Getting locked out of your home, car or office is a common but very stressful situation. Whether you’ve lost your keys, locked them inside or you’ve got a lock malfunction, don’t panic. It is important to stay calm in this situation and think about what you can do now. Your safety must be your priority before trying to solve the problem. While the solution to your problem might be calling a professional locksmith in providence, there are some quick fixes you can try.
In this article, we’ll guide you through some quick fixes and tricks you can use to get in if there is an emergency situation. We’ll also see when there is no option but to call a locksmith.
Common Lockout Situations and Quick Fixes
When we talk about quick fixes in these stressful situations, you might be hoping for something that’ll work every time or that is risk-free. Unfortunately, that’s not the case here. DIY solutions can be unreliable and may even cause more harm than good if you don’t proceed with caution. Calling a professional locksmith in Providence is the safest and the best way to solve your lockout situations. But if you’re stuck in an emergency and want to give it a try yourself, here are some quick fixes that might help you get back in:
For Office or Home:
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Check for Open Windows or Doors
It might sound so simple but it can be a straightforward solution. Before you try any other solutions, just take a walk around the property and see if you left any windows or doors open that can be used to get in.
2. Use a Credit Card
This trick is limited to only some specific type of locks such as the spring locks. See if you have any old card that you don’t mind getting damaged. You can use your credit card if you’re in a pinch and want to get in desperately.
- Push the door a bit by leaning on it. It will create some space for inserting the card.
- Now wiggle the car while you push it towards the latch. Try to force the latch back into the door.
- As you feel the latch is moving, push the door and it’ll open up.
Please note that this method works on only some types of locks and won’t work if you have deadbolts. It can damage the card you’re using so proceed with caution.
Read More: When to Call a Locksmith – 10 Signs You Need Professional Help
For Cars
Use a Slim Jim
A slim jim is a thin, long metallic tool that can be used to unlock car locks. It has a hook at its end that is used to manipulate the locking mechanism and open it. This tool will work only if your car has upright locks and no electric locks. Using slim jim on the wrong type of lock can seriously damage the lock. If you’re not confident about it, you should call a professional locksmith instead.
If you’re sure you want to do this, here is how you can use a slim Jim:
- Use something pointy to create space between the rubber strip (weather stripping) and the window.
- Insert the notched end of the slim jim in the space you just created. You want to align it with the lock and push gently towards the lock hole.
- Feel around with the tool and try to hook the control arm. When you see any slight movement in the lock, it shows the slim jim has engaged the lock.
- Once you feel the control arm has been hooked, slowly pull the slim jim upwards and the door will get unlocked. Remove the slim jim once the door has been unlocked.
Use Your Shoelace or a Coat Hanger (Works Only in Older Cars)
If you have an older car with manual locks, a shoelace or a coat hanger can do the trick. Here is how it works:
- Shoelaces Method: Tie a loose knot in the middle of a shoelace. Take both ends of the shoelace and slip the middle knot through the door’s crack and maneuver the knot around the lock. Once it’s around the lock, tighten the knot. Now pull the shoelace upwards. Be careful, don’t apply too much force or you can damage the lock.
- Coat Hanger Method: Straighten the hanger like a slim jim and leave the hook at one end. Now follow the same sim jim method. Slide it between the window and the weather stropping. Hook the hanger around the lock and pull up to unlock the door.
When is the Time to Call a Professional Locksmith?
While these methods can be worth a try in emergencies, they are not recommended at all. You can damage the locks and the repair costs will be much more than if you just had called a locksmith to fix the problem. A professional locksmith has the proper tools and expertise to handle the situation safely and efficiently. If you tried these methods and none seems to work, the locks might be too complex for these tricks to work. In that case, there is only one option left, call a professional locksmith.
Don’t risk further damage to your property. Call a professional locksmith in Providence like Olympia Locksmith right now. At Olympia Locksmith, we understand the frustration of getting locked out of your home, office or car. We are the best locksmith in Providence with 24/7 availability. Our team of expert locksmiths makes sure you get back in as quickly as possible with no further damage to your property. Don’t stress out—call Olympia Locksmith right now and let the professionals handle it professionally.
