Moving in and rekeying
When you move into a Modesto home, you can't know how many keys are still out there. Previous owners, tenants, neighbors, contractors and agents may all have copies. Rekeying every exterior lock, including the door from the garage into the house, side gates and any detached garage or shed, puts you back in control. If the locks are compatible, a locksmith can key them alike so one key works everywhere.
Dust, damp and locks
Modesto's dry, dusty summers and damp winters are both hard on locks. Stanislaus County is part of the San Joaquin Valley area the EPA has classified as not meeting federal fine-particle standards, and fine dust works its way into lock cylinders and hinges. Winter tule fog keeps outdoor hardware damp for days, which can corrode padlocks, gate latches and exterior cylinders. A dry lubricant made for locks, applied a couple of times a year, helps. Avoid oil, which collects dust. If a key is getting hard to turn, address it before the key breaks in the lock.
Gates, shops and outbuildings
Many Modesto properties have side gates, detached garages, workshops and storage sheds, sometimes on larger lots. Those locks are often forgotten. A locksmith can rekey or replace them, add weather-resistant padlocks or gate locks, and key them to match the house where possible.
Strengthening doors
A reinforced strike plate with long screws into the wall framing, longer hinge screws, a solid exterior door and a quality deadbolt make forced entry much harder. Sliding patio doors benefit from a secondary lock or a bar in the track. If the door has glass next to the lock, ask about options such as security film.
Smart and keypad locks
Keypad and smart locks are popular for families and rentals because they don't depend on carrying keys. Change default codes, give different people different codes where possible, and remove old codes when circumstances change. Keep a key backup and fresh batteries.
Lockouts and scams
If you're locked out, ask any locksmith for a total price on the phone, the business's legal name and address, and a promise to try non-destructive entry first. Get the price in writing before work begins.
Before you hire
Ask Modesto locksmiths whether your locks can be rekeyed or keyed alike, what grade of deadbolt they recommend, and whether they'll reinforce strikes with long screws. California regulates locksmiths through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services; ask for the business's locksmith license number and look it up, along with any CSLB license for installation work.
Rentals and tenants
Landlords and tenants both benefit from clear key control. Rekey between tenants, or use keypad locks where codes can be changed. Keep a record of who has keys, and collect them when people move out.
Broken keys
If a key breaks in a lock, don't try to push the piece further in or use the lock with another key. A locksmith can usually extract the broken piece without damaging the cylinder.
Mailboxes
Locking mailboxes and community mailbox units have their own locks. For community units, the post office or property manager usually handles changes; for your own locking mailbox, a locksmith can rekey or replace the lock.