As a homeowner, it’s hard to stay up on the maintenance of the house. The same could be said if you own or rent commercial property owners. Given how many things need to be addressed related to keeping a home or building in good condition, it’s not surprising that some things get missed.
One of the things that get missed in terms of ongoing maintenance is the condition of the locks. Over an extended time, locks can wear down. They are also subject to breaking or malfunctioning because of maintenance avoidance. Of course, they always break or malfunction at exactly the most inconvenient opportunity.
Here’s a thought. What if you could prevent future problems with your locks by being a bit more proactive? Assuming you would be interested in that, here are 5 signs that it’s time to change your locks.
Table of Contents
1. Visual Test for Wear and Tear
Sometimes, the answer to a question is right in front of your eyes. All you have to do is look for it.
Locks are not made to last forever. You should assume that over time, the locks around your home or business will start to wear down naturally. Most of the time, you can detect issues just by looking. If you aren’t sure, put a key in the lock and consider how easily the lock locks and unlocks.
As a rule of thumb, you should consider changing your home and business locks every five years (5). If you don’t want to change all of them, you might consider changing out the ones that get the most activity. By being proactive, you can avoid extra costs related to needing lockout service because an old lock failed.
2. Missing and Worn Out Keys
There is something else that happens over time. Try as you may, you probably have difficulty keeping track of all of your keys. It’s just natural for keys to naturally get misplaced or wear down to the point of breaking. Since keys and locks tend to age at about the same rate, the fact keys are missing or breaking might signal your locks are aging as well.
Think about it. How many duplicate keys have you had to purchase through the years? If you have had your home for over 10 years, the number is likely larger than you might imagine. If your business has been in the same building for years, the number of missing keys might be huge. That would be especially true if your business has a lot of employee turnover.
Same goes for cars. If you car key has seen some time, it’s probably a good idea to get it replaced. You can consult a professional service provider like automotive locksmith near me to get it replaced.
Bottom line: If you no longer know how many keys exist that fit your current locks, it might be time to change said locks.
3. Moving In or Out
As a landlord, you might have renters moving in and out of your property. As a renter or homeowner, you might have the occasion to move into a new place. In both instances, it would be prudent to have all of the locked changes.
In the case of a rental property, you are obligated to rent a place that is safe from unwanted intruders. Since you have no idea whether or not prior tenants have returned all available keys, it is best to err on the side of caution. You should change locks every time the property changes hands.
If you are moving, you would be facing a similar situation. You would have no real assurance that the prior owner or property managers have changed the locks unless they were to offer proof it has been done. If you can’t be sure, you should change the locks on your own for your own safety.
4. After a Burglary
After your property has been burglarized, you can immediately assume that all security measures you have taken in the past have been compromised. As a safety precaution, you should change all locks to avoid future visits from criminals.
Remember, we can only have peace of mind if and when we feel safe and secure. That’s hard to do when we know someone out in the dark of night knows how to enter our residence or building. The key to reclaiming some peace of mind is to start anew with all new security features.
5. Advancement in Lock Technology
Over time, the brightest people among us will find better ways to do things. Yes, people are always creating better ways to keep us safe. If your locks are more than five (5) years old, they are likely two (2) generations removed from the latest and greatest locks. If you want the latest and great protection for your home or business, it might be a good idea to have your current locks replaced with something more advanced. It’s one step you can take to stay ahead of the criminal element.
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