Locksmiths in Delaware County, PA: older doors, Radnor police advice and complaints
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
What stands out about Delaware County for lock work?
Older houses with little new building, a large share of renters, and a county office that takes complaints about home repair. In the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 estimates, 22.1 percent of Delaware County's housing was first built in 1939 or earlier, more than in Bucks, Chester or Montgomery, and only 3.5 percent was built since 2010, the lowest share of the five counties. The county's own history notes considerable residential building after the First World War in Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Havertown and Springfield, continuing after the Second World War.
Why does the age of a house matter for its locks?
Because older doors have usually had several sets of hardware. ALOA, the locksmiths' trade association, says that in an older house different types of locks may have been installed over the years, of varying quality and with questionable installation, and that whether the existing locks can simply be rekeyed depends on their condition and suitability. Sometimes they can; sometimes new locks are needed. ALOA also says replacing a lock is a moderately easy job in newer houses, where the holes are standard sizes, but that an older house is where it suggests calling a locksmith. That is the association's view, and in a county where more than one home in five predates 1940 it is a practical one.
An older lock that sticks is not always the lock's fault. ALOA says poor door alignment, from worn hinges or a shifting frame, is the cause of most problems people describe as lock problems, so ask a locksmith to look at the door and frame as well as the cylinder.
What do Radnor police advise?
Radnor Township, in the northern part of the county, has a police department that publishes a checklist of burglary prevention tips. For doors it recommends:
- a solid-core or metal door at every entrance;
- a heavy-duty deadbolt with a bolt that throws 1 inch;
- a heavy-duty knob lockset with a dead-latch;
- a four-screw strike plate fastened with 3 inch screws into the wooden frame;
- a wide-angle peephole, 160 degrees, mounted no higher than 58 inches.
It also says to make sure nobody can reach through an open window and unlock the door. Residents going away can register for the department's Vacant House Watch, in which an officer checks the outside of the house daily, online or by calling 610-688-0503. Those are useful items to put in front of a locksmith when you ask for a quote: they turn "make my door secure" into a list that can be priced.
Does the large rental share change anything?
It changes who decides. Renters occupy 30.4 percent of Delaware County's occupied homes, more than in Bucks (22.2), Chester (24.9) or Montgomery (28.6), though well below Philadelphia (48.2). And 24.0 percent of the county's housing units are in buildings with two or more apartments. ALOA advises tenants to check the rental office's lock change policy first: a landlord may require new locks to fit an existing master key system or need a working key. The association says a renter should insist the locks be changed, or get in writing why the owner will not. No Pennsylvania rule on the point was found for this guide.
Do locksmiths here need to register?
There is no locksmith license in Pennsylvania. The Attorney General says locksmiths who do repairs, replacements or installations on homes are contractors who must register under the home improvement law, which covers houses, two-unit buildings and individual condominium units but has limits for small jobs. Search a business in the Attorney General's contractor search, which can be filtered to Delaware County. The Pennsylvania rules guide explains the details.
Who helps if a job goes wrong?
Delaware County's Office of Consumer Affairs offers voluntary mediation and takes complaints about home repair, remodeling and landlord-tenant issues, among others. Suspected criminal or fraudulent practices are referred to the Delaware County District Attorney or the Pennsylvania Attorney General. The office is in the Government Center Building, 201 West Front Street, Media, and its number is 610-891-4865.
Bring paperwork. The Better Business Bureau says an itemized invoice showing parts, labor, mileage, service charges and the business name and address is what lets you dispute a charge. The cost guide shows national price ranges to compare a bill against, and businesses that serve the county are on the Delaware County locksmiths page.
Sources
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Chester County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- Your County at a Glance: History, Delaware County
- Should I Change My Locks When I Move Into a House?, ALOA Security Professionals Association
- Common Lock Issues: Advice and Info, ALOA Security Professionals Association
- Burglary Prevention Tips, Radnor Township Police Department
- Consumer Affairs/Weights & Measures, Delaware County
- Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- Home Improvement Contractor Search, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- BBB Scam Alert: Locked out? Don't fall for a locksmith scam, Better Business Bureau