Lock Repair & Other Locksmith Services Belleville / Ontario / Canada

In this guide, we’ll briefly touch on all the different aspects of locksmiths and locksmith services. We’ll examine the differences between residential/consumer-focused locksmiths and locksmith services, and those who cater to commercial clients. We’ll look at the services that locksmiths and locksmith services offer. Then, we’ll spend some time highlighting the value of emergency or lockout services available from many locksmiths and locksmith services, which can be real lifesavers when you’re locked out. Next, we’ll explain why you should never try to pick a lock yourself and should always leave it to a professional locksmith or locksmith service. Finally, we’ll highlight the primary role of the locksmith and locksmith services company – security – and talk a bit about when and why you should consider changing or rekeying your locks to keep yourself safe.

LOCKSMITHS AND LOCKSMITH SERVICES – RESIDENTIAL OR CONSUMER VS. COMMERCIAL LOCKSMITH SERVICES

First, let’s talk a bit about the distinction between residential or consumer locksmiths, and those who are focused on providing commercial locksmith services. In this guide, we’re mostly focusing on residential or consumer locksmiths or locksmith services companies. They focus on providing locksmith service to individual consumers and even some small businesses. There may be some overlap with commercial locksmith services, with some companies doing both, or engaging in all kinds of lock and key work, regardless of the client.

By contrast, purely commercial or industrial locksmiths and locksmith services are focused on business clients and may have different capabilities or expertise. The kind of lock and key systems in use by large businesses and industrial clients can be quite different than the typical home and auto lock and key needs of residential consumers. Since most consumers won’t need commercial locksmith services, but rather a residential consumer-focused locksmith or locksmith service, it’s essential to make sure you pick the right kind of locksmith service company for your needs.

LOCKSMITHS AND LOCKSMITH SERVICES – THE SERVICES THEY OFFER

In terms of those residential/consumer locksmiths and locksmith services, the specific services and capabilities of a given locksmith company may vary from the next. Geographic or regional variations, company to company variations, and locksmith services providers even vary based on regulations, statutes, and law that may exist. In general, though, most quality locksmiths and locksmith services will be able to do some or all the following:

• Picking or unlocking home, car, or other locks
• Providing key duplication services
• Rekeying locks, where the key cylinder and keys are replaced, without disrupting the lock hardware
• Troubleshooting stuck or malfunctioning locks
• Repairing and replacing all kinds of locks and lock-related hardware
• Rekeying or replacing car locks, including car key fob locks
• Upgrading security on your home or elsewhere with additional lock hardware, deadbolts, and so on
• Fixing or repairing locks and lock equipment that isn’t working properly
• Some locksmiths and locksmith services also work with security systems and smart home lock integration

That is just an overview of what locksmiths and locksmith services are typically capable of, and the full list of capabilities for a given locksmith services company will usually be highlighted on their website or in other promotional material. In most cases, quality locksmiths and locksmith services providers can do pretty much anything related to locks, keys, security.

LOCKSMITHS AND LOCKSMITH SERVICES – EMERGENCY/LOCKOUT SERVICES

One of the most valuable capabilities that many locksmiths and locksmith services have is an emergency locksmith and lockout services. Not all locksmiths and locksmith services offer these kinds of 24/7 urgent locksmith services, of course. But those that do come out to your home, office when you’re locked out, for whatever reason, and help you get back in. If you’ve locked your keys in the car, lost your keys, have a damaged lock, or are otherwise stuck, locksmiths and locksmith services are usually the best solutions.

Naturally, these companies won’t help you gain access to someplace that isn’t yours or where you have no right to be. But if you locked out of your own home, office, car, etc., they have advanced lock picking tools and equipment to help you gain access once again. Many locksmiths and locksmith services can then also help you recover from whatever caused you to get locked out in the first place. For example, if you’ve lost your only key to your home, once you regain access, the locksmith or locksmith service can rekey or replace your lock and provide you with new keys. If your lockout is the result of a broken or malfunctioning lock – even automotive locks in many cases – the locksmith or locksmith service may be able to help diagnose and repair the problem, allowing you to regain access without the need for new keys or locks.

