Rekeying is the process of changing the internal pins of an existing lock so that it works with a new key and the old keys no longer turn it. The lock body, handle, deadbolt and finish all stay on the door; only the small parts inside the cylinder that "read" the key are changed. It is a way to reset who has access without buying new hardware.
Have a question about your own locks? Call (613) 707-4884.
How a Pin Tumbler Lock Recognizes a Key
Most door locks in Ottawa homes and offices are pin tumbler locks. Inside the cylinder is a rotating plug (the part with the keyhole) sitting inside a fixed housing. Several small chambers run through both parts, and each chamber holds a stack of pins:
- Key pins (bottom pins) touch the key. They come in different lengths.
- Driver pins sit above the key pins.
- Springs push each stack down into the plug.
With no key inserted, the driver pins cross the gap between the plug and the housing, so the plug cannot turn. When the correct key goes in, each cut on the key lifts its key pin to exactly the right height, so the top of every key pin lines up with that gap, called the shear line. With every stack aligned at the shear line, the plug is free to rotate and the lock opens. A different key lifts at least one stack too high or too low, and the plug stays blocked.
What Actually Happens During Rekeying
Because the key pins decide which key works, changing them changes the key. A typical rekey follows these steps:
- The cylinder is removed from the lock or the door, usually with the working key or after the lock has been opened.
- The plug is slid out of the housing, often with a tool called a plug follower that keeps the driver pins and springs from escaping.
- The old key pins are removed.
- A new key is chosen or cut, and new key pins are selected to match the depth of each of its cuts.
- The plug is put back, the lock is reassembled and tested with the new key, and the old key is checked to confirm it no longer works.
Done carefully, the process does not damage the lock or the door, and the hardware looks exactly the same afterwards.
What Rekeying Does and Does Not Change
What it changes
- Which key operates the lock. Every old copy, including ones you have lost track of, stops working.
- Optionally, several locks can be set to one new key ("keyed alike"), as long as they share a compatible cylinder and keyway.
What it does not change
- The strength of the lock. A worn, cheap or damaged lock is just as weak after rekeying.
- The brand, the keyway profile or the style of the hardware.
- Mechanical problems such as a sticky latch, a bolt that does not fully extend, or a door that is out of alignment.
If any of those are the real issue, rekeying alone is not the answer. Our guide on rekeying versus replacing your locks walks through that decision.
Common Misunderstandings
- "Rekeying means new locks." It does not. The same locks stay in place with new internals.
- "Any locks can be put on one key." Only if they are compatible. Locks from different manufacturers often use different keyways, so one key physically cannot enter all of them. In that case, one or more cylinders may need to be swapped.
- "Rekeying is the same as copying keys." Copying makes more of the same key. Rekeying makes all existing keys obsolete.
- "Any locksmith can rekey any lock." Most standard residential and commercial cylinders can be rekeyed, but some high-security or restricted-keyway systems are controlled by the manufacturer and need authorized key blanks and parts.
What Affects the Time and Cost
The number of cylinders, whether the locks are keyed alike, the type and brand of lock, whether you have a working key, and whether the cylinders are easy to remove all play a role. Our article on rekeying cost factors in Ottawa explains these in more detail.
Next Step
If you want your existing locks reset so that old keys no longer work, see our lock rekeying service or call (613) 707-4884 to talk through your locks.