock has the final say.

• Moving in: you cannot know how many copies of the old key exist. A lock that works well can simply be rekeyed.
• A lost or unreturned key: rekeying handles it when the hardware is sound.
• Tenant or staff turnover: rekeying resets access. If the same doors turn over often, say so, since that can change which lock makes sense.
• A worn or stiff lock: new pins do not fix wear. This situation usually leans toward replacement.

You can check the lock yourself. Turn the key with the door open, then closed. The bolt is the metal bar that slides into the frame. If the bolt moves freely when the door is open but binds when it is closed, the door's alignment is part of the problem, and rekeying will not change that. Pry marks or a cylinder that wobbles in the door also point toward replacement.

Rekey, replace like for like, or upgrade

Rekey the existing lock

Rekeying solves a key problem: who can open the door. It does not repair worn parts or strengthen a weak door. If the lock was a weak point before the rekey, it still is.

Replace like for like

A new lock of the same general type fixes damage or wear and comes with new keys. A like-for-like lock does not raise the security of the door. It also will not correct a sagging door or a split frame, which falls under door repair and installation.

Upgrade to a different lock

A higher-security cylinder or a smart lock is a separate decision from cancelling old keys. High-security cylinders often use restricted keys that are harder to copy. Smart locks replace some keys with codes. NoMad Locksmith & Security offers high-security lock systems and smart locks as their own services, so treat an upgrade as its own conversation.

Several doors, one key, or separate keys?

Property managers and business owners usually face this choice across several doors at once, and a few questions are worth settling first. How many doors are involved, and which are main entries? Should one key open several of them? That arrangement is called keying alike. Does a manager need one key for a group of doors while others open only their own? That is called master keying. And who should still hold keys afterward?

Keying locks to work together depends on them accepting the same key blank, the uncut key a lock is built around. Mixed older hardware can push some doors toward replacement for that reason.

What to have ready before you call

These details make the first call short and useful:

• How many doors, and whether each is residential or commercial
• The lock type on each, such as a deadbolt or a knob or lever lock, if you know it
• Why the change is needed
• Any problems you have noticed, like sticking, grinding, or a loose cylinder
• Whether the door or frame is damaged or hard to close
• Whether you want an upgrade or only want old keys cancelled

With those details ready, call NoMad Locksmith & Security at (917) 337-9703. Rekeys and lock changes are booked by appointment for homes and businesses in NoMad and nearby parts of Manhattan, such as Flatiron and Murray Hill.

Frequently asked questions

Will my old keys still work after a rekey?

Old keys stop opening a rekeyed lock because they no longer lift the new pins to the right height, and that includes copies you never knew existed. One case to raise before the work: if the lock belongs to a master-keyed group, a master key is set up to open it too, so say whether that key should keep working. Then decide who should end up holding the new key.

Can a lock that is already damaged be rekeyed?

A damaged lock can be rekeyed only when the damage is cosmetic, such as scratched trim, and the cylinder and bolt still work smoothly. New pins change only the parts that match the key. They do nothing for a broken bolt or a cylinder that has been forced, and a lock in that state is a candidate for replacement.

Is rekeying enough if I only want to stop one lost key from working?

Rekeying is usually enough to stop one lost key, as long as the lock is in good shape. Every lock that the lost key opened needs rekeying, not only the front door. Count any second entry or storage door the key also worked on.

Who should I contact for a lockout rather than a planned rekey?

A lockout is a different situation from a planned rekey. NoMad Locksmith & Security offers 24/7 emergency lockout service for when you cannot get in. Rekeys and lock changes are booked by appointment. If you are locked out after losing your only key, deal with the lockout first. The rekey can follow.