You can’t just deal with broken door locks as if it’s just nothing. In this article, we will discuss how to change a door lock.
Improving your house security is not easy. Aerialforce makes it their top priority to assist you in making your home or establishment 100% safe and sound. Some of the reasons why you want to change your lock include:
- You lost your keys
- You moved into a new home
- Your lock has been faulty and has become unreliable to ensure security
- You plan to upgrade your locks with a more enhanced security
- You got your key stuck inside your lock
Whether your reason to replace locks is listed above, or not, we can help you secure your home or office with just a few steps! But before we get started, you need to understand the difference between replacing door locks and changing keys.
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Improving your house security is not easy. Aerialforce makes it their top priority to assist you in making your home or establishment 100% safe and sound. Some of the reasons why you want to change your lock include:
- You lost your keys
- You moved into a new home
- Your lock has been faulty and has become unreliable to ensure security
- You plan to upgrade your locks with a more enhanced security
- You got your key stuck inside your lock
Whether your reason to replace locks is listed above, or not, we can help you secure your home or office with just a few steps! But before we get started, you need to understand the difference between replacing door locks and changing keys.
REPLACING DOOR LOCKS VS CHANGING KEY LOCKS
Replacing a Door lock
When you ought to replace door locks, this involves dislodging the original lock from the door (together with the handle if it comes with it) and then inserting a new door lock that you have chosen.
Reconfiguring a Key Lock
Meanwhile, when you reconfigure key locks, this process rearranges the inner springs and pins of the lock to match it with a new key. Residential compounds notably use this process as it is more convenient and less expensive compared to replacing the entire door lock.
Once you have come to terms with the difference of replacing a door lock and reconfiguring a key lock, we can now begin!
REPLACING A DOOR LOCK
Steps:
- First, measure your last door lock with a tape measure before you buy a new replacement so it will fit in the hole.
- Leave the door open before you unscrew the screws from the last lock of the door. As you slowly loosen the screws, remove the interior and exterior plates on each side (if possible) by carefully pulling it off.
- Once you have loosened the screws, insert your key. Turn it until you can now gently withdraw it together with the key.
- Next, try to fit the new lock into the existing hole where you removed the previous lock. Once done, insert your key inside the keyhole. Turn it left and right before you can finally screw the lock tightly into the door again. Don’t forget to place the interior and exterior plates on each side as well!
- As for the last step, you can now check if the lock works fine by turning the key to see if the screw is tightly done, and the bolt is attached correctly. Check the handle or knob as well, so you are sure that the newly installed cylinder lock is tightened and ready to use. Cylinder locks are also known as a pin tumbler.
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RECONFIGURING KEY LOCKS
Whether it’s a mortice, euro cylinder lock, a rim cylinder lock, or a UPVC lock, many establishments need to reconfigure the pins and springs of the lock for new tenants or office officials. So, to help you out, here are the steps that you must follow to rekey your locks successfully!
But first, buy a re-keying kit with the same brand of the lock in your doors and keys. This product can be easily bought in the hardware store, supermarket, or even online.
Steps:
- Once you have your rekeying kit with you, you can now officially start. Insert the key into the keyhole, and turn it to unlock the door. Then, thrust the wire-like tool to the small hole on the side of the knob. As you do so, this wire-like tool pushed at the side of the knob will quickly release the knobs and will let you pull it out of the lock.
- After you take out the exterior lock face, check the inside of the knob for any small pieces of metal or plastic that attach the cylinder lock where it belongs. If there are any small pieces of plastic or metal, take it away and put force on the key that is still inside the keyhole for the cylinder to spring out at the back of the knob.
- Inside your rekeying kit, there will be a tool similar to a wrench. Apply that to take out the cylinder retainer ring that protects the cylinder housing. Press the wrench-like tool against the cylinder retainer ring to have it jump off the cylinder.
- This next step can be quite tricky since you will need to put out the cylinder plug from the cylinder. What you will need to is the tube-shaped tool in your rekeying kit that you will use to slide the cylinder plug out of the cylinder housing. Push the tube-shaped tool from the side opposite the keyhole for the plug to jump out. Ensure to keep constant pressure between the plug and follower for the pins and springs not to jump off.
- Put away the old pins from the cylinder plug by either turning the plug over to empty the pins or by plucking them out with very tiny tweezers that are part of your kit. If you don’t know how to take out the old pins with the tweezers, check out the instructions in your equipment kit!
- After putting away the old pins, use the tweezers to match the new pins according to the instruction sheet, and insert your key to the keyhole as well.
- Finally, once the pins are installed, reverse the steps instructed above to reassemble your lock.
Looking for a professional emergency locksmith? Contact Aerialforce at 0330 173 1355 now!