Your front door lock is supposed to provide security to keep you, your family and your belongings safe. However, there are many instances that can allow that security to fail. Check out these five times you need to replace or rekey your front door lock.

You Just Moved In

You can probably name off everyone who you've given a house key to, but do you know everyone the previous owner gave a key too? Did they give one to their neighbors, friends, family, contractors getting the house ready to sell, etc., and can you trust those people? No, because you don't know them. Anytime you move into a new house, you need to rekey or replace the front door lock. You can purchase the new lock and deadbolt yourself and then hire a locksmith to the do the job for you. Expect to pay only about $20 to $30 per lock.

Someone Just Moved Out

It's also important to replace locks or rekey the front door when someone moves out. In some cases, you might not care that they have a key. For example, if your adult child moves into their own place, you're more than happy to let them have a key, but if you rent out rooms or have roommates, you don't usually want them to still have access to your home after they leave. Even if they return the key, you don't know if they have other copies or if they have given copies out to anyone else.

The Lock Is Getting Old and Worn

Just like any mechanism, locks age and eventually become worn, which can lead to two problems. First, and most importantly, an old lock is a huge security vulnerability because they are easy to pick and break. Second, even if no one breaks into your home, your old lock may prevent you from getting into your home. If you have a hard time turning the lock or the key gets stuck, it's a good sign the lock is aged. If you don't fix the problem, you may end up snapping the key or being completely unable to open the lock.

You Want Something More Advanced

Your front door probably uses a cylinder lock, but Google the term "lock picking" and you're greeted with a huge list of results telling people exactly how to pick your lock, which means it may be time to move on to something more advanced, such as keyless entry locks. Some use your smartphone and an app to let you lock and unlock, while others require you to enter a key code on the lock. This lock offers more security than your old standard lock.

You've Been the Victim of a Burglary

If someone has broken into your home and you know or believe they entered via the front door, you need to replace the lock. If the burglar forced the door open, that could have caused serious damage to the lock that reduces its effectiveness, making it easy for someone else to enter. If the burglar picked the lock, then obviously, you need something more advanced that can't be picked so easily. Last, if the burglar had a copy of your key, then failing to rekey or replace the lock is an open invitation to let the burglar back in whenever they want.  

If one or more of these situations applies to you, you need to rekey or replace your lock. Rekeying is usually less expensive, but it may not be an option if the lock is broken. For more information about when and how to replace locks or rekey, contact a locksmith in your area today like The Lock Shop.