Home Rekey & Lock Change
When you move into a new home off Park Avenue or settle into a rental near the University of Rochester, one of the smartest security steps you can take is a home rekey or lock change before you unpack a single box. Previous owners, former tenants, real estate agents, and contractors may all have copies of your keys — and there is simply no way to know how many exist or where they have ended up. Top Rochester Locksmith dispatches a trained, insured technician directly to your door, anywhere in the Rochester area, so you are not left wondering who still has access to your home.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
Lost a key? Just ended a lease? Noticed signs of tampering on your front door knob lock or mortise lock? These are not situations to put off until next week. Our mobile lock change service means we come to you — no hauling hardware to a store, no waiting days for an appointment. We are available 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays, because security concerns rarely follow a convenient schedule. One call to (631) 380-4138 connects you with a real person who can dispatch a skilled technician to your location fast.
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 Rochester, we reach the Rochester 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.
Home Rekey & Lock Change: What Is the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
Rekeying and replacing a lock are two distinct services, and choosing the right one depends on your specific situation. When you rekey a lock, a technician disassembles the cylinder and replaces the internal pins so that your old keys no longer work — only the new ones will. The lock hardware itself stays in place, which makes rekeying a practical choice when your existing deadbolts and knobs are in solid mechanical condition and you simply need to cut off access from previous keyholders. It is one of the most requested services we handle after a home purchase or a breakup, and it is especially common in Rochester's older neighborhoods like Corn Hill or the 19th Ward, where homes change hands frequently and locks may not have been touched in years.
A full lock change, on the other hand, swaps the entire lock unit. This is the right call when a lock is worn, damaged, outdated, or simply not up to the level of security you want. Upgrading from a basic door knob lock to a heavy-duty mortise lock — the style commonly found in older Rochester homes and commercial storefronts — is a popular choice for homeowners who want deeper bolt engagement and greater resistance to forced entry. Our technicians carry a wide inventory of quality hardware, including Schlage and Kwikset products, and can walk you through the options that fit your door prep and your security goals before any work begins.
Mortise Lock, Door Knob Lock, and Smart Lock Services — All in One Visit
One of the most overlooked upgrades a Rochester homeowner can make is switching from a standard cylindrical door knob lock to a mortise lock. A mortise lock is set into a precisely cut pocket in the door edge rather than simply bored through the face, which gives it a larger footprint, a more substantial latch and deadbolt mechanism, and significantly more door-to-frame engagement. Many of the older homes in Rochester's Browncroft, Swillburg, and South Wedge neighborhoods were originally fitted with mortise locks, and homeowners who have replaced them with modern cylindrical hardware often find that restoring a mortise lock system dramatically improves both security and the aesthetic character of the original doors. Our technicians are experienced with mortise lock installation, repair, and cylinder replacement on a wide range of door thicknesses and materials.
We also handle smart lock installation and code changes for keypad and connected deadbolts. If you have a Defiant lock and need a defiant lock change code after a tenant moves out, or a Honeywell door lock change code following a renovation, we can walk through the process with you on-site — and if a full replacement is simpler or more secure in your situation, we can handle that too. Whether your priority is a traditional keyed entry, a mortise lock upgrade, or a touchpad deadbolt, our mobile team arrives with the tools and hardware to complete the job in a single visit without damage to your door frame wherever the installation allows.
When You Need an Emergency Locksmith for a Lock Change — Not Just a Lockout
Most people associate an emergency locksmith call with being locked out of a house or car. But there is another category of urgent lock service that does not get enough attention: security emergencies that require an immediate lock change. If you have just had a break-in attempt, discovered a lock has been tampered with, or realized a key has been stolen rather than simply lost, waiting days for a scheduled appointment is not a responsible option. Top Rochester Locksmith operates 24/7 precisely for these situations. We have responded to calls from homeowners on Culver Road after a car break-in left them worried about their house keys, and from property managers near East Main Street who needed every unit rekeyed before business hours.
In a non-emergency situation — if you are simply planning ahead after a move — scheduling during daytime hours is always an option, and we will give you an exact price up front before any work begins. Factors that influence your final quote include the type of lock hardware involved (a mortise lock installation, for example, requires more labor than a standard cylinder rekey), the number of locks being serviced, any parts that need to be ordered or swapped, the time of day, and your location relative to our dispatch area. There are no surprise charges added after the fact. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies as urgent, call (631) 380-4138 anytime — we answer 24/7 and can help you decide the right course of action.
