With so many keys to manage these days, it can be easy to lose or forget yours. This can leave you scrambling to figure out how to open a door lock without a key. Knowing how to do this would not only save you the time of having to get a spare key made, but could also help in the event of an emergency.
Let’s review how to open a locked door without a key, so you never have to worry about being left out in the cold.
Why Do You Need to Know How To Open a Locked Door Without A Key?
You probably have a daily morning routine before you go out the door. Phone, wallet, and keys. Our reliance on fobs and key transponders to get in our vehicles means sometimes we walk out the door or office leaving our ‘traditional keys’ behind.
By the time you realize you have left the keys behind you are locked out and left trying to figure out how to open a locked door without a key. This is why it is important to know the tools and tricks necessary to get into a locked door or room without having to call a professional. Not only could it save you time and money, but could also save your life.
Lock Picking
You have probably seen people picking locks on television and thought it would be a useful skill to know. In fact, knowing how to pick a lock is one of the most valuable skills you can have. But before tackling a lock, it is important to know what kind of lock you are dealing with. Each look has a different kind of mechanism that allows it to open and close.
Make sure you know what kind of door locks you have throughout your home so you can access this information readily. The most common kind of lock is a pin tumbler lock. Businesses that require a higher level of security may have a mortise lock which is stronger and more difficult to pick.
Car doors have a different locking system known as wafer locks and sliders. These are more difficult to gain access to and may require additional tools.
Assuming you are dealing with a pin lock it is helpful to understand the basic components before trying to pick. These main components include:
- Key pins
- Driver pins
- Springs
- Plugs
- Housing
To pick the lock, you will need to find tools that allow you to access these components.
How to pick a door lock
When you are ready to pick the lock, gather together a few items that will help you release the mechanism. These may include a hook, rake, tension wrench, paper clip, or bobby pins. Depending on the situation you are in when locked out, will determine how to get into a locked door with the tools available.
How To Pick A Lock With A Bobby Pin
Using the raking or single pin method follow these simple steps to release the lock
- Slide your tool into the lock and use it to raise the key pins
- Once you have reached the shear line, push the driver pins above the line
- Create a gap that will allow you to rotate the plug
You should be able to release the lock and the door will open with ease.
Bump Keys
If you are stuck outside your home wondering how to get into a locked door, you may want to consider a bump key. Many older locks can easily be bypassed with this useful door unlocking mechanism. Bump keys are designed for home locks, and unlike traditional keys easily manipulate the key pins and drivers pins to access pin tumbler locks.
Bump keys are fashioned with cuts that allow the key to reaching further into locking mechanisms using a hammer or screwdriver. You may now be asking how to open a locked door with a screwdriver? The screwdriver is used to force the bump key into the keyway so it can access as many pins as possible. The force will push the driver’s pins down and allow you to unlock the door.
Though a bump key may seem like the answer to how to unlock a locked door, it is important to consult with your local laws as it can be illegal to own a bump key in some areas.
Credit Card
If you don’t have any traditional lock picking tools available, you may be left wondering how to open a door without a key. This is where a credit card comes into play. They can be used to open older locks, but do not work with deadbolts or more advanced security locks.
Credit cards can slide against latch locks allowing them to come off their holder. It may require a significant amount of pressure against the latch lock to get it to release. To protect your door it is recommended to tilt the card towards the latch bolt then use your body weight against the door.
Drilling the Lock
If you have tried picking the lock, it may be time to look at how to break a door lock. Usually done as a last resort, drilling the lock will release the locking mechanism completely allowing you access to your home or business.
Start by aligning the drill bit with the keyway and begin to drill into the center. Make sure your drill bit lines up as evenly as possible to improve the depth. Lubricants such as WD40 may help the drill move with more ease. Use arm and body strength to force the bit into the lock, releasing the mechanism. Once you have gained access, you will have to replace the lock and doorknob with a new secure one.
Focusing on Door Exploits
If you want to minimize the potential for damage to your door locks, you may want to consider alternative methods of removing the door. Kicking down the door may gain access, but leave a considerable amount of damage behind such as destroying the door and door frame. This may be a last resort option in the event of an emergency.
Removing the hinges is a safe and clean way to take a door off without doing damage. Using a hammer and screwdriver, use force to push the hinge pins upwards and slide the door off. Be careful not to leave the weight of the door on the lock which may still be intact. This can cause the lock to warp making it difficult to subsequently remove.
Call a Locksmith
Transponder keys are in most vehicles 20-years or newer, and they are keys with a chip that has been programmed to the specific vehicle. A transponder key will look like a traditional fob/key, but will only work for the vehicles it’s been programmed to.
Rapid Locksmith Ottawa provides professional residential and commercial locksmith services designed to gain access to your home or business fast. Our security door locksmith services mean we can help you regain access to even the tightest secured doors.
Though these tips may help you gain access to a locked room or home, they can result in significant damage. It is also important to remember to only attempt these tips on your own door locks. Contact us today for a free estimate and let Rapid Locksmith keep your home or business secure.
