Frequently Asked Questions - Locksmith
Straight answers to the questions Los Angeles homeowners ask us most, from pricing to licensing to how fast we can get there. If you don't see your question here, call (910) 714-4287 and a live coordinator will point you to the local team that covers your address.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A standard house lockout in Los Angeles typically runs $75 to $150 during regular business hours, while a full lock replacement averages $120 to $250 per lock including hardware. Rekeying a lock usually costs $60 to $120 per lock, and high-security brand installations like Medeco or Schlage can push past $300 per lock. Our locations give you a written price range before dispatch and a firm written quote before any work starts, so the number you hear on the phone is the number on your invoice. No arrival surcharges, no bait pricing. Call (910) 714-4287 and we'll walk you through the exact numbers for your situation.
For a typical Los Angeles home, changing a standard deadbolt and doorknob set averages $150 to $300 in labor and parts combined. If you're swapping in premium hardware like Schlage or Kwikset smart locks, expect $200 to $400 per door. The total depends on how many locks you're replacing, whether the door needs re-drilling, and what hardware grade you choose. Every Dunmore Locksmith location puts the exact price in writing before tools come out, so you'll know your total before you approve anything. Call (910) 714-4287 for a free estimate based on your door setup.
Rekeying a single lock in Los Angeles costs between $60 and $120, and most homes with three or four exterior locks run $150 to $300 total. Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys stop working, without replacing the hardware itself. It's the most cost-effective way to secure a new home, after a roommate moves out, or following a lost key. Our technicians can key all your locks to a single key at no extra charge during a standard rekey visit. Call (910) 714-4287 and tell us how many locks you have; we'll quote you a firm range on the spot.
No call-out surcharge gets added when the technician arrives. The price you're quoted on the phone is the price you pay, period. This matters in a trade where bait pricing is common, which is why every location under the Threshold Standard puts the full price in writing before work begins. If your job requires parts we didn't anticipate, we'll stop and write a new approval before proceeding. That's the rule across every Dunmore Locksmith location nationwide. Call (910) 714-4287 and we'll quote your job honestly before anyone is dispatched.
The $19 teaser rate is a well-known bait tactic in the locksmith trade. The low price gets a technician to your door, and then suddenly the job requires drilling, special tools, or parts that inflate the invoice to $200 or more. That's exactly why the Threshold Standard exists: every Dunmore Locksmith location gives a real price range before dispatch and a written quote before work starts. If the number changes, it only changes with your signed approval. You deserve an honest locksmith in Los Angeles; call (910) 714-4287 and you'll get one.
Service & Process FAQs
You call, a live coordinator takes your address and lock issue, and connects you with the local team that covers your area. Before the technician heads your way, you receive their name and photo by text or email. At your door, they show a photo ID badge and arrive in a clean, marked uniform. Then they assess the lock, hand you a written price, and only start work once you approve it. That sequence is the Threshold Standard, and it applies at every one of our locations. Call (910) 714-4287 and experience the difference on your next lock job.
Yes, a locksmith can create a new key even if you've lost the original entirely. For basic locks, the technician decodes the lock cylinder or cuts a key by code from the lock's specifications. For newer vehicles or high-security locks like Medeco, the key may require a code lookup and specialized cutting equipment. In Los Angeles, this service typically falls within the standard service call range of $75 to $150, plus any specialized key blank costs. Call (910) 714-4287 and tell us what you're working with; we'll let you know what's possible.
Most standard residential lockouts take 10 to 30 minutes once the technician arrives at your door. Deadbolts, smart locks, and high-security cylinders can take longer, particularly if the lock is damaged or the key broke off inside. The variable is rarely the lock itself; it's how quickly a local team can reach your location in Los Angeles traffic. That's why we route you to the team nearest your address. Call (910) 714-4287, give us your location, and we'll connect you right away.
For most residential work, yes, you or a trusted adult should be present. The technician needs access to the property, and the Threshold Standard means you'll be shown a photo ID badge at the door before any work begins. For commercial jobs, property managers sometimes arrange access separately. If you're locked out, being home is obviously the point; for scheduled rekeying or new lock installation, plan to be there. Call (910) 714-4287 and we'll help you coordinate a time that works within our hours: Monday through Friday 7 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday 7 AM to 7 PM.
Yes, extracting a broken key is a common job our technicians handle across Los Angeles. The process uses specialty extraction tools to grip the broken piece and slide it out without damaging the cylinder, whenever possible. If the key snapped because the lock is worn, the technician may recommend rekeying or replacing the cylinder so it doesn't happen again. You'll get a written price before anything is attempted. Call (910) 714-4287 and describe the break; we'll give you a straight answer on what's involved.
Brands & Parts FAQs
Our technicians work with all the major names, but three stand out for Los Angeles homes: Schlage for solid residential security at a fair price, Kwikset for easy rekeying and smart lock options, and Medeco for high-security deadbolts that resist picking and drilling. Abloy also makes exceptional products for commercial and high-security applications. The right brand depends on your door, your budget, and your risk level. We'll show you options, not upsell you into hardware you don't need. Call (910) 714-4287 and the local team can walk you through what fits your property.
Smart locks make sense for many LA homeowners, especially if you want keyless entry, remote access, or temporary codes for contractors and guests. Brands like Kwikset and Schlage offer smart deadbolts that integrate with common home automation systems, and they range from $200 to $400 installed, depending on the model. A smart lock won't help if your door frame is weak or the lock isn't installed properly, so professional installation matters more than the gadget itself. Call (910) 714-4287 and we'll tell you honestly whether a smart lock fits your setup.
