Kwikset Lock Rekeying: The Florida Owner’s Guide
Kwikset lock rekeying in Florida typically runs $89-$149 per cylinder when done on-site, and we carry the full pin kit and compatible keyways on every truck. Most single-family homes in Florida are rekeyed the same day you call, often within a couple of hours. Homeowners usually discover they need this service after buying a house, losing a key, or noticing that a contractor, former tenant, or houseguest still has access they shouldn’t.
Which Kwikset Models This Applies To
Kwikset has manufactured dozens of series over the decades, and the rekeying process differs slightly between them. The most common we encounter in Florida homes are the Kwikset Signature Series (SmartKey and traditional pin-tumbler), the Kwikset 660 deadbolt, the 400/740 knob sets, and the older Titan series still found in many 1990s-era Florida subdivisions.
SmartKey cylinders use a sidebar and wafer system that rekeys with a working key and the included reset tool - no disassembly required. Traditional pin-tumbler Kwikset cylinders require removing the lock from the door, extracting the plug, and repinning to match a new key. The two are not interchangeable; a SmartKey cylinder cannot be converted to traditional pin-tumbler operation, and vice versa.
To identify your series, check the keyway shape (Kwikset’s “KW1” is the standard five-pin, while SmartKey uses a different profile), look for the SmartKey logo near the keyhole, or remove the interior thumbturn and check for a small slot beside the cylinder - that’s the SmartKey reset hole. We stock both OEM Kwikset pins and quality aftermarket equivalents from LAB and Major, though we typically recommend OEM for SmartKey systems given the tighter tolerances.
Signs Your Kwikset Lock Rekeying Is Failing
- The key turns but the bolt doesn’t retract. This usually means the tailpiece or cam inside the cylinder has worn out of alignment with the bolt mechanism. In Florida’s humidity, corrosion on the tailpiece can exaggerate what starts as minor wear until the connection fails entirely.
- You need to jiggle the key to find the “sweet spot.” Worn pins inside the cylinder have compressed or developed flat spots, so the shear line no longer aligns cleanly. This gets worse fast - the day you need three tries is the day before you need twenty.
- A new key copies but won’t operate the lock. The original key was cut to worn pins, so the duplicate matches the worn state, not the factory specification. The cylinder needs repinning to a fresh key code, not another copy of a compromised pattern.
- The SmartKey reset function stops working. The sidebar wafers inside have jammed, often from grit or from a previous reset attempt with a partially inserted key. SmartKey cylinders are factory-sealed; once the internal mechanism fails, replacement is the practical fix.
- Multiple keys from different eras all work the same lock. Someone previously rekeyed poorly, leaving old pin combinations partially functional. This “ghost keying” is more common in rental properties and older Florida homes with layered maintenance history.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service | Price Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Kwikset rekey (1-2 cylinders) | $89-$129 | On-site service, new pins, 2 working keys, 90-Day Done Right Promise |
| SmartKey cylinder replacement + rekey | $119-$149 | New cylinder assembly, reset to new key, 2 keys, written guarantee |
| Additional cylinders (each) | $35-$55 | Same keyway matching, so one key operates all |
| Key extraction (broken key in cylinder) | $75-$95 | Removal without drilling, inspection for damage, rekey if needed |
What moves the price: SmartKey cylinders cost more in parts than traditional pin kits; exterior doors with corroded screws take longer; and matching one key to multiple locks requires careful pinning sequence. We quote flat before we roll - the price on the phone is the price on the invoice. Every rekey carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise, backed in writing with no extra paperwork.
Seniors and veterans receive a standing 5% discount. If your total repair exceeds $250, ask about our $50-off standing offer when you call.
DIY or Call Us?
There’s a honest line here. If you have a working Kwikset key, a SmartKey lock, and the reset tool that came with it, rekeying to a new SmartKey is genuinely owner-doable - follow the instructions, insert the working key fully, add the reset tool, remove and insert the new key. Where DIY goes wrong is impatience: a half-inserted key during reset turns a five-minute job into a cylinder replacement.
Traditional pin-tumbler rekeying requires a plug follower, pinning kit, and steady hands. The springs inside are under tension and launch easily across a room - or into your eye. More critically, a mis-pinned cylinder leaves your lock vulnerable to picking or simply failing to open. We don’t recommend disassembling a cylinder without training, and we certainly don’t recommend it for your only working door lock on a Friday evening.
If you’re unsure which system you have, or if the lock is already malfunctioning, call us. We’ll tell you flat over the phone whether it’s a quick reset or needs hands-on work.
FAQs
A standard residential rekey takes 20-40 minutes on-site, including removing the lock, repinning, testing, and reinstallation. SmartKey resets are faster when the mechanism is healthy; cylinder replacements take longer if the internal components have failed. Call (844) 956-4715 to schedule - same-day availability is typical throughout Florida.
Pin-tumbler cylinders can often be repinned to fresh specifications, which effectively “repairs” the keying issue. However, physical wear to the plug, cam, or housing itself isn’t fixable with new pins - the cylinder needs replacement. We inspect on-site and tell you straight which path makes sense.
A properly rekeyed cylinder should last the functional life of the lock itself - typically 10-15 years in Florida’s climate, though coastal salt air can accelerate corrosion on exterior hardware. The rekey doesn’t change the mechanical wear profile; it simply restores clean key-to-pin alignment.
Yes. We carry full Kwikset pin kits, SmartKey cylinders, KW1 key blanks, and the reset tools on every service vehicle. We’re an independent service provider, not affiliated with Kwikset, but we’ve worked with their hardware long enough to know which generations have which quirks. If you’re in Florida and need it today, we likely have it on the truck.
Ready to get your Kwikset locks sorted? Call Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of Florida at (844) 956-4715. A live person will answer, quote you a flat price before we roll, and schedule your rekey today - nights, weekends, and holidays included. We quote it flat before we roll, and we stand behind it when we’re done.
Written by Randall Odom, Owner & Master Locksmith, Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of Florida at Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of Florida, serving Florida and nearby areas.