There are few things more frustrating than getting locked out of the house. This is especially true if you don’t have a spare key stashed away in a hide-a-rock or another easy to access place. With what precious free time we have in this busy world, the last thing we want to be doing is waiting long periods of time for a friend to drop off that spare key. Fortunately, if you find yourself in this situation, it’s not the end of the world. The following guide will walk you through various different approaches you can try to get back in your home. But if time is of the essence and you want to turn to the pros, reach out to Rapid Locksmith Ottawa today.
Call A Family Member, Friend or Your Landlord
If you ever find yourself locked out of your house, remember to remain calm and don’t panic.First things first, if you live with a roommate, family member, or partner, get in touch with them. If they are free, this route will likely be your quickest option to get you into your house. If you are a renter consider contacting your landlord or rental office for assistance. Odds are they’ll have a spare key available and can help you out. Have you travelled recently and had a friend or family member house sit? Perhaps they still have the key you lent them and can help you out in your time of need.
Check for Open Windows
Wondering what to do when locked out of the house? It is never recommended to leave a window or patio door open or unlocked – this is an easy way for burglars and other intruders to easily access your home. But if you did forget to close a window or lock a back or side door on the same day you lock yourself out, then you’re in luck because this could be a potential solution to your problem. How great would it be to twist the knob of a side door and walk on into your house. Problem solved. Odds are this won’t be the case and your string of bad luck continues. However, an open window is more likely to be the case. You might have the pop out a screen, which could break in the process, but this would be a relatively cheap fix. Push the window up so you have enough clearance to enter the house and slide on in. Take note – this is not a recommended way to enter a house, especially if the window is high from the ground, and can easily result in injury. You should also be able to explain yourself to anybody walking by as this could be construed as suspicious activity.
Ask a Neighbour for Help — Or a Warm Place to Stay
It always pays to be friendly with your neighbours — and this is especially true when you’re locked out of your house. Neighbours that are rather chummy tend to swap keys for situations like this, but if your relationship hasn’t developed to this stage, perhaps they have tools or a wire hanger you could use to try and jimmy the lock. At the very least, perhaps your neighbour could provide you some shelter while you wait to get back into your home. This will be even more helpful should you ever find yourself in adverse weather – including rain, snow, extreme heat, or days of extreme cold when you cannot be outdoors for long.
Use Your Credit Card
Ever wonder how to open a door lock without a key? The credit card trick takes a combination of luck, skill, timing and good fortune – but should you pull off this MacGyver-esque maneuver you’ll definitely be able to get back into your home. It is important to use a card that is made of thick plastic here – a basic business card or a sub sandwich loyalty card won’t suffice. Another piece of advice here is to select a card that isn’t overly important, or too difficult to replace, as things can go south in a hurry.
Stick your card between the door and the frame above the lock. While doing this, jiggle and turn the handle with a decent amount of force. You can also attempt to hit the locking device with your card and press to unlock the door. Persistence and stick-to-itiveness are the keys here.
Take Apart the Doorknob
Ever wonder how to open a locked door with a screwdriver? Unless you work in a trade, the odds are you aren’t leaving the house each day with a set of tools in the truck. This is another situation where it pays to know your neighbours. Doorknobs disassemble in different ways – however most can be taken apart using a paperclip, hammer, and screwdriver.
Using the screwdriver, remove all the screws that hold the handle in place, now remove the hinge screws with your paperclip. After you have disassembled your knob and have entered your home, it is vital to ensure it is put back together properly in order to keep any unwanted visitors from being able to enter your home.
Break In
The old saying comes to mind here – desperate times lead to desperate measures. If you have young children alone inside or are facing another situation that requires immediate entry, breaking in might be the best option. This will most certainly cause a stir so try to enter through the back rather than going in through the front. A swift, hard kick to the door – near the knob – might be enough to kick it in. It is not recommended to break a window as broken glass can be extremely dangerous.
Contact an Emergency Locksmith
It doesn’t matter if it’s during the work day or in the middle of the night – an emergency locksmith is ready for just that, an emergency. They operate 24 hours a day and even work on holidays. Locksmiths have special tools that will allow them to open locked doors without the need for a key in such a way that maintains the door’s integrity. Most doors will open this way, so you won’t have to worry about replacing your knob or lock. Locksmiths work fast to get you back into your home while also offering affordable prices.
Regardless of the situation that led you to being locked out of your home, the above guide can generally help you out when you’re in a pinch and offer some assistance to those that need to know how to open a door the outside. A wire hanger, a credit card, or perhaps an open window are all great avenues to consider – but if you’re looking for guaranteed results, call Rapid Locksmith Ottawa today.