Locksmith in Van Nuys, CA 91409

91409 is one of the Van Nuys ZIP codes, and we serve the surrounding area from our base in 91405.

People here call us after moving to rekey their locks, and to replace or program car keys when one goes missing.

Rekeying when people move in or out

Moving into a new place means you rarely know how many copies of the old key exist. Former owners, tenants, agents, cleaners and contractors may all have had one. Rekeying changes the pins inside the lock so only your new keys work, and you keep the hardware you already have.

Several doors can usually be set to one key, which means fewer keys on your ring. Landlords often rekey between tenants for the same reason.

Rekeying is also worth considering after a roommate moves out, a relationship ends or a set of keys goes missing. It is a quick way to take back control without changing the look of your doors.

Stronger deadbolts for older doors

Many older homes still have a single spring latch or a light-duty deadbolt with short screws. A well-made deadbolt with a full one-inch throw, a reinforced strike plate and three-inch screws into the frame resists kicked-in doors far better.

We can fit single or double cylinder deadbolts, match finishes to your existing handles and key them to your other locks, so the upgrade does not add another key.

If a door frame is split or soft, a new deadbolt alone will not hold. We point out frame damage when we see it, so you can decide whether to repair the frame before the new lock goes in.

Ignition trouble and snapped keys

A key that will not turn in the ignition, or that turns but does nothing, often points to a worn key or a failing ignition cylinder. Forcing it can snap the key.

If a key breaks in a door or ignition, stop using the lock and leave the broken piece where it is. Extraction tools can remove it without damaging the cylinder, and we can then cut a new key or repair the ignition.

Small habits help: keep heavy key rings off the ignition key, replace keys that look worn or bent, and get a stiff lock looked at before it fails completely rather than forcing it.

Questions from Van Nuys 91409