Cylinder change

Opening a door does not replace the cylinder. The euro profile cylinder sits in the mortice lock and is held by the fixing screw in the edge of the door (usually an M5 screw).

Lost key, theft, attempted break-in, not knowing who has keys after a move – not automatically after every door opening.

After an opening, on the same trip: fitting 49 €, material extra. Cylinder only, door already open: 89 € during the day (Mon–Fri 8 am–6 pm) / 119 € at other times, including a standard cylinder. Security or VdS-approved cylinder (VdS is the German insurers’ testing body): the extra cost is fixed before fitting.

A new cylinder makes sense when a key has been lost or stolen, after a break-in or attempted break-in, and when you move into a new flat. It is also worth changing if the cylinder is stiff or catches. After a normal door opening, however, it is usually not needed.

Cylinders come in many lengths. They are measured from the screw in the edge of the door to the end of the cylinder, once to the outside and once to the inside. Measure with the door open or send us a photo. The cylinder should stick out no more than about 3 mm on the outside.

With the door open, we undo the screw in the edge of the door. Then we turn the key slightly so the cylinder can be pulled out. The new one is fitted and screwed tight. Finally we test every new key from inside and outside. This usually takes only a few minutes.

If the door is open, the change costs 89 € Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm, at other times 119 €. A standard cylinder is already included. A security cylinder typically costs 25–70 € more. If we fit the cylinder straight after an opening, 49 € for fitting plus the material are added to the opening price.

It is best to agree the change with your landlord. We give you back the old cylinder. That way you can have it put back when you move out, if that has been agreed.

The key is hard to insert, catches when you turn it or has to be jiggled. Sometimes it can only be pulled out in one position. These are signs that the cylinder is wearing out. Don’t wait until the key breaks; a change with the door open is cheaper than an opening.

A double cylinder has a keyhole on both sides. You will find it on most flat doors. A half cylinder has only one side and is often used on garage doors or key switches. A thumb-turn cylinder has a turning knob on the inside instead of a keyhole. This lets you lock the door from the inside without a key. It is important to know which type you have, so that the new cylinder fits first time. A photo of both sides is usually enough. It also shows us whether there is a knob, a keyhole or a cover on the inside.

A thumb-turn cylinder is convenient and helps in an emergency, because nobody has to look for the key. But it does not suit every door. If the door has a glass panel close to the lock, someone could smash the glass and turn the knob from the inside. There, a cylinder with a key on both sides is the better choice. For a solid flat door without glass, on the other hand, the thumb-turn is often well suited.

If the lost key had a tag with your name or address on it, or it was in a bag together with your ID card, you should not wait long. Whoever finds the key then knows where it fits. In this case, a new cylinder on the same day makes sense. Until it is fitted, do not leave any windows tilted open or the balcony door open. If the basement key is missing as well, think about that door too.

If your flat key also opens the front door of the building, the basement or the letterbox, your cylinder is usually part of a master key system. A new cylinder then has to match the system and is normally ordered from the manufacturer. This takes some time, sometimes several weeks. Talk to the property management first, because the system usually belongs to them. For work on master key systems, you receive a binding fixed price on the phone in advance.

Monday at 3 pm, you have just moved in and the door is open: the change costs 89 €, with a standard cylinder included. If you would like a security cylinder, typically 25–70 € is added. Saturday at 11 am, same situation: then it is 119 €, again with a standard cylinder. In both cases, the call-out within the service area is already included. So if you are not in a hurry, it is better to choose an appointment from Monday to Friday during the day.