Five Ways to Not Lock Yourself Out

Almost everyone has walked out their front door, turned the little knob on the back of the lock, closed the door and then realized...My Keys are in the HOUSE! I have done it and many of my customers have done it too.

Every time I help someone that locked themselves out or whenever I rekey a home I give my customers these five tips to make sure they never lock themselves out of the house again.

1. Lock your door with your key:

Lock your door with your key instead of turning the little lock on the back of the knob when you leave. That way if you close the door and then realize that your keys are still in the house you can go back in to get your keys.

2. Hide a Key:

If you find it hard to break the habit of locking the door as you walk out then find a good spot to hide a key to your house. You can put a key in a planter, hide it around your HVAC equipment, or even bury it just deep enough that you can dig it up by hand. Get creative and look around your yard for places to hide your key where someone would not think to look for a key.

3. Use a Key Box:

A more secure way to hide a key is to mount a locking key box outside with a key inside. Most key boxes have a four digit numerical code that you can set which will help keep your key safe and allow you to get back into your house if you lock yourself out. However, if you use the key in the key box make sure to put it back. You do not want to go looking for the key in the box only to find out that you left it in the house.

4. Give a Key to a Friend or Neighbor:

This one is simple, if you have a good friend or neighbor give them a key to your home as a backup in case you lock yourself out. The drawback to giving someone the key is that they may not be available to help you when you lock yourself out.

5. Replace the Locking Knob or Lever:

Many homes have two locking locks on the door, a deadbolt and a locking knob or lever and it is the knob/lever that causes people to get locked out. Replace the locking knob/lever with a passage knob/lever that has no lock built in. This will prevent you from being locked out because the knob/lever that you used to lock yourself out no longer has a lock. Now you must use a key to lock the deadbolt and secure your home.

Bonus Tip: If you locked yourself out and you have not taken advantage of any of these tips before calling a locksmith, Check Your Windows! If one of your windows is unlocked you can crawl in through the window and save yourself some money (I have done this for myself once or twice many years ago).