7 reasons to change your locks

Locks are an essential part of our home security, helping to keep our valuable belongings secure and our families safe. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home. Ensuring that you have strong locks on all external doors will give you peace of mind that your home is secure.

But when should you change the locks on your home, and how do you know when it’s time to hire a locksmith? We’ve put together seven of the most common reasons to change your locks.

You’ve moved into a new home

Changing the locks should be one of your first priorities when you move into a new home. It’s not just the previous homeowner that might have a key – they might have given keys to friends and family too. It’s always best to change the locks as soon as you move into a new house so that you can be sure that no one else has a key to your home.

Your home has been broken into

If you’ve experienced a break-in, it’s important to change your locks as soon as possible. The locks to your home could have been damaged or weakened during the break-in, making your home more vulnerable to future break-ins. What’s more, the criminal could have taken spare keys whilst inside your home, giving them an easy way to re-enter your home in the future.

You’ve lost a key

If you lose one of the keys to your home, you’ll need to change your locks – even if you’ve got a spare handy. It can be tempting to assume that anyone who finds your key won’t know which door it will fit, but you can never be certain. Changing your locks will give you peace of mind that your home is secure and no one else has a key.

Your locks sometimes get stuck

If your locks are becoming difficult to open, there’s a chance they could be beginning to fail. Faulty locks could be more vulnerable to break-ins, whilst also being at risk of failing, leaving you locked in or out of your home. If you find that your locks are becoming more of a challenge to open, it’s best to replace them as soon as possible.

Someone has moved out

If someone has recently moved out of your home, it’s a good idea to replace your locks. Whether you’ve recently separated from a partner or your tenant or roommate has moved out, you need to ensure that your home is secure. Changing the locks will prevent them from letting themselves into your home, whilst also protecting against anyone they may have given keys to.

You can’t remember the last time your locks were changed

If you can’t remember the last time that you changed your locks, it’s probably time to call the locksmith. It’s recommended that you replace your locks every three years to ensure that you keep track of any spare keys and to keep up to date with advancements in security as new and improved locks are developed.