House Lockout
House Lockout
It might surprise, and reassure you, to hear that millions of people lock themselves out of their homes on a regular basis. It is one of the easiest things to do. You go to grab the paper off the yard, look in the mailbox, grab something from the car, or even meet someone in the drive or yard and…click. That one, soft sound is also one of the most horrible when you realize that you don’t have your keys, and that the door probably just locked itself. Fortunately Locksmith Pro offers a full array of residential locksmith services, including house lockout services, house re-key options, all kinds of lock installation services, deadbolt lock installation and door lock repair among others.
What to Do When You Experience a House Lockout
One of the best things you can do when you experience a house lockout situation is actually something you do long before that moment occurs. You prepare for it! Of course, that's just what you are doing by reading this. However, being proactive and prepared can mean different things.
One of the wisest steps to take, where residential locksmith and emergency locksmith services are concerned, is to have the name and number of a reliable, emergency residential locksmith available. Even if you don't have a phone and find yourself knocking on the neighbor's door to get some help, knowing a trustworthy and experienced residential locksmith's name will give you peace of mind.
What NOT to Do When You Experience a House Lockout
Before we look at the ways you can be proactive and all of the steps to take if you need emergency residential locksmith services, we need to address an important matter - what NOT to do. We have encountered many panicked or upset clients who have, for any number of reasons, found themselves locked out of the house. Panicking can make us do some foolish things, and this can lead to even more problems than a simple house lockout.
For example, if you discover that you cannot get inside (whether it is due to the keys being indoors, lost, or the lock is somehow broken or malfunctioning), do not try any of the following:
- Drilling the lock yourself - Not only does this typically ruin the lock and require a new lock installation, but it can damage the door. It makes an affordable situation much more expensive.
- Breaking in - Whether you try to unlock a window or door by forcing it open, you are running the risk of injury to yourself, damage to the home, and even some problems with your insurance provider. Also, please never try to squeeze into spaces not meant for people to pass. Many people have become wedged in dog or cat doors or too small basement windows and ended up paying for a very expensive extraction.
- Call numerous locksmiths - Calling a number of firms in order to get someone to come out promptly can lead to multiple providers arriving within moments. Most will not be understanding about your plight and you could find yourself with a few extra bills because of it.
Be Proactive about Your Needs for an Emergency Locksmith
- Visit us to have a full set of spare house keys made for you, and then find a trustworthy neighbor to rely on as a backup. You can also use a hide-a-key option, though most burglars know all of the best spots and can often easily identify even the most convincing camouflage.
- Call us to assess the conditions of your locks. It could be that a whole house re-key is a good idea. This might mean swapping out locks and getting every door coordinated to a single key. It could mean replacing locks and installing a deadbolt. We want you to be safe in your home, and make it less likely you'll experience a lockout. By getting everything on a single key, and by ensuring your keys are always on hand, it is a great way to prevent frequent lockout situations.
- Create a small sign by the inside of your exit doors which says something like "Got Keys?" It may sound funny, but many of our long-term customers say that it just gets them into the habit of leaving the keys by the door and grabbing them whenever they step outside.
- Think keyless. We don't recommend going all high-tech if you don't want an app that opens and locks the doors. However, simple combination locks are always an option and they are great for homes in which kids might be coming in and out, and for families with busy schedules. It also reduces the risk of too many keys being available and which you can so easily lose track.
If you take a few preventative measures, you may not need a residential locksmith for a house lockout. Still, accidents happen. After all, we are frequently phoned by apartment and condo owners who have experienced a key simply snapping off inside of the door lock. This is also time for residential locksmith services, and yet it is also something that may not have been avoidable.
