New home security can be questionable.  Whether you have recently purchased a home or lived in the same home for years, you should consider who else may have a key to your home.  The previous homeowners may have given keys to their housekeeper, a neighbor, or extended family.  The fact is you simply do not know who may have a key to your house if you use the same ones provided when you purchased it.

New Home Security Lock Replacement Options

One option is to replace your locks.  Buying new door hardware allows you to control who has access to your home which increases your security.  It also provides the opportunity to customize your door hardware to your style.  You can replace just the entry doors of your home or you can replace all the internal door knobs and levers to keep a consistent look throughout the house.

Replacing most existing door hardware is a simple process and all you need is a Phillips-head screwdriver.  Remove the two screws on the inside of the door knob and the two screws on the latch plate.  Then pull on the knobs on both sides of the door and remove the latch last.   To replace your door hardware with a new knob and deadbolt, you will need to know the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the hole covered by the knob or deadbolt.  This is called the backset and the standard backset is typically 2 3/8” but most residential door hardware brands have latches that are adjustable to 2 3/4”.

If you choose a lever style keyed entry, you will also need to know the handing.  You can determine the handing by facing the exterior of the door and seeing where the hinges are.  If the hinges are on the left, the handing is left handed, and if the hinges are on the right, the handing is right handed.  You may also consider a handleset for your front door.  When buying a handleset, you will need to know the backset, the handing if choosing a lever for your interior option, the door thickness, and the distance between the centers of the two holes in the door.  Please reference our “how to” guide for pictures on how to determine backset, handing, door thickness, and center to center dimension.

When ordering from Hardware Direct, you have multiple keying options.  “Key all locks alike” means all cylinders will be keyed alike by the manufacturer or distributor.  Keying all locks the same will allow you to use the same key on all your entry doors so that you do not have to keep track of which key works on each door. “No keying required” means each lock will come packaged with its own keys and keys for each lock cannot be used in the others from that order.  Most of the companies we work with can also match an existing key code. Some brands stamp a key code on the original keys and this code can be provided to have additional locks keyed alike to that code. If you do not have the lock’s original key or if the brand you currently own does not stamp its keys, the keys can be “read” by a locksmith or we can provide the information to mail your existing key to the manufacturer so your new hardware can be keyed alike to your existing locks.

If your current locks are in good condition and you are happy with their appearance you can also choose to order and replace the cylinders in each lock or rekey your existing locks instead of replacing them.  You or a locksmith can replace the cylinders in each entry or deadbolt.  If you choose to have the cylinders rekeyed, it does not require any effort on your part other than finding a reputable locksmith.  The locksmith will come out to your house, reset the tumblers in your locks, and provide you with new keys.  By changing the lock tumblers, the old keys will no longer work for your doors.

Whichever path you choose, in order to improve your new home security all entry doors such as your front door, back door, and the door leading to your garage need to be included in the changes you make.