Curious to know more about what a Residential Locksmith does? In this article we’ll cover the three main aspects of what a residential locksmith does and some of the tools and skills that are used.

Lock Outs

This is easily the primary reason to call a residential locksmith. Lots of people are fine with changing their own locks around, but lockpicking is a skill that takes time to master. In many places in the world it is also a felony to carry lock picks on your person without a license. There are several methods a locksmith will use to grant you entry to your home. This could be by picking the lock, bumping it, slipping the latch, or in the worst case scenario drilling it out. Unfortunately, not every lock can be picked. Certain bittings or the condition of the lock can greatly hinder the success of lockpicking. There are some specialty tools as well, such as the LockTech SmartKey Camera, which allows a locksmith to decode a SmartKey cylinder and then produce a key which will unlock the door. A large part of what separates a great locksmith from an okay one, is how many solutions they have for lock outs.

Rekeys

Changing the locks on your home once you’ve moved in, or maybe had a tenant move out is always a great idea. Unless you’re utilizing a restricted keyway, you can’t be certain they have not had copies made. While most people are fairly honest and won’t return, every once in awhile we come across a horror story of occupants returning to the home. One client of ours called us in a panic as while they were out the previous tenant had come back, used their shower, ate their food, and had even stolen some of their clothing. Rekeying your locks is a fairly straightforward process, and in most cases can be done even without the original key. Inside your typical residential lock are little cylindrical pins that match the depths of the cuts on your key. By removing these pins, and changing them for different sizes, we can make the lock work with a different key. Some locks such as the Weiser SmartKey can be quite easily changed yourself, while more traditional locks require a few specialized tools such as a “Follower” in order to change the lock.

Installations

Sometimes our door hardware breaks down, and it’s time to replace it. Or maybe you’ve had your eye on that fancy Emtek hardware and are keeping up with the Jones’. Installing fresh door hardware is another vital aspect of being a residential locksmith. While most of the tools are fairly common, such as: drills, holesaws, spade bits, screwdrivers, chisels. There are some specialty tools involved as well like jigs for ensuring proper alignment for the bolts and mortise cassettes.

Conclusion

Being a residential locksmith is certainly the entry point for the trade, and consists of some of the easier skills required of the profession. Lock outs can still be tricky, and require practice to master. If you’re looking to become a locksmith yourself, this would be the best place to start.

If you’re in the Langley area and require the assistance of a locksmith, Crono Lock offers professional fully licensed locksmithing services to Langley and the surrounding cities. Visit our landing page for more information, or call us today!