What You Should Do In a Lockout Situation

If you’re experiencing a problem with your door locks, you shouldn’t ignore this. Unfortunately, most people do until they are not able to gain access. There are various situations where you might find yourself locked out. Here at Lilburn Pro Locksmith in Lilburn, GA we will familiarize you with some of the various lockout situations that we are called to assist with. A lockout situation might cause you to become so frustrated that you can’t think about what you should do. Knowing what type of lockout situations occur and how they should be handled ahead of time will minimize your level of frustration. When you are experiencing a lockout situation, no doubt it is at the most unexpected time. This creates further frustration. Here are some common reasons you might find yourself locked out: 
Jammed Pins – Sometimes the pins in your lock might jam. This will make it difficult for your key to turn in the lock. We suggest that you spray a silicone spray inside the locking mechanism. This usually does the trick. If this doesn’t clear up your problem, contact your local locksmith to make an inspection of your lock. We’ll usually use a silicone-based lubricant if there is a grinding sound. Spraying with a silicone-based lubricant several times a year might help prevent this from occurring at all.

Old Keys – We also suggest that you replace your keys occasionally, especially if you notice that you’re having trouble opening your doors. Since you use your keys so often we rarely pay them much attention until we begin to notice that they will not open the door. Your keys begin to wear over time without your even recognizing it. You should simply get rid of the old key and have a new one made to make life easier on yourself and avoid being stranded for longer than you have to.

Things to Avoid
You should definitely avoid forcing the key to turn. The worst thing that could happen is for the key to break off in the lock. If you’re jerking the key or are in a hurry and simply yank it out of the lock, you may break the key in the lock. Stop and think about it before you react in this manner because your problem could quickly go from bad to worse. If the key breaks before you are able to lock the door, you are really in trouble. This means you’re more susceptible to an intrusion if you’re unable to lock the door behind you. 

If you call on a locksmith, they will usually use a flathead screwdriver to pry the object out of the lock. If this isn’t done properly, it could damage the lock and this might result in your needed to have your entire lock replaced. If you can’t wait for help to arrive, you can use a needle-nose plier to slower and carefully remove the key that has broken off in the lock. This can be a real pain if you do not know what you are doing. This is why we always encourage you to seek the help you need when you begin to have trouble opening or locking your door. Don’t just react to the situation, get ahead of it and prevent it from occurring in the beginning.

Never Force Entry
You might be desperate and conclude that the only way to get inside your home is to break a window. This is the one thing that we strongly discourage you from doing. This will only make your situation worse. You may be able to get inside but now you have to call someone to secure the window and you won’t be able to sleep soundly until this has been done. Forcing entry may also give others who are watching, without your even realizing it, the idea that they can do the same thing to get inside your home. Avoid this at any cost and simply call on the services of a locksmith if you don’t have a spare key. Resolve right now that the last thing you will do is break into your own home.

Here’s what you Should Do

Get Spare Keys Made
If you don’t have spare keys you are setting yourself up for serious disappointment and further frustration. Just think about how easy it is to have another set of keys in the event that you’re experiencing a problem gaining access into your home or business. With the quick call to a close friend or family member, they will be at your side with your spare set of keys. If for some reason you have neglected to have them made, do so today. You’ll be glad that you did when you see how convenient it is to just call up someone to deliver them to where you are.

Annual Lock Maintenance
If being locked out has become a common occurrence for you or someone in your family, it could simply be due to bad locks. Why not have your locks evaluated by a qualified locksmith to determine if the problem you’re experiencing is due to the lock or your key. You may simply need to have your lock repaired or serviced to continue working. Avoid the frustration of being locked out by contacting your local locksmith today. If a new lock is needed they can usually handle it on their initial visit. Why continue to frustrate yourself when you don’t have to.

Many of our customers have found that having a keyless lock installed has helped them avoid being locked out. A keyless entry doesn’t require a key so that threat of breaking the key no longer exists. All that is needed is a keypad that you program a code into or that you can swipe a fob key in front of for entry. Keyless locks are often placed in buildings to control access. However, they have become so popular that they are also used in homes for better security and easy access.