A Note on Kiosk Key Copies — and Why They Are Not a Security Solution
You may have noticed self-service key copy kiosks inside certain grocery and convenience stores around Rochester, including inside Price Rite locations. These kiosks can be convenient for making a spare copy of a standard house key for a family member, and for simple duplicate needs they work reasonably well. However, there are important limitations worth understanding. Kiosk machines cannot rekey your locks, change your lock hardware, address a security concern, or cut high-security restricted keyway keys with any reliability. They also cannot program key fobs or electronic access cards for your vehicle or building — those require specialized equipment and trained technicians. If your goal is to cut off access for a former tenant or previous owner, copying a key at a kiosk does nothing to solve that problem; only a rekey or lock change actually accomplishes it. For anything beyond a simple spare, our mobile team provides a far more complete solution — arriving at your location with professional tools, a full inventory of hardware, and the expertise to handle mortise locks, smart locks, door knob locks, and everything in between.
Our Full Home & Commercial Lock Change Services in Rochester, NY
Top Rochester Locksmith handles a comprehensive range of lock and security services for residential and commercial clients throughout the Rochester area. Our services include: residential lock rekey after a move or lost key; full residential lock change for worn or outdated hardware; mortise lock installation, repair, and cylinder replacement; door knob lock replacement and upgrade; deadbolt installation and reinforcement; smart lock and keypad deadbolt installation; Defiant lock change code assistance and reset; Honeywell door lock change code assistance and reset; high-security lock cylinder upgrades; master key system setup for multi-unit properties; lock change service for rental property turnover; commercial lock change for office and retail spaces; commercial locksmith services for storefronts and warehouses; access control hardware installation; panic bar and push bar installation; sliding door and patio door lock service; window lock installation; mailbox lock replacement; garage door lock and handle service; lock repair for damaged or frozen mechanisms; key extraction for broken keys in cylinders; duplicate key cutting for standard and restricted keyways; lock-out service for homes and apartments; re-pinning and key change for master lock padlocks including master lock change combination assistance; and vehicle locksmith services including car lockout, ignition repair, key fob programming, and transponder key cutting. Whether you need a single rekey or a full commercial lock change across multiple doors, we bring everything needed to complete the job at your location.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a locksmith charge to change a lock?
There is no single standard rate because several variables go into every quote: the type of lock being serviced (a mortise lock installation involves more labor and hardware than rekeying a basic cylindrical deadbolt), the number of locks on the job, whether new parts are needed, the time of day you call, and how far the technician needs to travel to your location. What we can tell you is that Top Rochester Locksmith confirms an exact price with you before any work begins — no surprises added to the bill afterward. If you want to understand what your specific situation will cost, call (631) 380-4138 and we will give you a straight answer based on the details of your job.
What is the non-emergency number in Rochester, NY?
The City of Rochester's non-emergency police line for situations that do not require an immediate emergency response is (585) 428-7033. If you have experienced a break-in or a security incident that has already passed but you want to file a report or get a welfare check, that is the appropriate number to use. For the lock change or rekey that should follow any such incident — or any other lock and security concern — Top Rochester Locksmith is available around the clock at (631) 380-4138.
Can a locksmith program my key fob?
Yes, and this is one of the services that sets a full-service mobile locksmith apart from a self-service key kiosk. Programming a key fob or transponder key requires specialized diagnostic equipment that interfaces with your vehicle's onboard computer — it is not something a kiosk can do, and it is not a simple key cut. Our vehicle locksmith services include key fob programming, transponder key cutting, and ignition repair for a wide range of makes and models. We come to wherever your vehicle is located in the Rochester area, so you do not need to arrange a tow.
Is Rochester, New York a good area to live in?
Rochester has a lot going for it — a strong arts and cultural scene anchored by the George Eastman Museum and the Rochester Philharmonic, accessible neighborhoods with genuine character like Park Avenue, the South Wedge, and Corn Hill, respected universities, and a lower cost of living compared to most northeastern metros. Like any city, some blocks and neighborhoods require more attention to home security than others, and that reality is part of why we stay busy across the area. Whether you are settling into a first home near Highland Park or managing a rental property closer to downtown, keeping your locks current and your access controlled is a straightforward step toward feeling secure where you live.
After I move into a new home in Rochester, do I need a full lock change or just a rekey?
In most cases, a rekey is sufficient if the existing deadbolts and door knob locks are in good mechanical condition and are not excessively worn. Rekeying cuts off access for everyone who had a previous key while keeping your existing hardware. A full lock change makes more sense if the locks are old, damaged, or a lower security grade than you want — or if you are upgrading to a mortise lock system or a smart lock. Our technician will assess your existing hardware on-site and give you an honest recommendation before any work starts. Many Rochester homeowners end up doing a combination: rekeying functional locks and upgrading one or two that are worn or inadequate.
Can Top Rochester Locksmith handle a commercial lock change for my business?
Absolutely. Our commercial locksmith services cover office buildings, retail storefronts, warehouses, and multi-unit residential properties throughout the Rochester area. A commercial lock change often involves higher-traffic hardware, master key systems, access control integration, or commercial-grade mortise locks — all of which our technicians are experienced with. We also handle lock change service for property managers who need units turned over and rekeyed quickly between tenants. Call (631) 380-4138 to discuss the scope of your commercial project and get an up-front quote.