Your locks are your home's first line of defense — but they wear out silently. Most homeowners never think about their locks until something goes wrong. Here are five clear warning signs that it's time to replace yours.
1. YOUR KEY IS STIFF OR HARD TO TURN
A healthy lock operates smoothly. If you're wrestling with your key — jiggling, forcing, or lifting the door handle while turning — the internal tumblers are worn. Lubrication helps temporarily, but persistent stiffness means the cylinder needs replacing. A worn cylinder is also easier to pick or bump, making this both a convenience and security issue.
2. VISIBLE RUST, DAMAGE, OR SCRATCHES AROUND THE KEYHOLE
Inspect your exterior locks carefully. Fresh scratches around the keyhole that you didn't put there are often signs of picking or bumping attempts. Surface rust weakens the physical structure. Dents, cracks, or a wobbly cylinder are all signs the lock has been physically compromised. Any of these mean replacement — not just lubrication.
3. YOUR LOCKS ARE OVER 10 YEARS OLD
Even functional-looking locks degrade internally after thousands of key cycles. Older locks were also designed before modern attack methods like bump keys and pick guns became widely available. If your locks were installed before 2015 and haven't been replaced since, they may be significantly more vulnerable than you realize.
4. YOU DON'T KNOW WHO HAS COPIES OF YOUR KEY
Previous owners, old tenants, former partners, house cleaners, and contractors — over the years, keys get copied without records. If you can't account for every copy of your key, rekey or replace immediately. This is especially critical when moving into any home, condo, or rental property.
5. YOUR HOME WAS BROKEN INTO OR TAMPERED WITH
After any break-in or forced entry attempt, replace all locks — even ones that look undamaged. Forced entry can compromise pins and mechanisms internally in ways not visible. Never reinstall a lock that was involved in a security incident.
WHAT TO DO
If any of these apply to your Burnaby or Vancouver home, call Casper Locksmith at (236) 826-4633. We assess your locks, recommend the right hardware, and install same-day. We carry Grade 1 deadbolts from Schlage, Kwikset, Weiser, and Medeco.