Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Medeco Lock Installation & Rekey in Long Beach: What to Know First
We provide independent Medeco lock installation and rekey services in Long Beach, typically scheduling same-day or next-day appointments with a written price quoted before we dispatch. Most Medeco rekeys run $45-$85 per cylinder for residential deadbolts and entry sets, while full installations range $180-$420 depending on the series and door prep required. Call (424) 340-6795 and we’ll quote your exact job in writing - Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice.
This page is for Long Beach homeowners and property managers who already own Medeco hardware or are considering it, and need a technician who knows the difference between a Maxum deadbolt and an X4 rim cylinder without reading the part number twice.
How Medeco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Maxum 11*5 Series: sticky keyway from salt air corrosion. In Long Beach, the marine layer deposits chloride on brass components faster than inland markets. We see this in Belmont Shore and Naples Island homes within 3-5 years of installation. The key drags, then jams. We disassemble the cylinder, clean the pin chambers with a non-residue solvent, and re-lubricate with Medeco’s specified dry film - not graphite, which cakes in humid air. If the sidebar springs are fatigued, we replace them with OEM parts; aftermarket sidebar kits vary in temper and can change the keying specification.
- Medeco3 (M3) BiLevel: false “key won’t turn” calls caused by sidebar misalignment. The M3’s angled cuts interact with a sidebar that rides in a precision slot. When homeowners force the key against accumulated grit, the sidebar binds in its track rather than retracting. We see this on rental properties near Cal State Long Beach where turnover is high and key duplication quality varies. Our fix: pull the cylinder, inspect the sidebar track for galling, replace the sidebar and springs if worn, and rekey to a fresh code so duplicated keys start clean.
- Medeco Original (pre-2005): key bow wear leading to incorrect insertion depth. The older brass bows deform at the shoulder stop over decades of use. The key slides too far in, the lift pins don’t reach their shear line, and the customer thinks the cylinder is failed. We measure the bow-to-shoulder dimension against factory spec, replace the key with a code-cut original, and check that the bottom pins haven’t been ground down by repeated over-insertion. This is a $12 key fix, not a $200 cylinder replacement.
- X4 rim cylinders on commercial gates: housing distortion from over-torqued installation. Property managers near the Port of Long Beach call us when the X4’s tailpiece binds against the cam. The previous installer cranked the mounting screws until the zinc housing distorted, throwing the plug bore out of round. We replace the housing with a new OEM shell, transfer the existing pinned core if it’s sound, and torque to Medeco’s 18 in-lb specification - something we verify with a driver, not by feel.
- Medeco Logic (electronic): battery leakage damaging the PCB in coastal humidity. The Logic series uses a single 9V cell in a compartment that seals with a snap-fit cover. In Long Beach’s humidity, alkaline leakage is common after 18 months. We clean the board with isopropyl and a soft brush, replace the battery contacts if corroded, and reprogram the audit trail. If the PCB is damaged, we source replacement logic modules - not the entire lock - and rekey the mechanical override cylinder to match.
Our Medeco Lock Installation & Rekey Process
- 1
Call and code identification. We ask for the key head marking (M3, Biaxial, Original, X4) and the application - deadbolt, rim cylinder, padlock, switch lock. Daniel Novak or our dispatcher quotes a firm price based on parts and labor, with no call-out surcharge added on arrival.
- 2
On-site diagnostics. The technician photographs the installed hardware, tests operation with the customer’s key, and identifies the failure mode. We explain what we found before touching tools.
- 3
Parts decision: OEM or qualified aftermarket. For cylinders under Medeco’s original factory warranty, we use OEM pins, springs, and sidebars to preserve coverage. For out-of-warranty hardware, we may use Medeco-specified aftermarket components that meet the same metallurgical standards - always disclosed on the written scope.
- 4
Installation or rekey execution. Rekeys are performed with factory key gauges and code cards; installations include door prep measurement, strike alignment, and three-point latching verification on deadbolts.
- 5
Testing and documentation. Every key is tested for smooth operation at multiple angles. The technician leaves a photo record of the completed work and a written warranty under our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
- 6
Invoice review. We walk through the invoice line by line before payment. The name on the van is the same name on the invoice. That is the whole argument.
What Medeco Lock Installation & Rekey Costs in Long Beach
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Medeco residential rekey (per cylinder) | $45-$85 | Series (M3 vs. Original), key quantity, after-hours scheduling |
| Medeco deadbolt installation (new prep) | $220-$420 | Door material (solid wood vs. steel), strike reinforcement, additional bore |
| Medeco deadbolt installation (retrofit) | $180-$290 | Existing bore alignment, adapter plates needed, trim compatibility |
| Medeco rim cylinder rekey or replacement | $65-$140 | Housing condition, tailpiece length, cam type |
| Medeco Logic electronic service | $95-$210 | PCB cleaning vs. module replacement, programming complexity |
These are the prices we quote on the phone - the same prices on the invoice. No dispatch fee, no “service call” add-on, no surprise when we arrive. Bring us a competitor’s written estimate and we’ll review it free under our Second Opinion policy.
Why Long Beach Homeowners Call Novak Lock & Security Long Beach for Medeco Work
We’ve installed or serviced over 60,000 locks since 2002, and Medeco has been in that mix from the start. Daniel Novak trained on Medeco’s pin-tumbler geometry at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College before the M3 existed, and our current crew handles the full line from Original to Logic. When a Long Beach customer needs a Medeco rekey at 10 PM because a tenant moved out, we answer the phone live and quote the price then - no callback window, no automated queue.
We also stock Schlage and Kwikset as backup options when Medeco’s security level exceeds the application, or when a property manager needs keyed-alike compatibility across mixed hardware. Every technician is background-checked, uniformed, and works to The Haven Standard - the same documentation framework across all ten Haven brands. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to every Medeco job, same as every other lock we touch.
FAQs
No - if the rekey is performed by a competent technician using Medeco-specified components. As an independent Medeco service provider, we use OEM pins and sidebar assemblies on any cylinder still under Medeco’s original warranty, and we document the parts used so your coverage remains intact. Call (424) 340-6795 and we’ll verify your warranty status before quoting.
Most residential rekeys are scheduled same-day or next-day; emergency lockout situations with Medeco hardware get a live dispatcher immediately and typically a 30-60 minute response in the Long Beach metro area. The actual rekey takes 20-40 minutes per cylinder once we’re on site.
Pre-2005 Original cylinders with worn housings are usually worth replacing - the brass alloy Medeco used in that era is softer than current spec, and a new Maxum or M3 gives you modern sidebar geometry. For M3 and newer hardware, rekeying or component replacement is almost always the better value. We tell you which category you’re in after inspection, not before.
We stock M3, Biaxial, and X4 key blanks in our Long Beach service vehicles, plus common sidebar springs, bottom pin kits, and housing assemblies. Logic electronic modules and specialized cam configurations are pulled from our warehouse same-day if not on the van. If we don’t have it, we’ll tell you before we dispatch - not when we’re standing at your door.
Yes - Haven Standard Clause 1. The dispatcher quotes a firm price based on the series and service type you describe. The technician is contractually prohibited from changing that price at your door unless you request additional work, which requires a new written scope signed before execution. This rule has been in place since 2002.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner, Novak Lock & Security Long Beach at Novak Lock & Security Long Beach, serving Long Beach and nearby areas.