Should You Change Your Locks After Losing Your House Keys?
Losing your house keys creates more than an inconvenience. Once the keys are missing, an important question follows: can someone who finds them use them to enter your home? In most situations, you should change the key access to your home after losing your keys. The good news — that does not always mean replacing the entire lock.
Fort McMurray Locksmith is a proud member of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, serving Fort McMurray homeowners for over two generations.
Rekey vs Replace — Which Do You Need?
If your existing locks are in good condition, rekeying is almost always the right answer. Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration of the lock so the lost keys no longer work — new keys are cut to match the new configuration. The existing hardware stays in the door. It is significantly faster and less expensive than a full lock replacement and achieves the same security result: the lost keys no longer open your home.
Lock replacement makes sense if the existing hardware is worn, damaged, outdated, or lower quality — if you were already thinking about upgrading the locks, losing your keys is a good prompt to do it now rather than later. See our rekey locks page and lock change page for more detail on when each makes sense.
When to Act Quickly
Some lost key situations are more urgent than others. Act quickly when:
- The keys have identifying information attached — a tag with your address, a fob with your building name, or other information that connects the keys to your home
- The keys were stolen — theft is different from losing keys accidentally. Rekey immediately.
- The keys were lost in your neighbourhood — someone nearby finding keys to a nearby home is a more immediate risk than keys lost in another city
- You cannot retrace your steps — if you have no idea where the keys went, do not assume they are somewhere safe
When You Have More Time
If the keys were lost in a specific location — left at a friend’s place, dropped at work, fell out in a store — and you have a reasonable chance of recovering them or confirming they are not a security risk, you can take a day to investigate before rekeying. But do not let it go indefinitely. If you cannot confirm where the keys are within a day or two, rekey.
What About Spare Keys Given to Others?
If you gave spare keys to neighbours, cleaners, contractors, or family members who no longer need access — losing your main keys is a good time to rekey everything and issue a fresh set of keys only to the people who currently need them. Most homeowners discover they have less control over key copies than they assumed when they actually think it through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rekeying enough after losing house keys?
In most cases, yes — rekeying is the appropriate response when the existing hardware is in good condition. It makes the lost keys permanently non-functional.
How fast can a locksmith rekey my locks?
Most residential rekeying takes 15-20 minutes per lock. A full home rekey of 3-4 exterior locks can typically be done in under an hour on a single visit. Fort McMurray Locksmith can usually respond same-day for rekeying calls.
Should I rekey if my keys were stolen rather than lost?
Yes — treat a stolen key as urgent. Rekey as soon as possible and consider whether the theft was targeted. If the theft happened in circumstances that suggest your home was specifically targeted, discuss this with the locksmith — additional security measures may be appropriate.
How much does rekeying cost in Fort McMurray?
Cost depends on the number of locks. We quote the full price before starting any work. Call 780-588-5383 for a specific quote.
Fort McMurray Locksmith — rekeying and lock changes for Fort McMurray homeowners, same-day service available.
Call 780-588-5383 or Book a Locksmith in Fort McMurray.