LOCKSMITHS AND LOCKSMITH SERVICES – WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER PICK A LOCK YOURSELF

On the topic of picking locks, it’s essential to take a minute to address an issue that many locksmiths and locksmith services have had come up again and again. You should not try to pick a lock for yourself if you are locked out or a lock isn’t working correctly. The simple reason is that it makes it much harder for a trained locksmith or locksmith service to do their job. You can damage a broken lock further, inadvertently get whatever equipment you are using to pick the lock stuck inside the lock, and in general complicate the recovery process. If you’re locked out, call a locksmith or locksmith service company. Don’t make things potentially worse (and more expensive) for yourself by trying to pick a lock yourself.

It’s also worth noting that you picking a lock is far more likely to arouse suspicion and possible police attention than a professional locksmith service provider. Locksmiths and locksmith services are well trained, licensed, and registered with their local jurisdictions in most cases. You are not. If a police officer or security personnel come up upon a situation where you are trying to pick a lock – even to your own home – there’s going to be a lot of questions and explaining. In the same situation, with a certified locksmith or locksmith service, and their visible truck or vehicle, documentation, and so on, these kinds of situations can quickly be defused. Keep yourself safe and avoid potential legal trouble –call a locksmith or locksmith service!

LOCKSMITHS AND LOCKSMITH SERVICES – IT’S ALL ABOUT SECURITY

The critical thing to remember about locksmiths and locksmith services is that everything they do is really about security. Aside from emergency/lockout services, most locksmith work is about maintaining or improving the safety of consumers, either in their homes, cars, offices, or other locations. To that end, we wanted to provide some advice from professional locksmiths and locksmith services, about when and why it’s a good idea to replace your locks.

When you first move into a home of any type, it’s a good idea to replace any outer door locks immediately. You have no idea who may have had keys to that door in the past, or where those keys are today. Changing your locks will ensure you are the only one with access and control over whom you give keys to. Locksmiths and locksmith services can quickly help change out the locks and provide you with as many new keys as you require.

You should also seriously consider changing your locks if ever you lose one of your keys. That is especially important if you don’t know where or when you lost the key, or if the key had any keychain or other information that might allow someone to determine the key's purpose. It’s also possible that someone you know may have surreptitiously stolen your key. To avoid potentially compromising your safety, whenever you lose a key, it’s best to promptly call a locksmith or locksmith service and have them rekey or replace that lock.

Finally, any time you have roommates or a significant other with whom you live, and that living situation changes, you should seriously consider changing your locks. Life changes happen, and it’s best to keep yourself and your possessions safe. Many locksmith and locksmith services can change or rekey a lock for a relatively small price. It’s a tiny price to pay for the peace of mind and sense of security that a locksmith or locksmith service can provide.

Lock Repairs

If you’re having trouble with door locks at home, or any other kind of lock, you might be well-served to call on a lock repair or lock installation service. These services often do much more than merely repairing, replacing, or installing locks. Often lock repair and lock installation services are simply part of the offerings from local trained locksmith companies. In other cases, they may go by names like “lock and key” companies or services. Whatever they are called, they can provide an invaluable service to consumers. Repairing, replacing, and installing your locks, especially if you’ve never done it before, can be quite labor-intensive, and even a bit confusing. It often requires at least some necessary improvement tools – something not everyone has at home. And you want to make sure any locks that are installed, especially on outer doors, are installed correctly – after all, they form the primary security barrier for your home, office, or other building. For all those reasons, it’s best to leave these tasks to experts from lock repair or lock installation services. Below, we’ll highlight some of the different aspects of what lock repair and lock installation services do and offer to consumers. That includes repairing damaged locks and replacing damaged lock parts while leaving hardware intact; replacing or installing new locks when existing locks aren’t present or damaged beyond repair; additional lock services; and offering you security upgrades in the form of better, more durable, and harder to break through locks for your doors. We’ll also look at some of the criteria consumers should consider when trying to find a good lock repair or lock installation service in their area, for their lock repair job needs.

LOCK REPAIR AND LOCK INSTALLATION SERVICES – WHEN LOCK REPAIRS ARE POSSIBLE

It’s important to understand that not all lock issues mean that you need to replace your locks and get rid of the existing ones. Often, lock repair and lock installation services providers can repair your locks. There are methods to accomplish this, and it depends on what the problem is that is causing the lock to malfunction. A few examples of what can be done are listed below, along with some hypothetical scenarios that many lock repair and lock installation services run into every day.

