Your Locks Are Your First Line of Defense
Most homeowners replace smoke detectors and maintain their appliances — but completely ignore door locks until something goes wrong. The problem is that lock failures don't always announce themselves loudly. A lock can appear functional right up until it fails to keep an intruder out.
Sign 1: The Key Is Difficult to Turn
If you're jiggling or applying extra force to turn your key, something is wrong. New locks turn smoothly with minimal effort. Difficulty turning usually means worn internal pins, a damaged cylinder, or corrosion. In some cases a locksmith can clean and lubricate it for $50–$75 — but if the lock is more than 10–15 years old, replacement is the smarter long-term investment.
Sign 2: The Lock Is Visibly Damaged or Worn
Scratches around the keyhole, dents in the face of the lock, a wobbly cylinder, or a deadbolt that doesn't extend smoothly — all signs of a compromised lock.
Fresh scratches around your keyhole or a bent door frame mean your lock may have been attacked even if the attempt failed. Replace the lock and reinforce the strike plate immediately.
Sign 3: You've Lost Track of Who Has Keys
Contractors in your home, the same key since you moved in, a recent relationship ending, can't account for all copies — it's time to act. This doesn't always require full replacement. Rekeying costs just $25–$50 per lock and is equally effective for this concern.
Sign 4: Your Locks Are Builder-Grade or Pre-2010
Homes built more than 15 years ago likely have ANSI Grade 2 or Grade 3 locks — designed to meet a price point, not resist forced entry. Grade 1 deadbolts cost only $40–$80 more per lock but offer dramatically better resistance to kick-in attacks.
Sign 5: The Door Doesn't Latch or Lock Properly
A deadbolt that doesn't fully extend, a latch that doesn't catch, or a door requiring lifting to lock — these are critical security failures. A lock that doesn't fully engage provides essentially no protection against forced entry.
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