“Often imitated, never duplicated.” This saying has been around for a while, but it obviously doesn’t apply to home security. After all, keys have historically been one of the easiest items to duplicate! Just visit a big-box retailer and you can get a cheap copy of most keys.
In fact, duplicate keys are one of the biggest risks for homeowners. Whether you want to prevent someone else from duplicating your keys or you want to ensure you do it the right way, here are some guidelines to consider.
Benefits of Key Duplication
Spare keys have several benefits, among them saving you time if you ever lose the original. Also, just having them gives peace of mind and can reduce stress. Here are some of the other benefits of duplicating a key:
- You get a backup key for the original.
- You avoid getting locked out of your home.
- You can give one to a trusted friend or family member.
- You can also give one to a neighbor for when you’re out of town.
Key Duplication Safety Tips
While they do have benefits, duplicate keys also have risks. The biggest risk is when someone else has access to your original key for any significant amount of time. Whether it’s a service technician, a home buyer or a neighbor, grabbing a key for duplication and replacing it later isn’t that difficult. This means a stranger has access to your home. To avoid this situation, here are some key duplication safety tips:
- Don’t leave a key (original or duplicate) in an easy-to-access location.
- Only give spare keys to people you completely trust.
- Avoid hiding spare keys in obvious locations, like under the doormat.
- Don’t ignore access points, especially at night.
- Have a home safety plan for when you’re out of town.
Where To Get Keys Duplicated
Keys are often duplicated at those self-service kiosks out of convenience. They’re not the best key duplication solution for giving you peace of mind, as they tend to be inferior quality, not as precise and less secure than visiting a professional locksmith. At A-1 Locksmith, we’ve duplicated thousands of keys over the years, so we can give you personalized tips about what to do (and not do) with the key duplication process.
If you’d like more advice about key duplication and other locksmith-related topics, stop by any of our A-1 Locksmith locations in Dallas-Fort Worth today and we’ll help you out.
