Just Moved In? Rekey vs. Replace Your Locks

Rekeying a lock means a trained locksmith disassembles the lock cylinder and rearranges the internal pins so that the old keys no longer work — only freshly cut keys will operate it. The hardware itself stays exactly where it is. Your deadbolt or door knob lock looks and functions identically from the outside; it's the internal pin configuration that has changed. This is the core reason rekeying is typically faster: there's no door prep, no drilling, no new strike plate, and no alignment work involved.

Replacing locks, on the other hand, means removing the existing hardware entirely and installing new lock sets — which may be a standard door knob lock, a deadbolt, a mortise lock, or a combination depending on what your door is designed to accept. Replacement makes sense when the existing hardware is worn, damaged, builder-grade junk not worth keeping, or simply not the style or security grade you want going forward. A mortise lock, for example, is a full-body lock unit that fits into a routed pocket inside the door itself — it's a more substantial installation than a simple cylindrical lock, and it offers a higher level of structural security. If your new home has original mortise lock hardware that's decades old but still mechanically sound, rekeying it (with the right compatible cylinder) is often smarter than replacing it wholesale.

For a typical resale home in the Bensalem and Andalusia area — especially the older colonials and split-levels common along Hulmeville Road and Cornwells Avenue — the existing locks are usually functional, properly fitted, and already aligned with the door frame. Rekeying them takes a professional locksmith far less time than a full replacement, which means you regain security and peace of mind without waiting for a lengthy installation. The process works on the most common residential lock brands, including Schlage and Kwikset cylinders, which you'll find in the vast majority of area homes.

The factors that determine the final quote for a rekey include the number of locks on the property, the type of cylinder in each lock (a door knob lock cylinder is different from a deadbolt cylinder, and a mortise lock cylinder is different still), whether all locks need to be keyed alike, and the time of day the work is done. At Bensalem Locksmiths, we confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins — no surprises on the invoice. If you're ready to stop wondering who has a key to your front door, call (215) 326-3207 and we'll walk you through what your specific doors need.

There are real scenarios where replacement is the smarter investment, and a qualified locksmith will tell you so honestly rather than talk you into unnecessary work. If your existing hardware is visibly damaged — loose cylinders, a door knob lock that wobbles, a deadbolt that doesn't throw cleanly — rekeying won't fix the underlying mechanical problem. You'd be adding key control to a lock that's already failing. Similarly, if the home has only passage knobs with no deadbolts, now is the right time to upgrade rather than just rekey what's there.

Homes with older mortise lock sets deserve special attention. A mortise lock is installed inside a deep pocket cut into the door edge, and many of the Victorian-era and mid-century homes in the greater Bensalem area still have their original mortise hardware. These locks are often surprisingly robust — the internal mechanisms were built to last — but their cylinders can wear out or be keyed to dozens of old copies over decades of ownership. An experienced locksmith can re-cylinder a quality mortise lock rather than replace the entire unit, preserving the door's integrity and original hardware while completely resetting key control. When the body of the mortise lock itself is damaged or the case is cracked, full replacement with a new mortise lock set is the appropriate fix. Our team carries a range of mortise lock hardware and can advise on grade and style based on your door thickness and usage.

When you call Bensalem Locksmiths, a skilled technician comes to you — we're a 24/7 mobile locksmith serving Andalusia, Bensalem Township, and surrounding communities, so there's no shop drop-off or waiting in a queue. When we arrive, we'll assess each lock on your property: checking cylinder condition, evaluating the door frame and strike plate, confirming the lock grade, and noting whether any hardware — including any mortise lock units — would benefit from service or lubrication at the same time.

The rekey itself involves removing the cylinder, replacing the key pins with a new configuration, and cutting fresh keys on-site. We'll test every key in every lock before we leave. If we spot anything during the visit that warrants a conversation — a deadbolt with a short throw, a strike plate with only short screws, a door knob lock that's spinning loose — we'll point it out and let you decide whether to address it now or later. That's what a trustworthy service visit looks like: information and options, not pressure. For a full list of what we cover, see the services section below.

Moving day doesn't always go smoothly. Keys get lost in the chaos, lockboxes get returned before everyone has a copy, and sometimes you discover at 10 p.m. that the front door deadbolt doesn't match the key the seller handed over at closing. These are exactly the situations that make having a local emergency locksmith contact saved in your phone worthwhile. Bensalem Locksmiths operates around the clock — our team answers at (215) 326-3207 at 2 a.m. just as readily as at 2 p.m.

The factors that affect the cost of an emergency locksmith call — for a lockout, an urgent rekey, or an after-hours lock replacement — include the type of service needed, the complexity of the lock (a standard door knob lock differs significantly from a commercial-grade mortise lock), the time of day, and travel distance to your location. We provide an exact quote before starting any work, so you know the full cost upfront regardless of when you call. Whether it's a residential lockout on a side street off Tillman Drive or an urgent rekeying situation after a key goes missing during a move, we respond to the Andalusia area with the tools and parts to handle it on the spot.

We're a full-service mobile locksmith operation, not a one-trick lockout crew. Here is a specific breakdown of what our team handles for residential, automotive, and commercial clients in the Bensalem and Andalusia area: residential lock rekeying (single door or whole-home), mortise lock re-cylinder and full mortise lock replacement, door knob lock installation and replacement, deadbolt installation (single and double cylinder), high-security lock upgrades, smart lock installation and programming, master key system setup, lock repair and lubrication, broken key extraction, residential lockout service, garage door lock service, sliding door lock repair and replacement, window lock installation, peephole installation, door reinforcement and strike plate upgrade, commercial locksmith services including office and storefront lock replacement, commercial mortise lock installation, push-bar and panic hardware installation, access control system installation, commercial master key systems, safe opening and combination changes, automotive lockout service, car key cutting and programming, transponder key and key fob programming, and ignition repair and replacement. If your situation involves a lock and a door — or a car — we have the tools and training to handle it.

The Andalusia and Bensalem area, like any suburban community close to a major metro, occasionally sees fly-by-night operators who quote one price over the phone and present a very different invoice at the door. Knowing what to ask before anyone touches your locks protects you. Ask for the technician's name and confirm the company name matches what you called. Ask for your exact total — parts, labor, and any after-hours or trip fees — before work begins. Ask whether they carry their own key-cutting and lock inventory in the vehicle or will need to make a return trip. A professional locksmith who is insured, experienced, and operating a legitimate mobile operation should answer all of these questions without hesitation.

At Bensalem Locksmiths, we encourage every caller to ask us these questions directly. We'll give you a clear, honest answer on pricing before we start, and our technicians arrive in identified vehicles with the equipment needed to complete most jobs in a single visit. We don't sub-contract your call to an unknown third party. If you're a new homeowner in the area and you want a trustworthy team to handle your rekey or lock replacement from the first day in your home, we're ready — call (215) 326-3207 any time, day or night.