• A key broken off in a lock, or foreign material stuck inside a lock is a widespread occurrence. It accounts for many of the service calls that locksmiths, lock repair, and lock installation services make. Even when a piece of a key or other foreign matter stuck in the keyhole of a lock, it may be possible to remove it. Using picks and other non-destructive tools, lock repair, and lock installation service technicians may be able to clear the lock and return it to proper working order.
• When only a single existing key has lost, rendering a door lock is useless, it usually can be simply replaced without requiring replacement of the door lock. Sometimes, lock repair and lock installation services companies can use the lock itself to make a replacement key. In other cases, rekeying of the lock – replacing the keyhole cylinder itself, while leaving other mechanisms intact – is the best approach. In both cases, these are less labor-intensive and less disruptive than replacing the entire lock outright and installing a new one.
• Many home lock mechanisms have a bunch of moving parts inside of them to function. There are springs, rods, and pins that allow the lock to work. But, like anything with moving parts, these can become warped or otherwise physically damaged over time. Lock repair or lock installation services may be able to replace a broken piece of hardware, leaving the rest of the lock hardware in place, and restoring it to function.

These are by no means the only scenarios under which lock repair and lock installation services may be able to offer lock repair or replacement. Nor is it the limitation of their services. Quite obviously, not all locks can be repaired, and often needs to be replaced, with a new lock.

LOCK REPAIR AND LOCK INSTALLATION SERVICES – WHEN YOU NEED A REPLACEMENT OR NEW LOCK INSTALLATION

Sometimes, a lock must be replaced, as it damaged beyond repair (or repair would be impractical and cost far more than merely replacing the lock). In these cases, most lock repair and lock installation services can provide you with an overview of the different types or grades of locking mechanisms they have available. They can also install off-the-shelf locks and hardware that you purchase from a hardware store if you prefer that option. The process of replacing an existing lock typically involves removing all the lock hardware, making any adjustments to the door (or other lock installation site) to accommodate the new equipment and then performing the actual new lock installation.

Most lock repair and lock installation service providers are usually locksmiths or associated with a locksmith. They can often provide key duplication services for your lock and offer advice to help prevent the lock from becoming damaged like the previous. They may also consult on areas of security (as we’ll discuss in a bit more detail in the next section), especially concerning potential upgrades to your locks or other lock-related features.

At the same time, lock repair and lock installation services are also well-qualified and capable of installing locks on new doors, or doors that never had a lock-in them. That can be a bit more involved in terms of the “construction” aspects of the service, as bolt holes and other elements will need to be cut or shaped out of your door and frame. However, it’s generally quick, easy, and affordable with any experienced lock repair and lock installation service. It’s much easier to leave it to the lock repair and lock installation service professionals than to try to install a new lock yourself, especially when it’s somewhere where security matters – so that you can ensure the job done correctly.

LOCK REPAIR AND LOCK INSTALLATION SERVICES – OTHER SERVICES OFFERED

Lock repair and lock installation services often also offer other services. When they are locksmiths or affiliated with locksmiths, they often offer key duplication or replacement, emergency lock opening or picking, and lock upgrade options. They may also provide security consultations regarding different qualities or calibers of locks and lock products, accessories, and other features that may serve you well. That can be of concern to consumers who live in high-traffic or high-crime areas or have a lot of valuables in their homes. Many lock repair and lock installation services also offer services in areas other than door locks, including lock and key services for autos, file cabinets/desks, commercial settings, lockers, industrial businesses, and more.

LOCK REPAIR AND LOCK INSTALLATION SERVICES – CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOCK REPAIR SERVICE PROVIDER

Once you’ve decided you need to hire a lock repair or lock installation services company, your next step should be to do a little research. Naturally, you want to find the best lock repair or lock installation services company in your local area, that will deliver quality, value, and the locksmith services you require. If you have limited experience in dealing with locksmiths, or lock repair and lock installation services, it may be not so easy to know what to look for, or what questions to ask yourself when doing your research. To that end, we’ve provided around a half-dozen or so areas that you should consider when looking for lock repair or lock installation services. We’ve also compiled some basic questions that you can ask as you either contact these lock repair companies or perform research on your own through the Internet or elsewhere. That will allow you to compare objectively lock repair and lock installation providers and find the best lock repair and lock installation company to suit your project or personal needs.

