What To Do To Prevent Lockouts

Preventing lockouts might seem like it’s too difficult to do if you have been in the situation, but there are certainly things you can do to ensure you never have to experience one. Don’t wait to get locked out before taking action. Take action now and you might save yourself from a lockout situation down the road. The good news is that if you do get locked out, you won’t be stuck for too long – because locksmiths, like us, tend to offer 24/7 emergency assistance.

Here are some different scenarios…

“I can’t remove my key from my lock, but I also can’t turn the key in the lock to open the door, either!”

“My four-year-old thought it was funny to lock the front door behind me when I stepped out to grab a package. I can’t get back inside!”

“I mistakenly locked myself out the car because my car key battery is dead. I manually locked the door and shut it before grabbing my keys off the front seat!”

These are all situations that are not all that uncommon. We suspect that many locksmiths have heard them before or something very similar. But did you know that these situations, while frustrating, could have been prevented? No one ever has to be or stay locked out (although there are certain situations, for instance, if your key was stolen from you, you might not have a way to get inside – but even in this situation, we can go over a backup plan).

Here are some things that we urge you to do in order to try to prevent a lockout from taking place. Let’s start with the car lockout scenario…

1. Prevent a Car Lockout.
   Let’s say, like the situation described above, your car key battery is dead. So you unlock the car door by putting your key directly in the lock and you lock the car door by pressing the button on the inside of the door. You don’t want to leave your keys in the ignition or on the seat, so consider remembering a mantra. Or, don’t physically reach to lock the car door until you have the key in your hand. This will develop into a habit. But as a backup, keep a copy of your key on you. If you do these things, you can potentially prevent a car lockout from ever happening.
2. Prevent Lockouts By Going Keyless
   Have a keyless system installed at your property. Going keyless means you can gain entry to your property simply by using a code. Do you have a hard time remembering things? Save the code in your phone or share it with a loved one who you could contact if you ever forget it. Keyless entry systems might be more affordable than you think, just because there are so many different ones available. Talk with a locksmith and ask about options.
3. Copy Your Key and Share It With Someone You Trust
   Speaking of trusting a family member with your code – give them a copy of your house key. Sure, many use their front door mat to hide a key, but hasn’t this become somewhat foreseeable? Maybe you have someone you trust who lives nearby. Give them a copy, and if you get locked out, you can ask them to help by using the spare.
4. Copy Your Key and Keep It On You
   You should always have a backup key, but maybe it’s a good idea to keep one on you too. Perhaps you have room in your purse for it. Or maybe you have a spot on your property that it could be concealed.
5. Consider a Lock Outside Your Garage Door
   You could opt for a wireless keypad that could be installed outside of your garage. This could enable you to get into your garage, and if it connects to your home, then you can get inside or at the very least wait in your garage for help to arrive. You might feel safer doing this than standing out in the dark.
6. Use a Key Finder.
   What exactly is a key finder? Well, it is something that is connected to your location, and generally speaking, you can use an app to retrace your steps. This might enable you to find your keys.

We encourage you to be prepared, so that you can avoid a future lockout. These simple steps can make a world of difference. They are certainly worth considering. You can talk with a locksmith about any of the services we mentioned, for instance, duplicating your key, installing a keyless entry system, setting up a lock next to your garage door and so on. Again, if you do get locked out and you can’t get back in, the good news is that you can call a locksmith for help. Because locksmiths are mobile and tend to offer affordable deals (at least, we are and we do) you should be able to get back inside fast and without a problem.

If you are in our service area, get on the phone with us if you can’t get into your property because we can assure you that we will be able to get you back inside. Not in our area? No problem. Just take the time to look up and then save the number of a locksmith near you. It’s important that you can always access your automobile, residence and commercial property. We hope that this information helps you to prevent lockouts. At the very least, now you know of some security options at your disposal.