Locksmith questions, answered

A Cairn dispatcher answers the emergency line 24 hours a day, every day, including holidays. Emergency calls include home, business and vehicle lockouts, broken keys, failed locks and urgent lock changes within our service area.

Daytime arrival in the Las Vegas valley is typically 20 to 40 minutes. The dispatcher estimates your arrival window based on the nearest van’s location, traffic and time of day. That window is an estimate, not a promise.

Give the dispatcher your address or nearest cross streets, explain which door or vehicle is locked and describe what happened. While waiting, stay in a safe, well-lit place and avoid forcing the lock or door.

The technician examines the lock and uses a non-destructive entry method when its condition allows. Drilling is reserved for situations where other methods are unsuitable, and you must approve both the drilling and replacement price first.

Call 911 first if a child, pet or vulnerable person is trapped and in danger. Las Vegas summer highs exceed 110°F, and the temperature inside a closed vehicle can reach dangerous levels in a very short time.

Cairn sends its own W-2 technicians, not home-service subcontractors. You receive a text with the assigned technician’s first name, photo and van number, and the technician arrives in uniform with photo ID and a locksmith work card.

Rekeying changes the cylinder so previous keys no longer operate it while keeping the existing hardware. Replacement is more suitable for worn, damaged or low-grade locks, or when you want different hardware or a smart lock.

They can share a key when their cylinders have compatible keyways. We check the existing hardware first because different brands and cylinder types cannot always be keyed alike.

New construction may have locks operated by a builder’s construction key. Rekeying after closing gives you a new set of working keys without automatically replacing hardware that is still in good condition.

A rental lock change requires approval from the owner or property manager. We also verify your ID and lease, or obtain confirmation from the landlord or manager, before proceeding.

We work on locks belonging to customers who own their private mailboxes. Locks on USPS-owned cluster mailbox units must be handled by the Postal Service.

Yes. We service gate locks, sliding glass door locks and secondary locking hardware, and check for binding or alignment problems that can keep a latch from engaging.

A master key opens the doors assigned to it while individual doors retain their own keys. We plan access by person, department or building and account for doors that should remain outside the master system.

A restricted key system uses controlled blanks that ordinary key kiosks and hardware stores cannot duplicate. Cairn logs issued keys and releases additional keys only to authorized account contacts on a signed request.

We service panic bars, exit devices and surface door closers, including closer adjustments and replacements. Fire-rated assemblies may need review by a fire door inspector or fire marshal before changes are made.

Our commercial process includes a door walkthrough, written recommendation and proposal. Through December 31, 2026, businesses and properties with 5 or more doors can request a no-charge scheduled walkthrough, not emergency service. Mention the offer when booking.

Approved commercial accounts can use purchase orders and net 30 invoicing. Property management accounts have authorized contact lists, work orders submitted by email and monthly statements by property.

Commercial installations can be scheduled outside operating hours when the business needs it. We establish the scope and schedule in advance, including any applicable after-hours charges.

We replace lost keys for supported vehicles at the vehicle’s location. Making a key when none remains involves additional cutting and programming work, so the vehicle details must be checked before dispatch.

Yes. For supported vehicles, a technician can cut and program another key while a working key is available. This generally involves less work than replacing every lost key.

We service supported smart keys, proximity fobs, transponder keys and remote head keys. Tell us the vehicle’s year, make, model and starting system so we can check programming support.

Many European vehicles from 2015 onward require dealer-only programming, including certain BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Volvo and Land Rover models. We check the vehicle on the phone and explain when dealer service is required.

Have your government photo ID and vehicle registration, title or insurance card in the same name ready at the vehicle. Our technician comes to you. If the ownership documents are locked inside, the technician checks them once the vehicle is open.

We inspect and service ignition cylinders, including repairs, replacements and broken key extraction. The technician checks the cylinder and key condition before recommending the work.

The service call fee is $39 within the standard service area. It pays for travel and inspection, applies to every visit and is separate from any labor or parts charges.

A $45 after-hours fee applies from 9 PM to 7 AM and on Sundays and major holidays. The dispatcher explains the applicable charges before sending a technician.

After inspecting the job, the technician presents a written price listing the charges for the proposed work. You approve it before work begins, and any change requiring a different price must be approved separately.

The dispatcher gives the service call fee and a price range for the work you describe. The final amount depends on the lock, hardware, door condition or vehicle system and requires inspection.

We verify government photo ID and a connection to the property, business or vehicle before completing an entry service. The check helps establish that the person requesting access has authority to enter.

The technician can open the door and inspect your ID before leaving. If you cannot provide acceptable identification and proof of occupancy, the door is relocked and only the service call fee is charged.

Yes, if the lock fits the door and can be installed correctly. Customer-supplied locks carry Cairn’s 12-month workmanship warranty on labor only. The lock remains under its manufacturer’s warranty, and you handle product claims because Cairn only handles claims for hardware it supplied.

Direct sun on west- and south-facing doors can shorten battery life and fade keypads. A dragging deadbolt also makes the motor work harder, so we check door alignment and show you how to maintain the batteries.

No. We help pair the lock, add user codes and demonstrate its controls, but the customer retains the administrator account. Cairn does not keep access codes or login credentials.

We check the door thickness, backset, bore opening and whether the bolt moves freely without pushing or lifting the door. For connected locks, we also check the Wi-Fi signal at the entry.

Standalone locks suit individual openings, while managed systems coordinate access across multiple doors. Cairn handles small managed systems up to 16 doors and works with a licensed low-voltage contractor on larger networked projects.

We inspect safes with lost combinations, failed locks or unresponsive keypads and determine an opening method from their condition. Some require drilling and repair, so an opening method cannot be promised beforehand.

We change combinations, replace electronic safe locks and upgrade suitable dial locks to keypads. The technician checks the safe and existing lock before confirming the work.

We handle ground-level safe delivery and moving for units weighing up to 1,000 lb, as well as installation and concrete anchoring. Heavier safes and moves involving stairs are referred to a safe mover.

We require photo ID and documents establishing ownership or authority over the safe. For inherited or estate property, have the relevant estate documents available for review.

Cairn provides mobile locksmith service across 14 Las Vegas valley communities, including Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Spring Valley, Enterprise and Paradise. If your property is near the edge of the service area, call to confirm coverage.

Yes. Boulder City emergency service operates from 7 AM to 9 PM, with overnight calls accepted when a van is available. A $25 travel charge is added to the regular service call fee.

Cairn’s 12-month workmanship warranty covers labor. If a lock we installed, rekeyed or repaired fails because of our work, a technician returns and fixes it at no charge. Keys and fobs we supplied and programmed carry 90 days. Hardware carries its manufacturer’s warranty.

We accept major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and cash, plus business checks. Payment is collected after completion, and you receive an itemized invoice.

Our Las Vegas key and safe workshop operates by appointment only and does not have a walk-in counter. Most customer work is handled by a mobile technician at the property or vehicle.