Have you ever had your door closed and locked accidentally when you were outside? This situation must be pretty bad. Depending on the time of day, your options may be limited, and locksmith services can be quite expensive. However, just because you're locked out doesn't mean there's nothing you can do about it. You can re-enter the house through the open window, or unlock the window, use a plastic card to unlock the spring lock, or by removing the doorknob, all without damaging anything.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Through the Window
Step 1. Log in via the open window
Ideally, use first floor windows as they are easiest and safest, but chances are all windows on the first floor of your home are locked. Your chances are better on the second floor windows as they are usually left open, but enter carefully so you don't fall!
- If you can't get to the stairs, you may need to improvise a little to get to the second-floor window. Is there an emergency ladder that can be used? Are there trellises or trees to climb? Whatever you use, make sure the object is stable enough to climb.
- Casement windows (doors with side hinges) that are unlocked can be easily opened with a finger or a thin tool.
Step 2. Borrow a screwdriver from a neighbor
You don't need to be shy or embarrassed. Most people have been “locked out of the house” so they are likely to understand your plight.
- Ideally, use a flat screwdriver, but if you are given a plus screwdriver, try using it anyway.
- This technique is effective for using partially or completely open shutters. Even a small gap will likely be enough for you to reach inside and unlock.
Step 3. Remove the window beading
Beading is a strip of plastic or metal around the window frame. Insert a screwdriver into the beading gap in one corner and pry it apart a little at a time. Work towards the opposite corner. When the beading is fully loosened, pull it by hand until it opens.
- Check the corners of the window to see if the vertical beading (top and bottom) overlaps the horizontal beading (left and right). Remove the overlapping beading first.
- The shape of the beading may change once it is removed. In some cases, beading can be quite expensive. Consider this before implementing this method.
- Depending on the situation, you can leave the beading and still be able to open the shutters. Some windows don't even have beading.
Step 4. Open the window pane from the bottom
Slide the screwdriver between the glass and the window frame. When disassembling, use minimal force as you slide the tool between the mount and the glass to pry the glass out of the mount. The window will open fairly easily.
Step 5. Remove the window pane
Support the glass with your free hand so that it doesn't fall and break when it comes out of the window. Slide the glass out of the mount, and set it aside. Then, enter the house through the empty window.
- If the window only has a half-free mount, try reaching for both sets of locks or doorknobs.
- If there is broken glass, you have to be extra careful. The shards of glass are quite sharp and can cause serious injuries.
- If your wound is deep enough, treat it as best you can and see a doctor, if necessary.
Method 2 of 5: Using a Plastic Card
Step 1. Check the door lock type
This card technique will only work on spring locks. A spring lock is a type of lock that moves when the door knob is turned. Turn the knob to make sure the spring lock is in place. If it can't be turned, it means the door is locked.
- The latch of the lock is usually above or below the handle. If the handle is turning but the door doesn't open, the latch is locked and you need to try another method.
- This method is less effective for modern locks that are designed to be stronger and cannot be opened only with a plastic card.
Step 2. Choose a non-essential plastic card to unlock
The plastic card used to open the door can be damaged. Therefore, you should not use important or frequently used cards, such as credit cards. Instead, use a library card or point card that is easy to replace.
Ideally, use laminated cards. This card is easy to bend and fits easily between the door and the threshold
Step 3. Push the card into the gap between the door and the threshold
Press the door with moderate force using your non-dominant hand. Thus, there is extra space between the door and the threshold so that the card can be tucked in. Push the card into the gap just above the crown in a downward angle.
If there is molding in the doorway, the gap will be narrower, making the process even more difficult. If so, you should try other methods to prevent major damage
Step 4. Look for the lock mechanism with the card
Now your card is sandwiched between the door and the frame, right? Shake deeper into the space between the knob and door frame until you feel resistance. This is a key mechanism that needs to be pushed open.
- Feel a little using the bottom corner of the card. You should feel the beveled part of the latch facing you.
- If the slanted side of the latch isn't facing you, slide the long piece of plastic behind the latch to tweak it at an angle.
Step 5. Pry the latch with the card to release it and open the door
Push the card away from the knob to press the latch more firmly. The lock cannot be fully unlocked this way, but when the lock seems to be loosening, push the door to hopefully open
- You need to tinker a bit with this way. Try from different positions until you find one that allows the card to open most of these types of lock mechanisms.
- While not required for some latch locks, you may be able to open the door by turning the doorknob slightly with your free hand to unlock.
Method 3 of 5: Removing the Door Knob or Leaf
Step 1. Prepare all the necessary tools
The lock can be removed manually by prying the knob, and even the most sophisticated locks won't be able to stop you if the door is off its hinges. Door knobs will require a screwdriver or paper clip, while hinges will require nails and a tapping tool, such as a hammer or stone.
- Borrow these tools from neighbors or take them from the warehouse, if possible. If your car is open, it should have emergency equipment in it.
- The type of screwdriver needed depends on the type of door you have. Knobs and hinges are usually tightened using plus (cross) head screws.
- Even if you don't have a screwdriver, you can loosen the screws with a sturdy, flat object, such as a butter knife or bent pin.
