How to Prevent Lockouts

Home, business, and vehicle owners are all prone to the unfortunate mishap of getting locked out. If you have ever been in a rush, you understand how things can easily get misplaced or set down in the wrong spot. This is especially true with sets of keys. We may lock them in our car trunk by accident or in the backseat. Similarly, home and business lockouts can happen because we are rushed or simply not paying attention. In order to prevent lockouts from occurring in the first place, there are several things you can do.

It is recommended to plan ahead to prevent lockouts. Establishing certain foolproof provisions to help you if you do get locked out, will ultimately be the quickest, easiest and most efficient way to handle any lockout situation.

Establish Habits and a Routine

Habits can never be underestimated when it comes to lost keys. You can help yourself greatly by establishing a specific spot to place your keys anytime you come home. For example, many families will use either key hooks on the wall or place their keys in a dish. This can be really helpful to have a focus point for where your keys should be anytime you are not actively using them. Similarly, when you are out and about, you might consider a carabiner to hook your keys to your belt loop or a lanyard around your neck to carry your keys on. This will allow your keys to always be on your person to unlock whatever you need to, without you having to set down. These types of carrying devices can be especially helpful. You will establish a habit of putting them in a place that safely holds your keys, but still allows for easy access to them.

Hide a Spare Key

This tip applies to home and vehicle owners, especially. Many individuals elect to hide a spare key on their property in order to assist in the event of a lockout. This can be done in a couple different ways. You may have a spot underneath your deck, under a flowerpot or lawn decoration, or a similar place on the outside of your home where you can safely hide the key. If you want extra protection, you can purchase an inconspicuous item that is specifically designed to hide house keys. These items come in various appearances, but may include fake rocks, fake lawn decorations, and other typical items that serve this extra purpose.

For vehicle owners, there are special devices that hook up just above one’s tire, underneath and attached to vehicles’ plastic covering over the wheel. This way, if you are locked out of your car, you can simply reach up under the tire cover and use the spare car key. These devices are typically small and only hold space for the space key itself. They are designed to be hidden out of view and are a great way to safeguard yourself against a vehicle lockout.

Give a Neighbor a Spare Key

If you are not comfortable hiding a spare key around your property or cannot find a reasonable place to do so, you can give a spare key to a neighbor. By allowing a neighbor to hang on to a key, you can eliminate the risk of someone finding your spare key on your property and potentially using it successfully. This can offer you even more peace of mind. You might have a neighbor you trust might be able to keep your spare house key in their garage in a certain drawer, for example. That way, you can access the key easily even if your neighbor is not home.

Upgrade Your Lock and Key System

One way to prevent lockouts, especially due to misplaced keys, is to eliminate the need for them entirely. Some families and homeowners are opting to install access control locks on their homes to make entering and locking the home much easier. These locks can be used in several different ways and have various functions depending on the make and model. Typically, these devices use a pin code or number combination of around 4 or 5 digits. For families that have a lot of members consistently coming and going, this can be a great way to prevent lockouts since everyone only has to enter a digit code and not use a physical key.

Communication

If you have a family, be sure to communicate with them about how to establish good lock and key habits. Make sure that everyone is on the same page about what to do in the event of a lockout. Talk with your children about what they should do if they do get locked out and how they can go about helping themselves if that ever does happen. You should review the safety measures you have established with your home every so often with your family.

Proper Maintenance and Inspections

By establishing a relationship with a local locksmith that you can trust, you can prevent lockouts due to faulty equipment. Be sure to have a locksmith provide regular maintenance for your locks and keys. If something within one of your locks is out of alignment, even with the right key or passcode you may not be able to get in. Do not slack on repairs or upgrades and you will prevent lockouts from happening due to worn or broken locks.

Get Lockout Assistance Today

For residents in Country Club Hills, Illinois, the local locksmith to trust for any lockout emergencies is Skyline Locksmiths. 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, their locksmiths are available to respond to locksmithing requests for emergency lockouts and repairs. Never again will you have to stress about being locked out of your home, business, or vehicle.