5 Tips to Prevent a House Lockout

It is common for homeowners to misplace their keys which can lead to an unfortunate lockout. But it gets even more dangerous when you’re locked out on a snowy, cold winter night. After coming to the house, you may find out immediately that you forgot your key inside, or you may realize that you have lost it somewhere outside. Suddenly you are stuck, trapped, and unable to enter your own home. There are several reasons behind the residential lockouts. The lock assembly can get stuck due to dirt accumulating inside it, or your keys can get broken inside the lock. But you must not get worried as professional locksmiths provide emergency house lockout services in NJ and are just a call away. Also, there are several ways to prevent this from happening again in the future. Here are five of them.

Hide a Spare Key

House owners who normally face lockout situations consider hiding a duplicate key near the main door as an ultimate solution to avoid residential lockout. However, the only problem with this plan is that anyone can find the spare key. If an intruder finds your hidden key, that will eliminate all the security measures you have invested in. As it makes entry into the house easier, deciding where to hide the key is the main thing here. Experts suggest that an extra key should be hidden somewhere that isn’t obvious. For example, you must avoid hiding the key very close to the front door or under the mat placed outside the door. You can change the location of the key with time as a precaution.

Add a Keyless Entry System

Adding a keyless doorknob is perhaps a genuine way to tackle residential lockouts. Losing your keys is the only way you can get locked outside your house. But have you ever forgotten your keys inside the house and accidentally locked yourself outside? This is also a common problem these days. By remodeling the doorknob of the interior part of the door to a keyless knob with the help of house lockout services in NJ, the only way you will be left locking your house will be from outside. In that way, you will never forget your keys inside the house. In terms of security, a doorknob usually has no role and does not contribute. If you still want extra security inside the house, you can have an additional deadbolt to protect against both burglaries and lockouts.

Replace a Broken Lock

It is also common to find yourself in a lockout because of a faulty lock. Maintaining the locks over time is also important for improved security and helps in the prevention of residential lockouts. This generally means calling a locksmith so that he can lubricate the malfunctioning parts of the lock or replace it when it stops working properly. Furthermore, having a locksmith who is aware of emergency house lockouts can give you extra tips to avoid them. He can provide you with duplicate keys so that you don’t break an old, worn-out key in the lock. Many locksmiths offer a labor warranty when replacing a faulty lock, but you won’t get it if you buy and install the lock yourself.

Install Smart Locks

Of course, if someone finds the key hidden somewhere close to your front door, it can easily break inside your house. Therefore, you must be extra smart while hiding your spare keys. However, you can just eliminate the use of keys by the installation of a smart lock. Most house owners don’t consider this option due to their budget. However, this is a good option if you get in the house lockout frequently. Smart locks come in several forms, which include keypad locks or fingerprint scanners. These days, there are even locks that scan your eyes. And the plus point is that they provide additional protection against intruders. Although smart locks require good investment, they can eliminate the need to call a locksmith in an emergency house lockout situation.

A Locker

If you are concerned about hiding the spare keys, you can use a locker for that, and everyone at the house should know the locker combination. This ensures that everyone has access to the keys at all times and the lockout is avoided. However, the placement of the locker is again critical. This allows the hidden key to be protected more securely. If not a locker, you can also give the spare key to a neighbor you can trust.

Residential lockouts can be frustrating, and they also pose a security risk. They will cost you a lot if you contact your local locksmith to get back access to your home. To prevent home lockouts, there are several precautionary measures you can take. From a smart home lock to a keyless entry system, different practical ways can help you a lot. Moreover, you can hide your spare key in a unique place to use at such times.