Start the Year Right with Professional Locksmith Services

Every New Year brings a fresh start and a chance to reinforce your home security. As 2026 kicks off, it’s an ideal moment to think about securing your home in Melbourne, FL. Whether you’ve been putting off a rekey, ignoring a sticky lock, or meaning to upgrade your deadbolts, the start of the year is the perfect time to finally take action.

Here’s a practical checklist of locksmith services that can make a real difference in your home’s security this year.

Rekey Your Locks

If you haven’t rekeyed your locks since you moved in — or if it’s been several years — now is the time. Rekeying invalidates every old key copy that’s floating around out there and gives you a fresh set of keys with complete control over who has access.

This is especially important if any of the following happened in the past year: a roommate or tenant moved out, you had contractors in your home for renovations, you lost a key and never found it, or you gave a spare to someone you’re no longer in contact with.

Rekeying is fast, affordable, and gives you immediate peace of mind. A locksmith can rekey all your exterior doors in under an hour, and you can have every door on a single key for convenience.

Upgrade to Grade 1 or Grade 2 Deadbolts

Not all deadbolts are created equal. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rates residential locks on a three-tier scale:

Grade 3 is the lowest rating — this is what most builder-grade locks fall under. They meet minimum security standards but offer limited resistance to forced entry.

Grade 2 offers significantly better security with tighter tolerances, stronger materials, and better resistance to physical attacks. This is the minimum grade that most security professionals recommend for residential use.

Grade 1 is commercial-grade security. These deadbolts are tested to withstand 800,000 cycles and 10 strikes with a 75-pound force. Brands like Mul-T-Lock, Medeco, and Schlage B-series fall into this category.

If your front door has a flimsy deadbolt that wobbles when you turn it, you’re probably running Grade 3 hardware. Upgrading to Grade 1 or Grade 2 is one of the highest-impact security improvements you can make, and it’s surprisingly affordable.

Install Deadbolts Where You Don’t Have Them

You’d be surprised how many homes in Brevard County have exterior doors with only a doorknob lock and no deadbolt. This is especially common on side doors, garage entry doors, and back doors.

A doorknob lock alone provides almost no security. Most can be bypassed in seconds with a credit card or basic tool. A deadbolt is the minimum acceptable security for any exterior door.

If any of your exterior doors — front, back, side, or garage entry — lacks a deadbolt, adding one should be at the top of your 2026 security list.

Get Smart Locks Installed

Smart locks have evolved dramatically over the past few years. Modern options like Lockly, Schlage Encode, and Kwikset Halo offer keyless convenience without sacrificing security.

The benefits for homeowners include: no more hiding keys under doormats, the ability to create temporary access codes for house cleaners or pet sitters, auto-locking features so you never forget to lock up, activity logs showing when each code was used, and remote locking and unlocking from your phone.

If you’ve been curious about smart locks but haven’t made the move, the New Year is a great time to upgrade. A locksmith can advise you on the best option for your door and install it properly to ensure reliable operation.

Check and Repair Existing Locks

Sometimes you don’t need new hardware — you just need your existing locks serviced. Over time, locks develop issues that get worse if ignored:

Sticky cylinders that require jiggling the key get progressively harder to operate. A cleaning and lubrication can restore smooth operation.

Loose deadbolts that wobble in the door indicate worn mounting hardware or an oversized bore hole. This compromises both security and daily usability.

Misaligned strike plates force you to push or lift the door to engage the deadbolt. This means the bolt isn’t fully seating, reducing its hold strength against a kick-in attempt.

Worn keys that barely turn the lock anymore. A fresh key cut from the original, combined with a lock service, can make your front door feel brand new.

These are quick, inexpensive fixes that prevent lockouts and improve security. A locksmith can inspect all your locks in a single visit and address any issues on the spot.

Secure Your Sliding Doors and Windows

Sliding glass doors are one of the most common entry points for burglars. The standard latch on most sliding doors offers minimal security and can be defeated by simply lifting the door off its track.

Security additions include auxiliary locks that prevent the door from being lifted, bar locks that prevent the door from sliding open, and pin locks that secure the door at multiple positions.

For windows, especially ground-floor windows, consider adding window locks or pins that prevent the sash from being opened more than a few inches.

Get Spare Keys Made

If you’re down to one key for your house or car, you’re living dangerously. One lost key, one broken key, one key that goes through the washing machine — and you’re locked out with no backup.

Start the year by getting spare keys made for all your important locks. Keep a spare house key with a trusted neighbor or in a secure lockbox. Keep a spare car key at home. It’s cheap insurance against an expensive emergency.

Schedule an Annual Security Assessment

Just like you schedule annual checkups for your health or your HVAC system, your home’s locks and security hardware deserve an annual once-over. A locksmith can inspect all your locks, identify worn or compromised hardware, recommend upgrades where needed, and perform maintenance that extends the life of your locks.

Think of it as preventive care — fixing small issues before they become lockouts or security vulnerabilities.

Key-En-Lock: Your Locksmith Partner for 2026

At Key-En-Lock, we’re ready to help you start the year with better security. We offer every service mentioned above — rekeying, lock upgrades, smart lock installation, lock repair, spare keys, and security assessments — across Melbourne, Palm Bay, and all of Brevard County.

We’re a local, family-owned business that’s been serving the Space Coast community since 2019. When you call us, you get our team — not a call center, not a random contractor.

Make 2026 the year you get serious about security. Call Key-En-Lock at (321) 224-5625.