You had a tough day at work. It’s night, and you are finally home. You just want to open the door and get inside. You put your hand inside the pocket to take out your house’s keys but guess what, you can’t find them. That sense of panic when you realize that you have forgotten your keys in the office can be quite frustrating and worrisome. Emergency House lockouts can be very troublesome and mostly occur in the most unfortunate times, like when you are in an emergency or when you are really tired. Here is what you can do when locked out of the house.
Find an Open Window to Move Inside
Leaving a window or the house’s back door open isn’t safe as it makes it easy for burglars to enter your house. Although, on the day of the mishap, if you leave a window or the back door open while you leave, it will be to your advantage as this becomes an option for entering the house during emergency house lockouts. It is the easiest way to tackle the situation and gives you peace of mind, knowing that you were lucky. However, you can also try to open a window at the back of your house. Use a sharp knife to break the window latch first. Then raise the window enough to jump inside the house.
Try Getting Help
During home lockouts, you must try to get help from others immediately. Call and check if your family members have spare keys with them. If you live in a rented property, the owner should be the first one on your list for a call. However, you can simply visit the manager’s office to get a duplicate key if you live in a building apartment. They have spare keys available for emergencies. But for that, they might check your ID. Therefore, make sure you have your ID card available.
DIY Tricks to Unlock Front Doors
Emergency house lockouts in New Jersey can be tackled using simple DIY techniques. A few of them are:
- Using the Credit Card
Locked doors can be opened with a credit card. Even when the door handle is locked, you can turn it by following this simple trick. This is possible by clicking on the latch between the door knob and the lockset. To do this trick, you must select the card you don’t want to bend or damage. Place it between the door knob and lock plates until the lock is reached. Turn the door handle by pressing the trunk with the lid. The door will eventually open.
- Removing the Door handle
While the door is unlocked, you can enter by removing the door handle. Most doorknobs have hidden fasteners, but when you look properly, you will find a small hole in the bottom or side of the doorknob. Find a paper clip or a thin metallic wire and insert the tool in that hole. Upon pressing it inside, you might feel a little resistance. With one hand, push the metal tool into the handle as far as possible, and with the other hand, pull the door handle. Continue to press, pull and twist simultaneously to remove the door handle. Now, remove the trim panel to reveal the key. Use another pin to push the locking mechanism, which will open the door.
Call a Locksmith to Unlock the Door
If nothing works for you during the emergency house lockouts, it is the best time to hire a residential locksmith. One of the specialties of a locksmith is breaking into your home when you are locked out. Most locksmiths are available in emergencies, which means they can reach you in time. An expert locksmith can open any kind of lock, whether it is a house or a condo. They have the proper tools and know the right techniques to break into your house safely. But, if you have a modern lock, it might require to be drilled, which will disable it permanently. At that time, you will need a lock replacement. However, the cost of hiring a locksmith and getting the lock repaired is cheaper than what you expect.
Breaking Inside the House
Breaking into the house should be kept as the last option. However, if you can’t find the spare key and don’t know how to hire a locksmith, this might be the best option. Although, this isn’t easy and depends upon the type of door and lock you have. Therefore, you must always have a plan to deal with emergency lockouts.
Use the tips shared above when you are locked out of the house. People usually damage their doors while trying to force their way inside the house because they don’t think clearly when the panic button hits during a lockout. So, make sure to think clearly and use the ways shared above to get yourself out of a lockout situation safely.