QuestionsAsked around Waipahu, Pearl City and Aiea
Locksmith questions, answered straight
These are questions people in this part of Oahu really search for before they call a locksmith, grouped by the kind of job. The exact price for your job comes on the call. The rest is below.
Yours isn't here? Call(808) 204-9339Group 1
Lost keys, broken keys and fobs
I lost my house key. What now?
Think about where it went. If it was on a ring with your address, or in a stolen bag, rekey the locks rather than cutting a spare. Rekeying swaps the pins inside, so the lost key stops working. Locked out as well? We get you inside first, then rekey during that same visit.
A key broke off inside the lock. Should I try to pull it out?
Only if the broken end sticks out far enough to grip with pliers. Pull straight out, never twist. Glue, tweezers or a second key usually wedge the piece deeper. Otherwise leave it and call us. We extract it without harming the cylinder and cut a replacement from the broken halves or the lock.
The key is jammed and won't turn. What's going on?
Usually a worn or bent key, dirt in the cylinder, or a door that has moved so the bolt binds against the frame. Try lifting or pushing the door while you turn. If that frees it, the strike needs adjusting. Don't force it: a key that snaps inside makes a small job bigger.
Can I program a replacement key fob myself?
On some older cars, yes. With two working keys, the owner's manual may list a sequence of door, ignition and button presses that adds a remote. Most push-start fobs and chip keys need a programming tool plugged into the car. No such steps, or no working key left? That is our job.
Group 2
Locks at home
Can every door in the house run on one key?
Usually, yes. We rekey the cylinders to one pin pattern, so a single key opens the front, back and garage doors. The locks need a shared keyway, which in practice means one brand family, all Kwikset or all Schlage. If one door differs, we swap that cylinder or lock to match.
Can a locksmith get a deadbolt open?
Yes. A standard house deadbolt can almost always be picked or bypassed without damage. Drilling is the last resort, saved for high-security cylinders or a lock that has failed inside. If it ever comes to that, you hear about it first and we fit a new deadbolt on the spot.
How do burglars actually get past a deadbolt?
Mostly by force, not finesse. Kicking the door until the strike plate rips out of a soft frame is far more common than picking. Our home locks page covers the fix, and it takes minutes.
Can a smart lock go on the deadbolt I already have?
Many can. Retrofit smart locks replace only the inside thumbturn, so the outside of the door and your keys stay the same. The bolt has to throw smoothly, though, because a motor gives up on one that drags. We can line up a binding deadbolt first, or fit a keypad deadbolt instead.
What's the catch with smart locks?
Batteries, mostly. The lock warns you when they run low, and the warning is easy to ignore until the day it stops. Cheap models can also lose app pairing or drop codes after an update. Keep the physical key reachable from outside, change codes when people move on, and buy known brands.
Can I change my own mailbox lock?
It depends on who owns the box. If the Postal Service owns the mailbox, as with many cluster boxes, the post office handles the lock change. When the box is your own, it is a short job for us: we swap the lock and hand over new keys.
Group 3
Hiring a locksmith
Why do locksmith visits cost what they do?
You pay for the drive, the gear and the know-how, not only the minutes at the lock. A mobile visit means a truck with a key-cutting machine, programming tools and stock on board. Even a two-minute lockout needed someone to drop everything and come. So we quote the whole job up front.
Do locksmiths charge by the hour?
We don't. We price by the job, so you know the figure before we drive out. An hourly rate works against you on a stubborn lock. Lockouts start from $140, rekeys from $65 per lock and car keys from $140, and the call settles the exact number.
Should I tip the locksmith?
No tip is expected. The price we quote is the price. If you want to say thanks, a few words to a friend who might need a locksmith one day mean more to us.
Money's tight. What can I do short of hiring a locksmith?
Check who might already have a key: family, a neighbor, a housemate. For a car, your insurer or an auto club plan may cover lockouts. If nothing is urgent, book a time instead of asking for right now. And call us for the price anyway. A rekey may cost less than you feared.
Is the cheapest locksmith worth calling?
Be careful with the lowest number in an ad. A common trick is a tiny service-call price that grows once someone is at your door. Ask for the full figure for your job on the phone, trip and parts included. If nobody will give you one, keep looking.
Where do I find a good locksmith around here?
Start with one that answers the phone with a business name, gives a full price before driving out and asks real questions about your lock. Then judge them at the door: a good one confirms the price before touching anything, and explains any change once they have seen the lock.
Still have a question?
Ask it on the phone. Asking is free, and the answer comes with a price if you would like one.
6 AM to 9:30 PM daily(808) 204-9339