Locked out of your office? What a commercial locksmith does
The usual causes of office lockouts, what happens when a locksmith arrives, and simple ways to prevent the next one.
Office lockouts are rarely dramatic. Someone left the keys at home, a lock wore out, a fob stopped working. They still stop work, so here's how to handle one.
Common causes
- Lost or misplaced keys, often after hours
- Worn locks that finally stop turning
- Keys that break or jam in the cylinder
- Forgotten codes or dead batteries in keypad and electronic locks
Why DIY fixes backfire
Forcing a door or a cylinder can damage the frame, the lock and the strike, and turn a short visit into a repair job. Electronic locks reset badly when people guess at codes. Wait for help.
What the locksmith does
After checking that you're authorised to enter, the locksmith opens the door, using non-destructive entry first. If the lock caused the problem, they repair or replace it. If keys are missing, they can rekey on the spot. In a shared building, the property manager may need to approve work on common doors.
Preventing the next one
- Keep a spare key with a trusted manager, not under the mat
- Keep a short key log of who holds which key
- Change keypad batteries on a schedule
- Rekey when key-holders leave
Need into your office? Call Emergency Locksmith Berkeley at 510-803-3120.
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