Your home's year, door by door
Most lock trouble here follows the calendar. A little attention at the right time saves a call later.
Move-in day
Rekey every outside door
You never know how many old keys are out there. Rekeying makes them useless.
June to November
Storm-ready doors
Strong strikes, long screws and bolts on double doors help a door hold in high wind.
All year near the water
Beat the salt air
Corrosion is the number one reason locks stick on the barrier island and riverfront.
Before you travel
Codes, not keys
Give the pet sitter a code, then delete it when you get home.
Rent it out, or renting?
Melbourne has a lot of rentals, from long-term leases to winter visitors. Landlords should rekey or change codes between every tenant, and renters should ask when the locks were last changed. See rentals and landlords for a simple turnover routine.
Patio sliders are the weak spot in many Florida homes. Our page on sliding doors covers easy fixes.
Written by Key-En-Lock's residential locksmiths, based on Saint Clair Street in Melbourne.