Home Rekeying Service
When you move into a new home in Shavano Park, hand a spare key to a contractor you no longer use, or simply lose track of who has copies of your house key, rekeying every exterior lock is the smartest single security step you can take. Rather than replacing every deadbolt and door knob lock on the property, our technicians disassemble each cylinder, swap out the internal pin stacks, and cut a fresh key that renders every previous copy permanently useless — all without damaging your existing hardware.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
“Reliable San Antonio Locksmith is a fully mobile, insured locksmith team based in the Shavano Park area. We come to your front door — whether you live off Shavano Park Road near the city hall, in one of the quiet cul-de-sacs south of Wurzbach Parkway, or anywhere else in the surrounding neighborhoods. Our 24/7 availability means there is never a wrong time to call, and we confirm an exact up-front price before a single tool comes out of the bag. Dial (631) 380-4138 any time to get started.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Shavano Park, we reach the Shavano Park area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
More about our work
Everything you need to know about how we help — at a glance.
What a Professional Home Rekeying Service Actually Involves
Rekeying is a precise mechanical process, not a shortcut. A trained technician removes each lock cylinder from your door — deadbolts, door knob locks, handlesets, mortise locks, and any secondary entry hardware — and replaces the driver pins and key pins inside with a new combination. When the work is done, one freshly cut key operates every exterior lock on your home. Previous keys cut to the old combination will not turn the cylinder at all. No drilling, no frame damage, and no new hardware purchases are required in most cases.
Mortise lock rekeying deserves special attention because mortise lock bodies are set into a pocket routed directly into the door edge — a design common on older Shavano Park homes with original craftsman-style doors as well as on newer high-security upgrades. Our skilled technicians are experienced with mortise lock disassembly, pin replacement, and reassembly in the field, which many general handymen are not. If a mortise lock cylinder shows wear or internal damage during inspection, we will tell you before proceeding so you can decide whether a rekey or a full cylinder replacement better serves your needs.
Home Rekeying Service: Every Lock Type We Handle at Your Property
A thorough home rekeying service covers far more than just the front door. Below is a representative list of the specific work our mobile team performs on residential properties throughout the Shavano Park area. Every item on this list can be handled in a single visit: standard pin-tumbler deadbolt rekey, single-cylinder deadbolt rekey, double-cylinder deadbolt rekey, door knob lock rekey, door lever lock rekey, mortise lock cylinder rekey, mortise lock cylinder replacement, handleset rekey, sliding patio door lock rekey, garage entry door deadbolt rekey, interior privacy lock rekey (on request), master key system setup for multi-lock households, new key cutting on-site, high-security cylinder upgrade (Schlage, Kwikset, and comparable brands), smart lock cylinder rekey, keypad deadbolt battery and cylinder service, padlock rekey for gate or outbuilding, hasps and secondary bolt inspection, strike plate alignment and reinforcement, door frame security assessment, worn key extraction before rekey, broken key extraction before rekey, lock lubrication and adjustment during service, duplicate key cutting for household members, and emergency lockout resolution on the same visit if needed.
Having a single technician handle all of these in one appointment — rather than scheduling separate visits — is one of the practical advantages of calling a dedicated mobile locksmith. We carry the tooling and replacement pin kits for the most common residential lock brands right in our service vehicle, so the job rarely requires a second trip.
When Rekeying Is Smarter Than Full Lock Replacement
Replacing every lock on a home is the right call when hardware is worn, outdated, or damaged — but in many situations, the existing deadbolts and door knob locks are in excellent mechanical condition and only the key combination needs to change. Rekeying accomplishes that without discarding functional hardware. Common triggers our Shavano Park customers mention include: closing on a new home purchase and wanting no connection to previous owners' keys, ending a rental agreement, recovering from a break-in where entry was not forced through the lock itself, losing a key and being uncertain whether it was recovered, or going through a household change such as a divorce or roommate transition.
There are also cases where rekeying and replacement work together. If your front door uses a quality mortise lock while a secondary entrance still has a decades-old door knob lock with a loose cylinder, we might rekey the mortise lock and recommend replacing the older hardware at the same time. Our technicians explain the condition of every lock they inspect and give you a clear picture so you can make an informed decision — no pressure, no upselling hardware you do not need.
Pricing Factors, 24/7 Availability, and How to Reach Our Mobile Team
The final quote for a home rekeying service depends on several specific variables: the total number of locks being rekeyed, the lock types involved (a standard door knob lock takes less time than a mortise lock or a high-security multi-point cylinder), whether replacement parts such as new cylinders or pins are required, the time of day the call is placed, and travel distance from our base in the Shavano Park area. We never begin work until you have agreed to an exact price — what we quote is what appears on the invoice, full stop. There are no surprise add-ons for after-hours service calls.
Our technicians are available around the clock, every day of the year. Whether you finish signing your closing papers on a home along Shavano Park Road late on a Friday evening or you realize on a Sunday morning that a key is missing, the same insured, experienced team picks up the phone. For a same-day appointment or an immediate emergency locksmith response, call (631) 380-4138 — we answer 24/7 and dispatch directly to your address.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to rekey all the exterior locks on a typical Shavano Park home?
Most single-family homes in the Shavano Park area have between three and six exterior lock cylinders. A standard rekey visit — covering front door deadbolt, door knob lock, side entry, and garage entry deadbolt — typically takes between 45 minutes and 90 minutes on-site. Homes with additional entry points, mortise lock bodies, or high-security multi-point cylinders will take longer, and our technician will give you a realistic time estimate when you call.
Can you rekey a mortise lock the same day, or does that require ordering parts?
In most cases, yes — our mobile service vehicles carry pin kits compatible with the most common mortise lock cylinder profiles installed on residential and light commercial doors in the area. If your mortise lock uses a less common profile or the cylinder itself is damaged and needs a full replacement, the technician will tell you immediately and confirm availability before you commit. We aim to complete the work in a single visit whenever possible.
Do I need to be home the entire time, or can I leave once the technician arrives?
We ask that the property owner or an authorized adult representative be present for the entire appointment. This is a security and liability matter — our insured technicians need to verify ownership or authorization before rekeying any lock, and you will want to test and accept the new key before we leave. Once you are satisfied that every lock operates correctly on the new key, we hand over all freshly cut copies and the appointment is complete.
Will rekeying my locks void any manufacturer warranty on my Schlage or Kwikset hardware?
Manufacturer warranty terms vary by brand and product line, but rekeying performed by a qualified technician using correct tools and compatible pin kits does not void the warranty on most major residential brands including Schlage and Kwikset — those manufacturers actually anticipate that their cylinders will be rekeyed over time. If you have specific concerns about a high-end lock with a written warranty, review the documentation or ask us before the appointment and we can advise based on the specific hardware.
What is the difference between a home rekeying service and a lockout service?
A home rekeying service is a planned security measure — you have access to your home and want to change which key works on your locks. A lockout service, which we also provide as an emergency locksmith response, means you are locked out and need non-destructive entry so you can regain access. Both services are available 24/7. If you are currently locked out and also want the locks rekeyed once inside, we can handle both on the same visit. Call (631) 380-4138 and describe your situation so we can dispatch the right equipment.
How is the final price determined, and will I know the cost before work begins?
Yes — always. The quote depends on the number of lock cylinders, the types of hardware involved (for example, a door knob lock is simpler than a mortise lock or a high-security deadbolt), whether any parts need to be replaced rather than just repinned, the time of day, and your location relative to our Shavano Park base. Our technician reviews all of these factors on arrival and gives you a confirmed price before any work starts. You are never obligated to proceed if the quote does not work for you, and the final invoice will match the agreed amount exactly.