Rekeying vs. Changing Your Garage Door Code in Phoenix: What’s the Difference?
In Phoenix, securing your home goes beyond just locking the front door. For many homeowners in places like Deer Valley, Ahwatukee Foothills, and Paradise Valley Village, the garage is one of the most overlooked access points—but also one of the most vulnerable.
So here’s the question: If you’re worried about home security, should you rekey your door locks or just change your garage code? Or do you need both?
Rekeying your home’s locks and updating your garage access system are both valuable steps—but they serve different purposes. Let’s break down the differences and why each matters for keeping your Phoenix home secure.
Understanding Garage Door Security
Most modern garage doors have:
- A wall-mounted keypad
- A remote or app-based control system
- Manual override options (with a key or emergency pull cord)
- A physical door from the garage into the home (often with a keyed lock)
The convenience is great—but the multiple points of entry also create multiple risks.
If your garage code hasn’t been changed in years, or if someone has a physical garage key, your home may be more accessible than you think.
What Does Rekeying Do?
Rekeying changes the internal pins inside a standard lock so that only a new key will work. It’s the fastest way to remove access from anyone who has an old key—without replacing the hardware.
You might rekey your:
- Front door
- Back door
- Garage entry door (the one that leads into your house)
- Side gates or deadbolts
Rekeying is crucial if:
- You just moved into a new house
- You lost a key
- A tenant or roommate moved out
- A contractor had access
- You’re unsure who else may have copies
Even if you never gave out the garage code, someone with an old key could still walk in through the side door or garage entry—and that’s where rekeying matters.
What Does Changing the Garage Code Do?
Most garage door keypads have a 4-digit code that can be changed anytime. You’ll usually do this by:
- Holding a “learn” button on the opener
- Entering a new code
- Syncing the code with remotes or smart systems
Changing the code prevents remote access via keypad, but it doesn’t secure:
- Physical keys
- Manual override systems
- Entry doors inside your garage
That means if you’ve only changed your garage code but haven’t rekeyed the doors, you’ve only locked one door in a house full of entry points.
Real-World Example: The Garage Is the Weakest Link
Let’s say you bought a home in Garfield or Encanto. The seller hands you a few keys and gives you the garage code.
- You change the code—great.
- But two weeks later, someone who once lived there still has a key to the garage-to-kitchen door.
- They enter, and there’s no forced entry, no alarms. Just missing items.
We’ve seen this happen across Phoenix—especially in neighborhoods with older homes or long rental histories.
Rekeying the doors and changing the garage code should go hand-in-hand if you want full control over your home’s access.
When to Rekey AND Change the Garage Code
If any of the following applies, you should do both:
- You recently bought a home
- You just completed a renovation
- A renter or guest has moved out
- You had contractors coming and going
- You’ve never changed the code since moving in
- You can’t remember who has keys or knows the code
Many homeowners in North Mountain Village, Roosevelt Row, and Estrella Village are shocked to realize how easy it is for someone with a forgotten code or old key to get inside.
Why Garage Entry Doors Need Rekeying Too
The door from your garage into your home is often a standard residential lock—just like your front door. And in many Phoenix homes, it’s left unlocked for convenience.
We recommend:
- Rekeying the garage entry door
- Adding a deadbolt if possible
- Changing the garage code regularly
- Not storing spare keys inside the garage (just in case)
Your garage isn’t just where you park the car—it’s often a key entry point into your home. Don’t treat it like an afterthought.
Smart Garage Systems and Rekeying
If you use smart garage controls like MyQ, Google Home, or a Wi-Fi-enabled opener, you can:
- Monitor activity from your phone
- Grant temporary guest access
- Get alerts if the door is left open
But none of these features override a simple truth: If someone has a key to the garage entry door, they can still get in.
That’s why we help homeowners in Midtown, Central City South, and South Phoenix combine smart access with physical rekeying to fully lock things down.
How Much Does Rekeying Cost?
In most cases, rekeying a lock is much more affordable than replacing it. We can often rekey multiple doors during a single visit—including the garage entry, front door, and side gate.
Costs are typically per lock, and we’ll bring all the tools, new pins, and fresh keys needed.
Rekeying also allows you to:
- Use one key for multiple doors
- Add extra copies for household members
- Improve peace of mind immediately
Click here to see how easy it is to schedule rekeying with us.
Quick Comparison Chart
| Feature | Rekeying | Changing Garage Code |
|---|---|---|
| Stops old keys | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Stops old access codes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Affects physical doors | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Controls entry to home | ✅ Yes (via garage door) | ✅ Yes (via keypad) |
| Recommended after move-in | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Total protection with both | ✅ Best if combined | ✅ Best if combined |
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Rekeying and code changes are preventive security measures. They help you stay ahead of problems, not respond after one.
If you’ve lived in your home for several years and never rekeyed—or haven’t changed your garage code since you moved in—you’re overdue.
Let us help you reset both and protect what matters most.
Cover Every Entry Point—Garage and Beyond
Most break-ins happen through doors that seem secure—but aren’t. Rekeying paired with garage code resets gives you full protection, inside and out. Let our Phoenix locksmiths help you lock it all down.
Affordable Security Locksmith And Alarm – Phoenix
📞 (602) 854-2766
🌐 affordablesecurityphoenix.com