Locked out, changing locks or lost keys – what to do

Most of us don’t think about it simply because they’ve never been in a situation like this, but for those unlucky few who have and been basically put against the wall not knowing what to do, here’s a few basic tips on what to do when you are locked out of your house, need your locks changed or have lost your keys.

Locked out of your house or car

If you locked yourself out of your house or car, don’t panic as it’s not the end of the world and you’re certainly not the first! Should you find yourself in such situation, the first thing you should do is take your phone out of your pocket and give your local MLA approved locksmith Newport a call. Better yet, if you’re not in terrible rush, call a couple of them and fish for a cheapest quote and save yourself some money. Once you find a suitable tradesman, they should be with you in up to 30 minutes to help you gain access to your house or vehicle.

Changing locks

Most common issue people have is a faulty lock that needs replacing, although in some instances you might want to replace a lock that’s perfectly fine, for example when you move into a new house, you never know who might still have keys to it so changing the locks is a smart move for a peace of mind. Simply call your local locksmith and have him replace the locks for you, or buy the parts and do that yourself if you’re feeling adventurous.

Lost keys

Probably even more common than faulty locks that need replacing. We’ve all been there and lost a key or two in our lifetime, be it a key to the house, car or shed. If you have lost your keys, you need to follow the same steps you would for being locked out and call a locksmith, only difference being you might want to have your lock replaced since you never know who might be in possession of your key or keys now. Better safe than sorry.

Guide to all services offered by Locksmiths

For those of us lucky enough to never require a Locksmith in their life, terms like emergency door entry or non-destructive lock picking might sound abstract and foreign. That said, in case you find yourself in a situation where you cannot get into your house or car, or if your house have been robbed and you’d like to have your locks change, we prepared this short list explaining all the services your local locksmith might (and should) offer and how they work.

Emergency Door Entry

If you’re locked out of your house, be it because you lost your keys, had them stolen, or your lock simply jammed or broke, you should look for a local Locksmith that offers emergency door entry. In most cases, the locksmith will arrive on site within one hour and attempt to pick or repair your lock. Whether you will need a new lock or not depends on whether the locksmith can manage to open your door without damaging the current one, they will attempt to pick the lock, and if unsuccessful, drill it to gain entry. A similar service is also being offered for car locks, in the event you lock your keys inside of your car for example. Most locksmiths offer that service, some even specialize only in auto locks, although not all of them will be able to cut new keys for your car if they require additional security measures to be implemented.

New Keys & Lock replacement

This service caters for those who lost their keys and need a new set, but also those who just moved in to their new house and need all locks replaced for added security. There are various reasons why you might need new keys or new locks, and regardless of the reason your local Locksmith will be able to help you, either by replacing the locks or by cutting a new set of house or car keys for you.

In the event you just moved house, you cannot be sure you received all available keys to the house. You never know, the previous owner might not even remember he’s had a spare key made for a nephew, a friend or a neighbour and it’s still out there. The only way to be 100% sure you’re the only person with access to your own house, is replacing the locks after moving in. This will give you a peace of mind and prevent all those sleepless nights spent wondering.

Another case scenario would be having your window or garage lock sorted. Your local locksmith should also be able to take care of that, whether you need a new window lock or your garage door lock replaced. There are even some locksmiths that actually specialize in UPVC locks replacement and repairs.

Other

The services described above are the most common ones, but you can also come across other, less common ones. Generally, locksmiths will also offer another set of services targeted at commercial clients. These might include master key systems for example, ideal for hotels and similar institutions.

Security checks and replacing all locks on site are also among services they might offer, but that does not really concern domestic clients. It should suffice we explained the services you are most likely to come across, and if you find yourself requiring a different service, simply ask your local locksmith and they should be able to either do that for you, or recommend someone who will.