10 Ways To Ensure You Never Get Locked Out Again

It takes just a couple of seconds of careless thinking or rushing around to end up being locked out. Most of us have experienced the dread that is felt moments after the door has shut, which leads to not only stress but also a huge waste of time in an already hectic day. 

Whether you’re prone to getting locked out of your home, office or car, here are ten ways to ensure you never get locked out again. 

1. Keep Handy Phone Contacts 

Getting locked out is as stressful as it is time consuming, so making sure you’re prepared for such an incident is one of the best ways to keep as relaxed as possible. Storing handy and useful contacts on your phone such as your landlord, your locksmith or even just a friend who you know will be available to come help you, will save you valuable time.

2. Find A Locksmith Before You Need One 

It’s always a good idea to have a locksmith on hand before you find yourself in an emergency situation. Find and make contact with a good locksmith once you’ve moved into a new area, so you can be safe in the knowledge that you have a trusty phone number to call if ever you need it.

3. Use A Key Safe 

Key safes are one of the most convenient ways to ensure you always have a secure place to keep spare keys. They can be employed for both personal and professional use, while being especially beneficial for storing rental property keys. For those who are concerned about losing the safe key, electronic lock key safes are available – requiring just a unique numerical code in order to open. Key safes are super cheap investments considering the amount of time and money they save in the long run. 

4. Always Carry A Spare Key 

It makes sense to get replacement keys made to ensure you always have a spare on hand. Keeping your spare key separate from your usual collection minimises the chances of you losing both sets, so you can use your spare key if ever you get locked out of your home or car. It’s a good idea to create spares of other keys that are notorious for getting lost around the house, too, such as desk, window, cabinet and locker keys. 

5. Make Checking For Keys A Habit 

Research shows that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so get started now! Getting into a routine of checking you have your house, car and work keys before you open the door will make it less likely for you to forget them in the future – even when you’re rushing out the door in a hurry. Try getting into the habit of checking for other valuable items you often leave at home as well such as your mobile, glasses and credit cards. 

6. Replace Faulty Locks 

While it’s easy to assume the reason for getting locked out is due to not having your key on hand, many people get locked out of their homes or offices due to the lock being broken or damaged. The issue may not be with the key at all - the lock itself could have deteriorated over time. Getting a replacement lock before the problem worsens is an easy and budget-friendly option.  

7. Give A Spare Key To Someone You Trust 

Having a trusted neighbour or family member hold a spare key is always a good idea if they’re someone you entirely trust. This is not only handy when you’ve been locked out, but for emergency situations too – it’s good to know that someone else can enter the property safely and quickly, should they ever need to. 

8. Consider Fitting Smart Locks 

Though they can be a more expensive solution, smart locks are a secure way of keeping your home safe without the need for a key. There are multiple different types of smart locks available but common versions operate by combinations, fingerprints or eye scanners. Though they can come with a higher price tag, smart locks mean you never need to worry about forgetting or losing your key. 

9. Keep a Key Somewhere Safe

If there’s somewhere else outside of your home where you can safely store a spare key, this can be a helpful way of ensuring you don’t get locked out. Try a safe space in your garage or shed, or in a non-visible place in a bird feeder or birdhouse. 

10. Keep Calm and Collected

Try to remain cool, calm and collected when getting ready to leave the house, car or place of work, as failing to do so will increase the chances of you forgetting your keys. When we’re stressed, both our memory and task performance levels are adjusted, meaning we’re more likely to become forgetful when carrying out functions under high levels of anxiety. The same goes if you do ever find yourself locked out, try to keep optimistic and relaxed – and remember the above tips for next time. 

Your Door Hinge Replacement Guide

Hinges are an integral part of a door’s function and can make or break a door's ability to open and close sufficiently. Whether your door hinges have worn down over time or have broken entirely, here’s everything you need to know about replacing them. 

What Are Hinges Used For?

Hinges in general are used to join two parts together, forming a revolute joint between them, while still allowing the two parts to rotate relative to each other. Typically, they have two flat faces (known as leaves) and are available in a variety of different styles depending on their purpose and the type of door they’re being fitted to. Steel, stainless steel or brass are the most common metals for door hinges, and they not only provide support to the door, but also enable it to open and close adequately. 

What Are The Different Types Of Hinges?

Door hinges are available in a wide range of styles, from hinges that are suitable for exterior doors, to those that are best for interior doors. Spring Action hinges are designed for doors that open both ways, whereas Parliament Wide Leaf hinges are suitable for doors that open wider than normal. While door hinges are available in a variety of finishes, most people opt for a finish that suits the door’s handles and general style. 

Do You Need 3 Hinges on A Door?

While lightweight internal domestic doors may be fitted with only two hinges, security or external doors generally require three hinges in order to make them more secure and harder to be forced open. As a general rule, you should use one hinge for every 30 inches of door. For instance, a door over 90 inches tall (but not over 120 inches) would require four hinges. 

What Is the Correct Position For Door Hinges?

In most circumstances, the top hinge of a door should be installed 5 inches down from the top jamb / edge of the door (the jamb is the flat surface that runs vertically up either side of the door frame and is where the hinges are placed to hang the door). The bottom hinge is generally installed 10 inches up from the bottom edge of the finished floor, with the third centred between the other two hinges. 

How To Measure A Hinge 

First, you need to know both the thickness and the width of the door before knowing the appropriate hinge size to use. Here’s a rough guide to work with: 

Thickness

Width

Hinge Size

1-3/8" Door

Up To 32"

3-1/2" Hinge

1-3/8" Door

32" to 36"

4" Hinge

1-3/4" Door

Up to 36"

4-1/2" Hinge

1-3/4" Door

36" to 48"

5" Hinge

1-3/4" Door

Over 48"

6" Hinge

2", 2-1/4", 2-1/2" Door

Up to 42"

5" Heavy Duty Commercial

2", 2-1/4", 2-1/2" Door

Over 42"

6" Heavy Duty Commercial

How To Replace Door Hinges

Step 1: 

First, open the door so that the hinge is fully exposed before placing either sturdy door stops or blocks of wood under the door to keep it sturdy and steady. 

Step 2:

Now is a good time to not only check that your new door hinges match both the size and edge shape of the old ones, but also that the old hinges are in the correct place on the door. 

Step 3:

You’ll now need to remove the old hinges. Starting at the upper hinge, remove the screws that hold the hinge leaves in place, pulling them away from both the door and the jamb. It’s a good idea to double check the wood underneath the hinge at this point to ensure it’s in good condition. If the holes have stripped out, you may wish to plug them with a small wedge of wood. 

Step 4: 

If the hinges you’re replacing are particularly old and worn, the jamb and the door itself may need a bit of TLC before you fit the new hinges. If necessary, sand down the wood and give it a fresh coat of paint. If the replacement door hinges are different in size from the old ones, you’ll also need to fill in the mortise hole in the door and the door frame with wood putty – allow plenty of time to fully dry before painting or staining the door. 

Step 5:

Next, you need to place the new hinge gently and carefully over the position of the old one. Using a screwdriver or drill, secure the two sides of the hinge to both the jamb and the door with the screws, securing the hinge by placing a hinge pin into it.

Step 6:

Repeat this process for the second/lower hinge (and third if needed). 

Step 7:

It’s now time to remove the blocks or doorstops from beneath the door and test the new hinges. Open and close the door several times to ensure it does so smoothly and with ease.