What to do When You Need a Cylinder Change
Everyone has to give attention to the locks at their home or business at some point. It may be that you know you need to have your locks serviced, but you put off doing so, thinking that there will always be time to take care of them later. We’ve probably all ignored the sticking locks and used a little WD-40 to give our locks a little more time before finally having to get them taken care of. It may be that the tell-tale sign that finally gets your attention is when your key starts to stick in your lock.
Many people avoid getting their locks serviced because they think it will be a big ordeal. Fear not! Changing your locks may not entail all that you think it will. It may be that you just need to change one piece of your lock to get it working again. You can likely avoid changing your entire knob and latch system, saving yourself time and money.
Avoid Changing Your Whole Knob- Just Change the Cylinder
There may be occasions when you want to do a cylinder change on your lock without having to change the entire knob. If you want to keep the lock handle and trim on the door the same, you can simply change the cylinder. This is a task that some do it yourselfers may try to do on their own. However, it is also a job that can be done by hiring a professional locksmith.
A locksmith can perform a cylinder change in just a few minutes. They will have the tools needed to get the job done quickly and easily. Sometimes cylinders can be removed with simple tools that most home and business owners will have on hand readily. However, sometimes the type of cylinder used in the lock may require some different tools of the trade.
Types of Locks you May Encounter
There are many kinds of locks that you may encounter if you are a home or business owner. You may have a key-in-knob lock that does not have holes on the outside knob. This type of lock can usually be taken apart by removing a couple of long screws from a metal plate that is attached to the inside of the door. These screws may be visible, or they may be underneath a collar called a rose.
Another type of lock you may come across is called a mortise lock. This type of lock is one that is common in both older and newer homes. The locking mechanism in a mortise lock is enclosed inside of a metal case. The cylinder must be installed through the outside of the door, and is held in place by a single long screw inserted perpendicularly.
Rim locks have a type of latch that attaches to the surface of the door. In this type of lock, a bolt is inserted and it may be either vertical or horizontal.
Deadbolts are another type of lock that is commonly used in homes. This type of lock involves a bar that slides into a door’s edge, preventing the door from being opened. Performing a cylinder change on this type of lock is done in a way similar to that of rim lock.
When to Call in a Professional
As mentioned above, not all cylinders are easy to replace. Even though you can do it yourself, you may not want to. If your cylinder requires specialized tools, you might just want to call a locksmith. If you are in a hurry, you might just want to call a locksmith. By the time you purchase the specialized tools needed to replace the cylinder, you could have called a locksmith for a quick and painless cylinder change.
