If you have ever locked yourself out of your house, then you know the frustration that comes with not being able to get back in. All of our important belongings are inside, and we're left outside helplessly banging on the door. What should you do? There are some steps that can be taken to potentially get back into the house, but they may or may not work for every situation.
What To Do If You Get Locked Out Of Your House: Quick Tips
Knowing what to do when locked out of your house is important as it is stressful and frustrating. If you feel like no one else has ever been locked out of their house, then we can assure you that this has happened to everyone throughout history! Read this blog post to find out what steps can be taken if you find yourself locked out of your own home!
These are the steps to take when you get locked out of your house:
Contact a Friend, Family Member, or your Landlord
The first line of defense when you get locked out of your house is to call a friend, family member, trusted neighbor, or even your landlord. If they are close by it’s likely that they can come over and let you back inside. Your options may be limited if the person doesn’t live nearby so this might not always work in every situation. If someone isn’t available nearby or if calling them doesn’t work this is where we run into our first obstacle to regaining access.
If you live in an apartment complex you may be luckier depending on the time you lock yourself out, going to the leasing center during business hours will not cost you anything in most cases. Most buildings will be glad to provide you with for a temporary key to regain access or even unlocked the door for you.
Double-Check Other Access Points
This sounds like a no-brainer but you would be surprised how often people don’t do this. Under panic, you may only check your front door but sometimes you can get back in through an unlocked side door, sliding glass doors, even unlocked windows, or back door, etc. If you don’t have any other access points available to get back into your home then it’s time for a drastic measure: busting out a window, if necessary. If no one is home and/or they aren’t expecting anyone this could be risky as someone looking to do harm could take advantage of the situation. However, if you have no other options this is a necessary move to take so that you can get back into your house and stay warm/dry or call for an emergency service once inside. Always consider the cost of a broken window versus a professional locksmith.
Locate a Hidden Spare Key
If you have a spare house key hidden somewhere in your home, which is recommended by the way, this will be one of your top options to regain entry. Having fake rocks, a flower pot, or outdoor key safes are good alternatives to hiding keys in obvious places. If you have a spare or know where one is hidden, then your job just got easier! This is also one of the best and most economical ways to prevent future lockouts.
Remove The Door Knob
If you are up to it and understand how to work around a lock, then you may be able to remove the doorknob and use your own lockpick set. Although this method is not for everyone it will save you some money in comparison to calling a locksmith. This option requires access to tools such as screwdrivers or channel locks which not many people have. However, if the lock is broken or otherwise damaged it could end up costing you more money in repairs and replacement costs. In cases like this, it could be less expensive to call an emergency locksmith.
Try these steps first, but call an emergency locksmith if they do not work for you!
How To Prevent This Emergency Situation
With the use of technology, there are many alternatives to traditional door locks. You can switch to electronic door locks that are easy to access and use. The locking mechanism can be activated using your mobile phone, they are commonly known as smart locks. This type of installation will enhance your home security and must be done by a professional locksmith. Just imaging how easy it could be to open your front door remotely.
Talk to your local locksmith when considering going keyless, they are great if you have young children who tend to lose keys.
They’re ideal for allowing different people access to your property at specific times, such as house guests, without giving them your house key. You can always change the passcode too without the need to change your door lock.
Contacting Emergency Services
We worry about not leaving unlocked doors when going to work but we need to be prepared for when we get locked out of our homes. We hope you never have the unfortunate experience of being stuck outside, but if it does happen call an emergency locksmith who can open your door without causing any damage or harm that will cost a fortune in replacement costs.
Getting locked out is a serious problem and if you have tried all of the steps above and none of them worked, then it’s time to call a locksmith. We understand how frustrating it can be to be locked out of your own home but rest assured that our team will do what it takes to get your door open as fast as possible.
There are many ways you can try to get back into your house if you find yourself locked out. Locksmiths have special equipment that allows them to open a locked door without using keys in such a way that the door’s lock remains intact. Most doors may be opened in this manner, so you won’t need to get a new doorknob or door lock after we’re through. If required, it may be needed to drill into the lock or doorknob of your front door in order to remove it, and then replace either the cylinder or the entire lock-in unusual situations.
Armstrong Locksmith Can Help
If you live in Nashville, TN, and/or surrounding areas we can help unlock your door, we will work efficiently to get you back into your house or apartment. Our rates are affordable especially when comparing the cost of replacing a window screen or a door that you may have damaged. You can order a set of spare keys and if you own your house we can help you go keyless, so you don’t have to deal with a locked house problem again.
