subject: Locksmithing 101 - What To Do When You Are Locked Out [print this page] Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you have locked yourself out of your house or automobile? Most people probably have. Even worse is that many have made the mistake of trying to get into their locked home or car by themselves rather than call a locksmith often with costly results. Of course there are instances when it is perfectly okay to make an attempt at getting in on your own. For instance, you can check other doors and windows to see if there is an easy alternative entry point.
If you do find an easily opened window in the house and opt to use it to get in, be sure to make a good judgment as to the height of the window ledge above the inside floor and ensure that if you fall inside, there is little risk of you getting hurt. For houses, basement windows always seem to allow the easiest access but can also be the most dangerous due to their height above the basement floor as well as in cases where the basement is not a place frequently visited, the unawareness of what could be on the basement floor and that may potentially injure you during the jump. This is one of the main reasons that you should call a locksmith for help.
Don't try to use a wire hangar or credit card to unlock doors. These can permanently damage your locks and other internal components on car or house doors. When you eventually calculate the cost of repair for the damage to the lock, you may very easily find that it is much more expensive to fix the lock than to have called a locksmith to help you open the door safely in the first place.
Even though the locksmith may sometimes have to force the door open in somewhat unconventional means as a last resort, their expert knowledge of the locks ensures that they can choose the best approach that will result in least damage to the lock itself and thus a lower cost of repair for the car or house owner. Another positive with calling reputable locksmiths is that they will usually provide proof of insurance against any damage to your car or home that is inadvertently occasioned by their work. That way, even if substantial damage were to take place, you won't have to foot the cost for the actual repairs.
But then there is the issue of whether to call a local locksmith or an emergency locksmith when faced with a locked car or house. Of course an emergency locksmith service can be costly, but it is often well worth the price as the emergency team are skilled in handling these types of situations.
There are a few things you can do to avoid having to call a locksmith when you get locked out of your home or car. Make sure that your spouse or any other family member that dwells in the same house carries their own spare car key. But if you do need to call a locksmith, make sure to use one with a good reputation who has been in the business for a while.
