House Lockout in New Garden, PA

A key has broken in your door, leaving part of it in the lock and you outside your home.

If this happens in New Garden, we open the door so you can get back inside. The piece in your hand may no longer work, and pushing it against the part left behind could make it harder to deal with. Set it aside rather than trying to force it back into place. You can keep the broken piece with you.

A lockout can happen with an intact key, too. You might have shut the door with your keys still inside, or searched your pockets and found that they are missing. We come to homes in New Garden when you cannot get inside. Before trying anything else, check another entrance or a window that you can reach safely from the ground. An unlocked entrance may give you a way back in, but do not climb or force anything open.

At your home, we examine the entrance and the broken key, including whether a piece remains in the lock.

We check the condition of the hardware and whether the entrance is secured. Another accessible entrance may also be worth looking at if it offers a practical way inside. We look for signs of damage that could affect the work, rather than assuming the broken piece is the only issue.

We tell you what our inspection shows and describe the options before any work begins. You may choose to have the piece removed or, if practical, use another entrance. If the hardware appears damaged, we explain whether repair or replacement may be needed and what each choice would mean for you. After opening the door, we check its operation with you, including whether it closes and stays shut. If you have a working key, we also check that it turns and that you can secure and open the door. Otherwise, we explain any remaining work needed to secure your home.

If you lost your keys on a walk, think about whether anything attached to them could connect them to your home.

An address tag or other identifying item makes rekeying worth considering. We can change the lock so the missing keys no longer work, and give you new keys to use. You will also need to replace any spare for that lock. Give a new spare to someone you trust, such as a family member or neighbor, so you have another way inside if you lose your keys again.

With the door open, check that your key turns smoothly and the latch moves as it should. A key that catches, a loose fitting, or a door that will not latch is worth another call to us. Stop using the key if it resists turning, and avoid household oils or sprays, which can leave residue inside.