• First Lock and Security Technologies
    First Lock and Security Technologies
  • First Lock and Security Technologies
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  • First Lock and Security Technologies
    First Lock and Security Technologies
  • First Lock and Security Technologies
    *** WE ARE OPEN! *** WE ARE OPEN! *** WE ARE OPEN! ***

When Should You Have a Locksmith Repair, Replace or Rekey Your Locks in Monte Sereno, CA?

At First Lock & Security Technologies, some of the most common calls we receive are from customers whose locks have been working without any problems, only to suddenly have a key get a stuck in the lock, the lock no longer catches or the door will not open. Rain, cold and variable weather conditions can cause lock issues. When your lock no longer operates as intended, our locksmiths may recommend a lock repair or a lock replacement, depending on the situation. We delve further into this below.

When to Repair Locks

Our locksmiths often recommend a lock repair if the lock is of good quality, parts are readily available and the lock has a long useful life. For a lock repair to be effective, it often involves our locksmiths needing to take the lock apart, assess the issue and put it all back together again. A good example of when a lock repair is effective, would be during the winter months and your key becomes hard to turn and stuck in your lock. Our locksmiths are equipped to do key extractions on most kinds of locks and we may also recommend conducting other minor repairs, to ensure it will work correctly in the future. We can repair locks from various lock manufacturers.

When Should a Door Lock Be Replaced?

While repairing a lock is always our first priority, sometimes our locksmiths will recommend a lock replacement if we feel that we cannot guarantee that a lock repair will solve the issue. Examples of when a lock repair would be necessary is when a lock has corroded on the inside, parts of the lock are broken, or the lock is aged and nearing the end of its useful life. When it comes time to replace your locks, our locksmiths can offer you lock upgrade recommendations based on your individual needs.

When Should You Rekey Your Locks?

An important consideration when deciding if you should repair or replace locks is the security of your home or business premises. Not only do you require the lock to be functioning correctly, you also need to make sure you are aware of everyone who has a working key for the lock in their possession. If you have changed tenants at a rental property or recently purchased a home, laid off employees, lost a key, or have other security concerns about who might have a key for your locks; rekeying the locks may be a good option. Rekeying locks means that our locksmiths change the inside of the lock and replace the pins to make it work with a new key. We do not change the lock itself, only the inside of the lock. In contrast, if you want to replace your locks, our locksmiths would remove the existing locking hardware and install a new one.

How Do You Care For & Maintain Your Door Locks?

Fortunately, there are ways to take care of your locks to ensure they don’t break or need frequent changing.
Make sure you are not aggressive when you unlock your lock and avoid twisting the key too forcefully. Being aggressive with the key can result in damaging the lock, getting the key stuck or breaking the key. If you live in an area where there is often rain, it helps if your door and lock are under an overhang or other barrier to keep it from getting consistently wet and avoid corrosion. For some locks with flexible weatherstripping, you may need to slightly push on your door so it completely closes in order for the lock to lock and unlock easily. This is a very simple step that can keep your lock from binding the latch making it difficult to open.

Professional Locksmith Services in San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Woodside, Portola Valley, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Stanford, Mountain View, Los Altos Hills, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Campbell, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, San Jose, Milpitas & Los Altos, California

In short, there are a number of steps you can take to help keep your locks in top shape. If you find yourself with a broken lock that needs a repair, a lock that needs to be rekeyed or a lock that should be replaced completely, our locksmiths at First Lock & Security Technologies are available to help. Call us or come by our shop on Los Altos today!

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