Step 2. Remove the knob by loosening the screws securing it
Usually, these screws can be seen clearly on the doorknob. You can loosen it with a screwdriver so the doorknob can be released. Pull the knob off the door, and unlock it with your fingers.
- Depending on the type of lock installed on the door, you can remove it immediately after removing the knob, or after removing the second mounting plate.
- Some knobs simply have a retaining screw on the shaft that attaches the knobs to either side of the door. To remove it, loosen the screw on the metal that connects the knob to the door.
Step 3. Remove the knob where the screw is not clearly visible using a paper clip
Some knobs only have pin-sized holes in front of the knobs instead of mounting screws. Insert a thin piece of metal, such as a straightened paper clip, as deep as the hole will need while turning the knob and pushing the door open.
In some situations, the screws or bolts securing the doorknob can only be accessed from the inside
Step 4. Remove the door from its hinges if possible
Hinges are usually the most vulnerable part of a door, requiring only nails to remove. place a nail (or similar object) under the hinge opening. Then, hit the nail with a tool (such as a hammer or rock) to push the pin out. Do this on all hinges.
- The hinge pins can become hard when trying to remove them, even after being pulled a bit with a fingernail. To make it easier, slip a flat screwdriver like a chisel under the rim of the pin head to make it easier to remove.
- Like knobs, you may not be able to access the hinge pins from the outside on a properly installed door. If so, it's a bit difficult to get the door leaf off the hinges.
Step 5. Lift the sliding glass door off the track
Most sliding glass doors, unlike standard hinged doors, are not attached directly to the structure of the house. Many are inserted into the tracks mounted on the doorway. By removing the door leaf from its track, you can easily open the door.
- You can also lift a light sliding glass door leaf by prying it up and out with a flat screwdriver 1-2, but ideally use a crowbar.
- Be careful when trying to lift the door off the track because if it breaks, it can be expensive to repair.
- So that the sliding door is not too easy to break into, you should strengthen it with a security bar, such as wooden dowels.
Method 4 of 5: Through the Garage Door
Step 1. Get a wire hanger
There may be wire hangers in your garage or outdoor shed, but if you don't have one, try borrowing one from a neighbor. In fact, you can use any sturdy, bendable wire.
Even thin wires, such as those used for electronic devices, can be doubled to increase stiffness and can be used to open garage doors
Step 2. Straighten the hanger wire, and bend the ends into a hook
These wire sticks should be as long as possible. If the hanger is not long enough, tie the end of the unbent wire to a long stick, such as a broom stick or twig.
If possible, double the hanger wire to make it stronger. Try to find out if there is a second hanger available or borrow it from a neighbor
Step 3. Thread the wire rod through the top of the garage
For some garages, this may be impossible. However, if your garage has a gap at the top, you should be able to slip the end of the wire hook into it.
- Maybe the wire is easier to thread through the sides, but the wire has to be inserted in the middle to open the lock.
- Be careful because there is a soft plastic part around the door. If this part is damaged by wire, it can be quite expensive to replace.
Step 4. Hook the wire to slide the garage latch until it opens
The manual latch is usually located directly below where the opening arm attaches to the garage door track. Hook the wire on the latch and press it down firmly and firmly until it opens. Now, you can open the garage door.
- Some models of garage door locks have straps that can be pulled and opened until they are released from the garage. Use this rope as a reference point to find the latch.
- If you can't see into the garage, feel along the metal track of the door to the opening motor. When you feel the teeth sticking out of the track behind the bike, you've found the unlock.
Method 5 of 5: Seeking Help
Step 1. Call a friend, family member, or someone else who has the house keys
If someone else has duplicate house keys, such as friends, family, or neighbors, try contacting them. If you don't have a cell phone, borrow a neighbor's phone.
Step 2. Contact the building owner
Usually this is the last step. Sometimes you are charged a fee if you ask the landlord to open the lock for you. That's if he answers the phone. If the owner of the building cannot be contacted, or the number is lost, you should try another method.
Step 3. Call a locksmith
Locksmiths have the skills and equipment needed to unlock a house without breaking anything. The cost of locksmith services varies, usually depending on the location, with a range between Rp. 200 thousand to Rp. 1 million (or maybe more, depending on the key).
Tips
- Small people may be able to pass through the dog door and open the door from inside the house. However, if it seems mediocre, don't force it. Don't get the person caught or the door damaged.
- Keep a spare key outside the house in a completely safe place, or leave it with a trusted neighbor to prevent this situation.
- A screwdriver can come in handy when it is locked outside the house. This tool is easy to hide in a secret place to anticipate an emergency (eg to break into the house).
Warning
- Any damage to the house/door/lock will need to be repaired later, especially for rented houses. Some of these repairs, for example on wooden appliances, can be quite expensive. If in doubt, you should use the services of a locksmith.
- Technically, you're breaking the law by breaking into your own home, but charges are rarely dropped, especially if you prove to be a good citizen.
- Professional security companies place great emphasis on not trying to break into your own home. Ideally, the house should be too secure for anyone to try to break into from the outside.