• Lock Repair and Installation Services – what lock repair and lock installation services do they exactly offer? Do they only do lock repair, or do they also provide lock replacement, lock installation services, key duplication, and other locksmith-type services?
• Lock Repair and Installation Provider Reputation – Does a lock repair service company have a good reputation? How are reviews from customers?
• Lock Repair and Installation Provider Experience – how long have they been in the lock repair business? How many lock repair jobs have they completed?
• Licenses/Certifications – are lock repair services company licensed by the state or city and lock manufacturer? Do they belong to any professional locksmith association?
• Lock Repair and Installation Provider Professionalism – do they promptly return customer calls? Are they polite and courteous? Do they answer questions about lock repair clearly and completely?
• Lock Repair Time and Cost – how long do they estimate the lock repair or lock installation job will take them to complete? What is the lock repair services cost estimate? How does this compare to other lock repair companies?

Taking a little time up-front to research and vet your lock repair or lock installation service will help to ensure you get the results you expect and the lock repair service you require, at a price you can afford. After all, you don’t want to cut corners when it comes to the safety and security of your home.

Emergency Locksmith Services

If you’ve ever found yourself locked out of your car, home, or office, you know how valuable a 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock picking service can be. Often, they are the only way to get back in control of your life and get back inside your car or home. That is especially true if you’ve lost or damaged your key or have a broken lock. The best 24-hour emergency locksmiths and emergency lock opening services do much more than give you back access, too. They can help you recover from these kinds of emergencies and regain your security. What’s more, they can do all of this at any hour of the day!

When you’re locked out, you don’t have time to sit around waiting for “normal business hours” to arrive. You need service right away! 24-hour emergency locksmiths and emergency lock opening services can bring everything they need to help you directly to you, on-site, at any time, day or night. They often have self-contained key fabrication labs in the back of their trucks, as well as numerous specialty tools and devices to successfully get past your lock and get you back to your life. In this guide, we’ll tell you a bit more about 24-hour emergency locksmiths and emergency lock picking services. Specifically, we’ll look at when it’s advisable to call one of these services, what they do and offer, sound a note of caution about why you should never try to pick a lock yourself, and highlight some of the services they offer aside from getting you into your locked car or home. Finally, we’ll offer up some tips for choosing a trusted, reputable 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock picking service so that you can get quality service when you need it most.

24 HOUR EMERGENCY LOCKSMITHS AND EMERGENCY LOCK PICKING SERVICES – WHEN TO CALL

First, it’s essential to know when you should call a 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock picking service. Not every situation is that urgent, and there’s no denying that you will often pay a premium for service during non-typical business hours. Being locked out of a drawer in your office desk, for example, is generally not an emergency and not something that requires a professional locksmith on an urgent basis. Most often, 24-hour emergency locksmiths and emergency lock opening services should be called when you find yourself locked out of your home, office building, or vehicle.

If you don’t have a neighbor with a spare key, a spouse with a spare key, or some other means of gaining access, it’s best to call a 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock opening service. Don’t try to crawl through a window or otherwise pick the lock – even if you think you know how (more on that a bit later). Instead, call a professional emergency locksmith. They can get you access in short order and provide additional emergency locksmith services to ensure your security and that whatever caused the problem – loss or damage of a key, for example – is taken care of so you don’t reencounter the same problem.

24 HOUR EMERGENCY LOCKSMITHS AND EMERGENCY LOCK PICKING SERVICES – WHAT THEY DO

24-hour emergency locksmiths and emergency lock opening services typically offer a range of services related to locks, keys, and even security systems in many cases. While not all services necessarily provided on an emergency basis, they usually are fully equipped to handle any problem or need arising from being locked out, at any hour. That may involve picking the lock or using specialty tools to replace the lock or unlock the lock without a key.