Yes, our technicians install and service Medeco high-security locks, which use restricted keyways and patented key control to prevent unauthorized key duplication. This is a strong choice for Los Angeles homeowners who want serious resistance to picking, bumping, and drilling. Installation runs higher than standard hardware because the cylinders and keys cost more, but the protection is substantial. Every location under the Threshold Standard gives you a written quote before any work begins. Call (910) 714-4287 and ask about Medeco options for your doors.
A bump key is a specially cut key that can manipulate pin-tumbler locks and open them without leaving obvious damage. It's a real concern for older standard locks across Los Angeles. The defense is simple: upgrade to bump-resistant cylinders or high-security locks like Medeco, or at minimum rekey your newer locks with security pins. Kwikset and Schlage both make bump-resistant hardware at reasonable prices. Our technicians can assess your current locks and show you what's actually vulnerable. Call (910) 714-4287 to schedule an assessment during business hours.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Yes, California requires locksmiths to hold a state license through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, including a background check and fingerprinting. Every professional working under the Dunmore Locksmith name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. That's not a suggestion; it's a condition of operating under the Threshold Standard. Before any technician arrives, you'll receive their name and photo, and they'll show a photo ID badge at your door. Call (910) 714-4287 if you'd like to ask about credentials for your local team.
Every technician operating under the Dunmore Locksmith name is required to carry the insurance and bonding their state mandates. The Threshold Standard also requires background checks and identity verification for every technician before they ever knock on a door. If anything ever goes wrong, we make it right; that's the promise we stand behind. For specifics about coverage in your area, call (910) 714-4287 and the local team can explain exactly what applies to your job.
Look for three things: a real business address, a written price before work starts, and a technician who arrives with identification. Scammers quote low by phone, arrive in unmarked vehicles, and pressure you into unnecessary drilling. The Threshold Standard exists to eliminate that uncertainty: every Dunmore Locksmith technician is sent to you by name and photo before the visit, shows a photo ID badge at the door, and puts the price in writing before any work begins. That's the whole point of our brand. Call (910) 714-4287 and you won't have to wonder who's showing up.
Yes, identity verification is built into the Threshold Standard. Every technician is background-checked and identity-verified before they represent the Dunmore Locksmith name. Before your appointment, you receive the technician's name and photo so you know exactly who to expect. At the door, they show a photo ID badge, every time, no exceptions. If anyone arrives who you were not told to expect, that visit is on us and we make it right. That's the promise our brand is built on. Learn more by calling (910) 714-4287.
Emergency & Response FAQs
No, our Los Angeles area locations are not open around the clock. Our business hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. We are closed on Saturdays. If you lock yourself out during those windows, call (910) 714-4287 and a live coordinator will connect you with the local team nearest your address. For emergencies outside those hours, we recommend contacting a local 24-hour locksmith, but when we're open, you'll get the Threshold Standard every time.
Stay safe, call (910) 714-4287, and give the coordinator your address. We'll connect you with the local team that covers your area. While you wait, don't attempt to force the door or window; that turns a $100 lockout into a much bigger repair bill. The technician will arrive with identification, give you a written price before touching the lock, and typically have you back inside within 30 minutes of arrival. Lockouts are the most common call we handle, so don't be embarrassed; just call.
Response time in Los Angeles depends entirely on traffic and where the nearest available technician is at the moment you call. That's why we route you to the team physically closest to your address, not a central hub across the city. Once you're connected, you'll get a realistic arrival window based on current conditions, and you'll receive the technician's name and photo before they head your way. Call (910) 714-4287 with your location and the coordinator will get you routed to the right team immediately.
Most standard residential locks can be opened without damage by a skilled technician using professional picks and bypass tools. However, some high-security locks, damaged cylinders, or smart locks may require drilling, which means replacing the cylinder afterward. If drilling becomes necessary, your technician will explain why and get your written approval before proceeding. The honest answer is that most doors can be opened cleanly, but not every single one. Call (910) 714-4287 and describe your lock; we'll tell you what's likely.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
Yes, every lock and installation we provide is covered by Threshold Verified, our brand's commitment to work that's done right. The guarantee covers parts and labor on the work we perform, and if something isn't right, we come back and make it right. The specifics depend on the lock brand and type of job, but the principle is simple: you shouldn't have to chase a locksmith after the visit. Get the details for your job by calling (910) 714-4287; the local team will explain exactly what's covered before any work begins.
Threshold Verified is the Dunmore Locksmith promise: every technician background-checked and identity-verified, sent to you by name and photo before the visit, photo ID badge at the door, clean marked uniform, and a written price before any work starts. It's also our guarantee that if anything goes wrong with the work, we make it right. It applies at every location, on every job, no exceptions. You can read more about the Threshold Standard on our terms page, or just call (910) 714-4287 and ask.
That should never happen under the Threshold Standard. Every technician is sent to you by name and photo before the visit, and if anyone arrives who you were not told to expect, that visit is on us and we make it right. Do not let unannounced or unverified individuals into your home. Call (910) 714-4287 to confirm who should be at your door. This is the core promise of Dunmore Locksmith, and it's why homeowners in Los Angeles and across the country trust us with their security.
Written by Perry Osgood, Owner at Dunmore Locksmith, serving Los Angeles since 2007.
Still Have Questions?
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