Lockouts: Different Problems and Solutions

Our locks and keys help protect our assets, our loved ones, and ourselves. Without them, we would be vulnerable to intruders and have no real way to protect ourselves from home or vehicle break-ins and thefts. Most of the time we can count on our locks to function properly and it is likely we do not think much about them as we go about our days. That is, of course, until we experience some sort of problem with our locks.

One of the most common lock and key issues one can experience is a lockout. Whether you are locked out of your vehicle or home, a lockout is bound to happen to the majority of us at some point in our lives. Luckily, regardless of what kind of lockout scenario you may find yourself in now or at some point in the future, there are plenty of ways you can resolve lockouts quickly and efficiently.

Residential Lockouts

There are a couple of different kinds of residential lockouts. The most common will be either home lockouts or apartment lockouts. Depending on where you live and whether or not you own or rent your dwelling, there are certain procedures you should follow in order to alleviate a lockout.

Homeowners 

Most home lockouts can be prevented with a little bit of preparation. A lot of homeowners opt to hide an extra house key somewhere on their property to retrieve during a lockout situation. You can either purchase hide-a-key devices or find a clever hiding spot somewhere around your home to store the key safely.

A lot of homeowners are turning to electronic and keyless entry locks to help prevent lockouts altogether. Upgrading to electronic or smart locks makes it so that a physical key is unnecessary to unlock your home doors. One can purchase models that either allow users to connect their smartphones to their home locks or operate through the use of a keypad or combination device. The need for a traditional key is eliminated and a much more secure and convenient mechanism is put in its place.

Apartment Complexes

Apartment lockouts differ slightly from home lockouts. Most of the time, you will either not have the option to hide an extra key to your apartment on the property, such as you might if you owned your own home. You do not want to leave an extra apartment key under your front door mat, since this is an obvious hiding spot to begin with, but may also be the only hiding spot. If you are concerned about apartment lockouts, you should leave an extra apartment key in your car or have an extra key made that a friend or family member can hang on to. 

Most of the time, if you are locked out of your apartment, the complex management can let you back inside of your apartment. Some complexes have emergency management hours available for this reason, so even if the office is closed, you may still be able to reach someone to help. However, because this may not always be possible, it is best to give a copy of your apartment key to someone your trust or leave a spare in your vehicle.

Vehicle Lockouts

Vehicle lockouts can be one of the most inconvenient types of lockouts. Unless you have a specialized device that stores a key on the outside of your vehicle, usually near one of the vehicle’s tires, it is likely that you will need to call a locksmith. Since vehicle lockouts usually need to be resolved as quickly as possible, calling in a professional right away is recommended.

Do not try to break-in to your own vehicle yourself unless it is an emergency. If there are children or animals locked in the car and it is hot outside, you will obviously want to get into the car and anyone out of it as soon as possible. If you can wait, however, it is advised that you call a locksmith and have them help you get back into your vehicle without any damage to your locks or windows.

How a Locksmith Can Help

If you do not have some sort of back-up plan already in place during a lockout or access to an extra key, then it is likely that you will need to call a locksmith. You can call a professional locksmith to help regardless of whether you are locked out of your home, business, or vehicle. Locksmiths are trained lock and key experts that know how to change and repair the locks used for multiple purposes and locations. Complex electronic locks, the locks on commercial safes, traditional deadbolt locks, and every kind of lock in between can be serviced by a locksmith. 

Contact a local expert to help you, especially if you have already attempted or tried to resolve your lockout issue yourself. Before you get frustrated and potentially damage your locks or try to break-in to your property yourself, you should ask for a locksmith to help. Breaking into your own vehicle or home could result in significant damages to the locks you currently have, costing you more money and time in the long run. You may also end up hurting yourself or someone else in the process. In order to protect yourself and your budget, calling a locksmith during a lockout is a wise solution.