Lock change and replacement
Last reviewed June 2026 · Swift Key San Diego
A thirty-year-old lock that's been rained on, kicked, or rattled by a dozen tenants is not protecting you, it's just an obstacle for an opportunist. We replace worn-out, loose, or low-grade hardware with current ANSI Grade-1 or Grade-2 deadbolts and knobs sized for your door. The new lock ships with a fresh key set you own outright.
What's included in this service?
- Deadbolt replacement (single-cylinder and double-cylinder)
- Door knob and lever replacement
- Strike plate upgrade to 3" screw reinforcement
- Door prep when the old bore hole is wrong size for new hardware
- Mailbox, gate, and shed lock replacement
- Sliding-door and patio-door lock replacement
When do you need this service?
- Lock feels loose, sticky, or wobbly
- Key takes multiple tries to turn
- Deadbolt doesn't fully extend into the strike plate
- Upgrading from Grade 3 builder-grade to Grade 1 security
- Cosmetic upgrade, new finish, modern look
- Converting from keyed knob to keyed deadbolt (ex-rental cleanup)
What do homeowners ask about Lock Change?
Should I replace my lock or just rekey it?
Rekey if the lock still works smoothly and looks fine. Replace if it's binding, the knob wiggles, the finish is pitted, or it's builder-grade hardware you want to upgrade. We'll tell you honestly which is the right call when we see it.
What are ANSI Grades and why do they matter?
ANSI/BHMA grades rate residential locks on durability and attack resistance. Grade 1 is the top residential/commercial rating (survives 10 sledgehammer-equivalent strikes and 1 million cycles). Grade 2 is solid residential. Grade 3 is builder-grade, fine for interior doors, not ideal for front doors. We install 1 and 2.
Can you install a lock I bought at Home Depot?
Yes. We install customer-supplied hardware for a labor-only rate. We'll flag if the product is a known weak design before we install, some big-box locks have bypass vulnerabilities we can point to.
Do I need a double-cylinder deadbolt?
Only if your door has glass within 40 inches of the deadbolt. Otherwise single-cylinder is code-compliant and much safer in a fire (no key required to exit). San Diego building code follows the California Building Code on this.
How long does a good lock last?
Grade-1 deadbolts are rated for 1,000,000 cycles, in a typical household that's 25+ years of daily use. The weak point is usually the strike plate: a quality lock with a 3" screw reinforcement kit outlasts most doors.
Where do we offer Lock Change in San Diego County?
We provide lock change in every city and community in San Diego County. Pick your city for local climate notes and service specifics.
See lock change in all 67 cities
Homeowners who hired us for this
Examples of the kind of feedback we work to earn on every job. Verified reviews from real customers live on our Google Business Profile and Yelp pages.
Locked keys in the car at Target parking lot on a Sunday afternoon. Called and the tech was there in 25 minutes. Used some kind of inflatable wedge and a rod, no damage to the door. Paid what they quoted, no surprises.
Just bought our first house and wanted all the locks rekeyed. Four doors, keyed alike, done in under an hour. The tech explained everything and even showed us how a rekey works. Way cheaper than replacing all the locks like we thought.
My late father's safe had been sitting locked for ten years, we had no combination. Swift Key opened it non-destructively, then helped me change the combo so I could actually use it. Took about 90 minutes. Professional and careful with the safe.
Need lock change in San Diego County?
Call for a free quote. Most work scheduled within the week.