Calling a locksmith immediately after being locked out of the home or car is the right thing to do in order to avoid making any further damage. Other situations where you would need fast locksmith reaction include post-break-ins, burglaries, severely damaged doors, and a broken key inside the lock. Other than that, calling a locksmith is the right thing to do when you notice any kind of damage to the locks and/or keys, or when you are moving into a home or having tenants moving out.
10 Situations to Call a Locksmith
01. Locked Out of Home or Car
Lockout situations are considered to be one of the most unpleasant ones. With inevitable stress comes loss of time and potential asset damage as a result of forced entry tries. This often results in more damage and eventually more expensive repairs. In such situations, locksmiths can help regain access by unlocking the doors without damage. With the right tool and knowledge, they save you time and money.
02. Broken or Stuck Keys
The key can break inside the lock and remain stuck for various reasons, including low-quality metal used for production, forced damage, or simply as a result of wear and tear. Trying to force the broken part outside by yourself will only cause further damage to the internal locking mechanism. Even if you do manage to retrieve the broken piece, it is always good to call a locksmith. They will inspect the lock, remove the broken part, duplicate the key, and restore functionality.
03. Burglaries or Break-ins
Break-ins leave more than just damage. They shake the sense of security and safety and place your home into a place of fear. After such unfortunate events, the locksmith restores the security temporarily, inspects the damage, makes a reparation plan, and replaces and fixes all the locks. This is also the right moment to assess the general condition of the undamaged locks, and propose security measures updates.
04. Lost or Stolen Keys
Misplaced or stolen keys are a security threat because you can never know who has them. Surprising statistics show that many thieves actually didn’t have to damage anything to get in; they just had the keys. To avoid such situations, locksmiths can successfully rekey all the locks and issue a new set of keys.
05. Malfunctioning Locks
Locks never fail overnight, even when it feels like that. Most often, they experience small issues that cause daily inconvenience long before that escalates. Common issues include having troubles with locking the doors or feeling like the key is stuck inside the lock. Locksmiths are trained to identify these issues, find the worn-out or damaged pieces, replace them, and restore the lock’s functionality.
06. Forgotten Combinations
Modern digital and smart locks cause modern problems and require modern solutions. Most of them rely on pins or alphanumeric combinations to unlock the doors. Locksmiths are your SOS help in case you forgot the combination, since they have the right tools and knowledge to unlock the doors without damaging or physically removing the keypad or deadbolt.
07. Property Changes
Moving into a new home or having tenants move out are two very specific situations where hiring a locksmith is a must. Rekeying all the locks and repairing or replacing the damaged ones is necessary to ensure the security is not compromised. You can never know if there are any additional copies of your keys out there, and who has access to them, so calling the locksmith is the right thing to do to ensure everything is in order.
08. Damaged Locks or Keys
Any kind of visible damage to the lock hardware or keys is a situation to call a locksmith. Outside locks are exposed to different weather conditions and temperature changes, which result in faster wear and tear. Rust, brittle or stiff metal, and other visible damage or cracks are all signals that the lock needs to be attended to by a professional locksmith.
09. Upgrading Security Systems
Locksmiths are trained to install, configure, and modify security systems. They can also help troubleshoot the issues with modern and advanced security solutions. Locksmiths are trained to install high-security deadbolts, smart locks, or keyless entry systems that are harder to bypass. This way, you can achieve more control and stronger protection.
10. Safe Issues
Many locksmiths are trained to install safes and unlock them in lockout situations. Locksmiths are trained professionals who can deal with all safe-related issues if the conditions are met. Unlocking high-security safes requires strong identity verification, and in some cases, police supervision.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the type of issue you are facing, most locksmiths offering emergencies can arrive at the location within 15-45 minutes, which is a national standard, regardless of the time of day. Having the right locksmith on speed dial can be essential when you need to retrieve security and regain access quickly, such as in lockout situations. Nevertheless, regardless of the reason why you need to call a locksmith, try to avoid DIY solutions and patiently wait for the help to arrive.
Moving Into a New Home? Your Locks Are Damaged? We’re Here to Help – Call Us Today
Professionals at A1 Locksmith Service LLC are trained to deal with any kind of problem you are experiencing – from lockout situations to regular maintenance – we’ve got you covered, whatever you need. Call us at +1 (813) 817-5576 to schedule your locksmith service.