Home Lock Rekeying
Moving into a new home in Merrionette Park — whether it's a bungalow off Kedzie Avenue or a two-flat near the Cal-Sag corridor — comes with a lot of unknowns. One of the biggest is this: you have no idea how many copies of your keys are floating around. Previous owners, former tenants, neighbors, contractors, real estate agents — any of them could have a working copy. Home lock rekeying is the fastest, most cost-effective way to take full control of who can open your doors from day one, without replacing every lockset on the property.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
At Alsip Locksmiths, our mobile technicians come directly to your Merrionette Park address — no shop visit needed. We handle everything from classic mortise lock cylinders on older Chicago-area homes to modern door knob lock sets, deadbolts, and multi-point entry systems. If you've just picked up your keys from a real estate agent or you're settling into a rental that's changed hands more than once, call (708) 787-4833 and we'll get your home secured the same day — our team answers 24/7.
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 Merrionette Park, we reach the Merrionette 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.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to rekey all the locks in a typical Merrionette Park home?
Most single-family homes with three to five exterior locks can be fully rekeyed in about 45 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on lock types. Older properties with mortise locks take a bit longer per cylinder than modern cylindrical locks, but we stock common pin kits on the vehicle so we rarely need to make a parts run mid-job. We'll give you a realistic time estimate when we confirm your up-front price before starting.
Can you rekey my locks to match a key I already have — for example, one key that works the front door, so everything else matches it?
Yes. This is called key-to-existing or match-keying, and it's one of the most common requests we get from homeowners who want to keep using a specific key. We re-pin the other cylinders on the property to match the cut of your chosen key. The only limitation is that the keyway profile of the other locks must be compatible with that key's profile — if they're different brands or different keyway families, we may need to replace one or more cylinders to achieve a true single-key setup.
What's the difference between rekeying and a full home lock change — and how do I know which one I need?
Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work, while keeping your existing hardware in place. A full lock change means removing and replacing the entire lockset — knob, lever, or mortise lock and all. You need a full change when the hardware itself is damaged, worn to the point of being unreliable, or when you want to upgrade the security grade of the lock. If the hardware is mechanically sound and you simply need to eliminate access from previous keyholders, rekeying is the more efficient choice. Our technician will inspect the hardware on arrival and give you an honest recommendation.
Do you offer home lockout service if I get locked out after rekeying — or if my new key doesn't work?
Absolutely. If you experience a home lockout for any reason — a key that doesn't turn smoothly after a rekey, a misplaced new key, or simply locking yourself out — call (708) 787-4833 any time of day or night. Our home lockout service is available around the clock. We'll verify ownership and get you back in using non-destructive methods wherever possible. If a newly rekeyed lock isn't working correctly, we'll also troubleshoot the cylinder at no additional charge since it falls under our workmanship.
Can you rekey a mortise lock, or do you have to replace it entirely?
Rekeying a mortise lock is a standard part of what we do. The cylinder in a mortise lock is removed from the lock case, re-pinned to the new key, and reinstalled — the case itself stays in the door. This is actually preferable for older Chicago-area homes where the mortise pocket in the door is sized to a specific case dimension; replacing the entire lock case often requires door modification. Our technicians are specifically experienced with mortise lock hardware, including older designs common in Merrionette Park's mid-century housing stock.
Is 24 hour lock rekeying available, and does after-hours service cost more?
Yes, we provide 24 hour lock rekeying service — our team answers calls at (708) 787-4833 at any hour, including weekends and holidays. Time of day is one of the factors that can affect the final price, and we will always confirm your exact up-front quote before dispatching or beginning any work, so you know precisely what to expect. Late-night and early-morning calls are not uncommon for move-ins and lease transitions, and we treat them with the same level of professional service as a midday appointment.