Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or a seasoned pro, there are bound to be moments when you find yourself locked out of your house. Being locked out of your room can be frustrating. Whether you lost your key or it broke in the lock, there are a few ways you can try to unlock the door without a key. While it’s never a fun experience, there’s no need to panic! In most cases, unlocking an interior door is a relatively simple process. With a little patience and time, you should be able to get back into your room in no time. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to unlock an interior door.
The key steps in unlocking an interior door.
- Assess the situation: Start by assessing the situation. Is the door truly locked, or is the handle just stuck? If it’s the latter, you may be able to fix the problem by simply jiggling the handle until it comes loose. If the door is actually locked, proceed to step two.
- Watch the type of lock: Take a look at the type of lock you’re dealing with. Interior door locks come in two main varieties: knob locks and deadbolts. If you have a knob lock, you’ll need to use a paperclip or other skinny object to insert into the keyhole in order to manually turn the locking mechanism. For deadbolts, you’ll need either a key or a special tool called a bolt extractor.
- Select the tools: Once you’ve determined which type of lock you’re dealing with, it’s time to choose your tools. If you’re dealing with a knob lock, any thin, strong object will do—a paperclip, bobby pin, penknife, etc. If you’re dealing with a deadbolt, you’ll need either a key (if you have one) or a bolt extractor (which can be purchased at most hardware stores).
- Start the process: Insert your chosen tool into the keyhole and apply pressure until you feel resistance. For knob locks, this will mean turning the tool until the locking mechanism clicked into place. For deadbolts, this will mean digging around until you find the release lever—it’s usually located near the bottom of the keyhole—and pushing up on it until the bolt slides out of its housing
- And it’s done: And that’s it! With any luck, one of these methods will work and you’ll be able to get back into your house in no time flat. In case of emergency, remember that most locksmiths offer 24/7 service and can usually be onsite within an hour or two.
The ending words
While getting locked out of your house is never fun, there’s no need to panic! In most cases, unlocking an interior door is relatively simple—it just takes a little patience and some trial and error. Armed with this knowledge, we hope you’ll never find yourself locked out again!