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Fwiw, if you buy a "smartkey" lock from kwikset you can re-key the lock to match your old ones yourself - with no tools or disassembly & it only takes a few seconds. They only cost a few bucks more than the cheap lock sets & you can get them on Amazon or at the home stores. I use them on my rentals so I can Re-key the entire house between tenants for $0 in just a few minutes.
That's a good idea I am going to get one for my front door to match the deadbolt.
Reading up on it I think I won't be able to use my Definat keys with it so I will keep what I have for now.
Last edited by LifeIsGood01; 04-08-2016 at 06:34 AM..
There have been several quality brand lock manufacturers that I am aware of that quit manufacturing the "Smart Key" type of locks due to issues with durability issues inherent to being able to "rekey" the pins by inserting a special key. Be sure to check consumer reviews before investing in these.
There have been several quality brand lock manufacturers that I am aware of that quit manufacturing the "Smart Key" type of locks due to issues with durability issues inherent to being able to "rekey" the pins by inserting a special key. Be sure to check consumer reviews before investing in these.
I'd take internet reviews with a grain of salt - there are millions of the kwikset smartkey locks out there- especially in rentals & there's no reason to believe that problems are widespread. There isn't much "investment" involved - we're talking about $25 locksets (depending on finish & handle style). On the "typical" house, you might have front door, back door & garage door, all with a deadbolt, so $150~ish to replace all the locks in the house / vs (quite often) a $100+ service call to have a locksmith out to re-key the same house. And that locksmith might be re-keying $10 locksets of undetermined age.
Fwiw, it seems schlage stopped with their version of smartkey locks because they got sued, not because of problems with the locks..
Hi -
I have a broken deadbolt on my front door - it was getting harder and harder to turn until it finally DID turn but doesn't open the lock!
So, I was planning to replace it, leaving the other lock on the front door in place. Well, now people are telling me I should replace both locks on the front door and also BOTH locks on the entry to the garage so that all 4 will be keyed the same. I actually don't even use keys...and have misplaced them so I can't verify if they were all keyed the same to begin with!
But does it really make sense to do all of them...and - is this even possible to go to a bigbox store and get TWO deadbolts and TWO regular ("push button") locks that all operate from the same key?
When I look online I see nothing about getting "sets" that are keyed the same, much less FOUR. I kinda dread walking into a store and trying to find a clerk to explain this to! So I'm asking you good folks for your opinions.
You can go to a hardware box store and buy a set of two knobs and dead bolts. If you cannot find the set kits with two locks and deadbolts in one oavkagr you can buy two single deadbolt/knob lock sets. You can skgo get individual lick and deadbolt and match them up by numbers.
Look on the package. There will be a number on a sticker like A234568 or 8897432 or some sort of number letter sequence on a sticker. (NOT the scan bar code number) If you look you should find a few sets of that same number/letter sequence. The locks in those packages even though they are separate are keyed alike.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zippyman
Fwiw, if you buy a "smartkey" lock from kwikset you can re-key the lock to match your old ones yourself - with no tools or disassembly & it only takes a few seconds. They only cost a few bucks more than the cheap lock sets & you can get them on Amazon or at the home stores. I use them on my rentals so I can Re-key the entire house between tenants for $0 in just a few minutes.
You know, I have tried a smart key lock system on one rental. I'm putting them all on the other rentals as people leave or locks break. I used to call a locksmith but it was costing more than replacing the locks. Then I was replacing locks and deadbolts with basic cheap locks and deadbolts. Now I'm just replacing keys.
Last edited by Electrician4you; 04-10-2016 at 08:04 AM..
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