Many of the tools and methods that 24-hour emergency locksmiths and emergency lock picking services use are restricted to professionals, since, in the wrong hands, they can be used for nefarious purposes as well. The exact methods that they’ll use to get you back into your home, car, or other locked area will depend on the type of locking system, and why you are locked out. Getting you back into your home because you’ve lost your only key is definitely a more different task for 24-hour emergency locksmiths and emergency lock opening services than getting you back in when the doorknob and lock assembly has damaged, or when there’s a deadbolt involved, or when the key breaks off in the lock, for example.

24 HOUR EMERGENCY LOCKSMITHS AND EMERGENCY LOCK PICKING SERVICES – WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER TRY TO PICK A LOCK YOURSELF

Speaking of keys breaking off in locks and physical damage to locks, they are some of the key reasons why it is never advisable to try to pick a lock for yourself – even if you think you know what you are doing. 24-hour emergency locksmiths and professionals from emergency lock picking services go through specialized training and certification processes to ensure they can safely gain access to locked areas for customers. It’s easy for this process to go badly wrong, especially if you aren’t a professional. If you damage the lock in your attempt to force it open, break off the key in the lock, or break off or lose pieces of a makeshift lock pick inside the lock, it can make it much harder for an emergency locksmith to fix your problem and bypass the lock. Rather than muck things up further and increase the difficulty and potential costs for an emergency locksmith to bypass the lock for you, call a 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock opening service first and wait for them. After all, it’s their job, and they know what they are doing!

24 HOUR EMERGENCY LOCKSMITHS AND EMERGENCY LOCK PICKING SERVICES – MORE THAN JUST OPENING LOCKS

Once the 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock opening service has opened the lock and got you back into your car, home, or other locked area, there are many different services they can offer which may be relevant to you. If you’ve lost your key, but have a spare somewhere else, they can duplicate this for you. You may be safer, however, to have your locks replaced or rekeyed since you don’t know where you’ve lost that key and who has it now. At the same time, physical damage to locks, even if bypassed, often requires the locks to be replaced. That can involve swapping out the lock mechanism itself and leaving most of your hardware intact, or a wholesale replacement of the lock hardware. Many 24-hour emergency locksmiths or emergency lock picking services may also have the tools and expertise to replace car keys, even if they are new, smart key fob-style keys (though this might require a separate trip to their office or store during regular business hours).

Many locksmith companies also offer lock upgrades to increase your security – especially for home and office locks. Adding a deadbolt or other layer of protection to your current lock system, or as part of a lock replacement, can make it much harder for casual burglars or those with malicious intent to get into your home or office.  

Some 24-hour emergency locksmiths and emergency lock picking providers may also deal with security systems and the integration of security systems with locking mechanisms. That is especially important in commercial and industrial settings, where alarm systems are very usual. Often, access to these kinds of buildings requires more than a key, including advanced code-based locks and multi-layered security. In more sensitive applications, they may even need fingerprint or retina scan technology. Modern locksmiths are often capable of dealing with any or all these kinds of systems and do far more than help you get back in when you are locked out.

24 HOUR EMERGENCY LOCKSMITHS AND EMERGENCY LOCK PICKING SERVICES – HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT EMERGENCY LOCK PICKING SERVICE PROVIDER

Usually, when you require a 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock opening services, you’ll likely only have your smartphone on you. It’s not a time to be comparison shopping for locksmiths – you need assistance right away. Therefore, it’s useful to find a quality locksmith in your area and have their contact information added to your phone or bookmarked in your browser when you need it. But how do you know if a local 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock opening service is quality and a good value? There are things you can do to research these service providers in advance and choose the best emergency locksmiths in your area. Consider the following criteria when you study them:

• Are emergency locksmiths licensed and bonded, and is this information readily available?
• How long have emergency locksmith service provider been in business, and what is their reputation?
• What do reviews from customers say about the 24-hour emergency locksmith or emergency lock picking service?
• Do you know anyone who had a good experience with an emergency locksmith services company?
• Does the locksmith company provide 24-hour emergency lock picking services?
• Does emergency locksmith services provider offer any guarantees as to the quality of their work?
• What are the prices on their emergency locksmith services, and how do they stack up against other emergency locksmith service companies?