What Should You Do When Locked Out Of Your House?

Being locked out of your home can be very stressful.  After all, what steps should you be taking to get back into your own home?  If you are in this situation, there are a few steps that you should try to help you get back inside.

Get Some Help

Ideally, you will have a spare key with someone that you trust.  If this is the case, you need to contact them as soon as possible and ask them for the spare key.  If you live with a roommate or a partner, you can contact them to let you in.

If you do not have spare keys of roommates and rent the house, you should get in contact with our landlord.  They will often have a spare key to the property.  If you live in an apartment complex, you can go to the manager’s office and ask for help.  Of course, you will need to provide proof that you actually live in the complex in these cases.

Look For Unlocked Windows And Doors

If you cannot get in touch with anyone, you should look for any open and unlocked windows or doors.  While you should never leave the window unlocked, if you have, this could be your way into your home.  An unlocked ground floor window is a safe entry point, but you will need to be careful.

If you can find a window and are able to get it open, you need to be careful when you enter.  It is likely that you will be off balance as you climb through.  You also have to be careful with anything that is placed beneath the window inside our home. 

Take Off The Doorknob

Removing the doorknob can help you gain entrance to your home and this is something that many people do not know about.  Of course, this will not work if you have a deadbolt on the door.  To remove the doorknob, you will need to look closely and try to find a small pin-sized slot or hole.

This will usually to the side of the doorknob or below it.  You will need to have a thin piece of metal such as a paper clip or hairpin and insert it into the hole.  Apply some pressure and you should feel resistance. 

You will have to keep pushing the metal as far as possible into the hole with one of your hands.  The other hand should pull and twist the doorknob.  You will need to continue doing this until the doorknob has been removed.  Once the knob has been removed, you have to pry off the plate to get to the lockset.  You can then pull the locking mechanism and the door should unlock allowing you to enter your home.  Learn more ways to unlock here.

Use A Plastic Card

If you do not have the tools for removing the doorknob, you will possibly have a plastic card such as a credit card.  You can use this card to get into your home, but you need to be careful.  The card you use should be one that you do not mind destroying which means that your bank card will be a bad choice.  It is also important to note that this will only work on spring bolts which are found on standard doorknobs and deadbolts will not move with a credit card.

Once you have a card that you can use, you should insert it between the door and frame where the latch is.  The card will need to be held perpendicular to the door and you have to start pushing and wiggling it.  As you push, you need to bend the card away from the doorknob as this will slide the latch back. 

Call A Locksmith

If you do not want to try breaking into your own home, you should call a locksmith.  This is something that you will have to do if you have a deadbolt because there are no other methods you can use.  A locksmith will be able to either pick the lock or will be able to remove it allowing you to enter your home. But, make sure you find the right locksmith to avoid any scam.

If you have been able to get into your home using a credit card, you should call a locksmith anyway.  You will want to upgrade your lock to ensure that no one else can get into your home. 

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