One of the most frequently asked questions by homeowners is whether it is possible to use the same keys for different locks on their homes. The common response is yes but whether this is the right decision for you and your home is whole other question! First Lock & Security Technologies delves further into this conundrum below.

What Does Keyed Alike & Keyed to Differ Mean?

The following two terms are frequently used in the locksmith industry:
Keyed Alike – When your locks are keyed alike, it means that you have several locks that all open with the same specific key. This is most commonly the locks on your front and rear door as well as the door leading from your garage to the interior of your home.
Keyed Differently – Your locks are keyed differently when you have several locks, and each of which opens with a separate key. There are instances where locks share the same brand but each one requires a different, individual key to operate it.

Is it Better to have Multiple Locks with the Same Key?

First Lock & Security Technologies urges you to consider the following factors before deciding whether to have all of your home’s locks keyed similarly or differently:
Convenience – Having a single key that can open all of the door locks on your home is undoubtedly more convenient. You can use a single key for all the locks rather than having to carry around a keychain with multiple keys (that often require labelling to differentiate from the others). As a result, you won’t need to match the right key to the lock every time you wish to lock or unlock the door.
Access Restrictions – Some homeowners prefer not to have all of their locks keyed alike because they wish to be able to restrict access to certain areas of their residence to those who have the key to one or more specific doors. For example, some individuals may want their neighbors to have a key to their house in case of an emergency, but they don’t want them to be able to freely enter specific rooms such as the garage.
Limiting Access – One way to limit access to specific doors is to utilize a master key system. It is relatively simple to have your locks set up to have one key, the master, work all locks and have a separate key that works, for example, only the front door. In this case you can issue the front door only key to children and domestic service people or a contractor such as a painter. If the child loses the key, you can have the lock rekeyed and a new front door key initiated while maintaining you existing master key. You can also easily have the lock rekeyed after the contractor has completed the work. In both cases you will not have to rekey all of the locks in your home.
Lost keys – Despite your very best efforts, someone who has a key to your house could misplace it at some point. When all of your locks are keyed the same, losing a key necessitates rekeying every lock. In contrast, when each of your locks has a unique key, you only need to rekey the specific lock that is connected to the lost key when one is lost.
Locks from various brands and types – If your home has several different brands and types of locks, it may not be possible for a locksmith to rekey them all to accept the same key, without changing the hardware or just the cylinders.

Should You Change the Locks when You Move into a New House

Changing the locks is crucial if you are moving into a new house because past owners or tenants may still have possession of keys to your residence. You get to decide if you want to rekey the locks as keyed alike or keyed differently. If the locks are in poor condition or are aged, it may be a better choice to replace them altogether, whether keyed alike or keyed differently as well.

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First Lock & Security Technologies look forward to discussing your options with you and offer guidance on what will be the most beneficial way forward for your particular circumstance. Call us to learn more about lock rekeying and replacing and/or our other quality locksmith services today!