Finding yourself in a situation where the door to the next room suddenly slams shut, people often feel lost and experience a feeling of fear and helplessness. Such a nuisance can happen to anyone, it is not always possible to prevent it, and calling a specialist is not cheap. Therefore, knowledge of how to independently open a lock without a key will not be superfluous in any case. There are several ways to cope with simple mechanisms using improvised means. If they do not bring the desired result, you will have to knock down the door or break the lock. But first you should try to use the simplest recommendations.
Door slamming situations arise spontaneously when people least expect it Source vdvslotenmakergroningen.nl
Reasons for the difficult situation
Before you try to open a locked door, you need to find out why it suddenly closed. This can happen if:
- the locking latch has moved or jammed;
- there is a key left in the keyhole (on the other side);
- the tongue has sunk into the inside of the locking system;
- the push-button device has broken down;
- the key broke inside the keyhole;
- The lock mechanism is damaged.
Often, an interior door slams shut due to a draft, but the locking device is not damaged.
If a child accidentally locks himself in the living room, the situation requires prompt resolution Source botosaneanul.ro
Problem 2: the handle fell out
The door hardware handle falls out due to a broken locking ring. During operation, this ring may deform, shift, or burst. To repair it you need to do the following:
Dismantle the decorative trim by unscrewing the fastening screw in its lower part;
Remove all fastening bolts and screws of the mechanism;
Remove the handles and lock from the door body and check the condition of the locking ring. If it is bent or cracked, you need to buy a new ring and replace it;
The final stage is to reassemble all parts, lock, handle.
Important! When performing these actions, you should not rush, you need to do everything carefully and carefully. This process can be traumatic.
How to open doors without using a key
The choice of lock opening method depends on many factors:
- type of locking device;
- reasons for latching;
- location of the person (relative to the locked door);
- the presence or absence of time to resolve the problem.
Considering the above information, we can identify the following effective ways to solve the problem for a variety of situations.
A broken key or simply a slammed door is a nuisance that can be dealt with if you approach the issue correctly Source o-dveryah.ru
Latch
Typically, interior door structures are equipped with a rotary or push handle. This is a simple, extremely convenient and fairly common solution. The operating principle of such devices may differ significantly.
The choice of opening method largely depends on the location of people relative to the door. Additionally, it is worth considering two different options.
Problem 3: the square inside the structure broke
This kind of breakdown most often occurs in fittings made of silumin. These are, as a rule, low quality products with a low price category. To solve the problem in this case, you will have to buy new door hardware and completely replace it. The procedure is as follows:
First you need to unscrew and remove all the fasteners in the area of the base of the handle and dismantle it;
Then you need to dismantle the decorative strip and fastening elements that are hidden under it, remove the entire fittings structure from the door body;
Next, you need to unscrew the fastening elements of the locking mechanism and also remove it from the door leaf;
The last step is to install the new handle by performing the same steps, but in reverse order.
Video description
How to open a door without a key.
Removing door hinges
It is not always possible to open a door without a key using various master keys. In such cases, they resort to another common method of solving the blocking problem - removing the door leaf.
The fastening loops consist of two identical parts. If there is a sufficient gap between the door itself and the frame, it is worth trying to remove them from the awnings. In some cases, it is possible to unwind small elements.
It is possible to carry out such a procedure only when there is access to the fittings. The situation becomes more complicated when hidden mechanisms are used in the door structure.
Removing the door leaf from the hinges is only possible if there are sufficient gaps Source dvervdome.ru
Problem 1: the door handle is jammed
With prolonged and active use of door handles and locking mechanisms, abrasion of their metal elements occurs. Abrasion is enhanced by accumulated dust, trapped particles of dirt and small debris. In such a situation, to solve the problem, you need to dismantle the handle: unscrew the retaining ring, decorative strip, all fasteners and completely remove the entire mechanism of their door leaf. Then you need to completely clean the fittings inside. Perform reverse installation. Next, you need to lubricate the handle to return it to proper operation and prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. For these purposes, both special liquids - silicone, lithol, WD-40, carbon lubricant, and improvised means - machine or sunflower oil, solid oil - are well suited. Lubrication is performed as follows: a small amount of any of the listed liquids should be dropped onto the bolt (tongue) and several presses on the handle so that the lubricant is evenly distributed over all parts. It also often happens that the handle begins to malfunction if any elements become loose. In this case, to solve the problem you only need to adjust the position of the parts and tighten the fastening bolts using a screwdriver of a suitable size.
How to disassemble a door lock
Before choosing the best method for dismantling a locking device, you need to determine its type. This could be a locking structure:
- With latch. Installed to lock doors from the inside. Usually there is a plug or keyhole located outside such a mechanism.
- With handle, halyard tongue. A simple locking device, its operating principle is as follows: when the handle is pressed, the latch moves away, simultaneously opening access to the room. When the mechanism jams, you can try to open it with a wire.
- With a secret. Cylinder, leaf systems, which are often mounted on entrance doors.
The difficulty of dismantling a lock structure largely depends on its type and the reason for blocking.
Latch
It is recommended to begin removing the lock with the tongue in this order: dismantle the part installed on the front side of the interior door, then unscrew the screws and remove the device.
Repair
Repairing a door handle is primarily about eliminating the causes of the breakdown, so you must first identify the problem. The list of main breakdowns comes down to two: the entire mechanism does not function fully or the door does not open, although the handle is working. If the handle is in working order, then how to repair the door handle of the front door with your own hands is described in detail below.
If the stationary model is loose, the problem can be solved simply: you need to tighten the fasteners (bolts or screws) securing the handle, or simply change it.
Video description
5 Ways to Open a Door Without a Key.
Complex systems
To dismantle the cylinder mechanism, you need to unscrew the end plate, then remove the front part. Next, you need to push the lock with a screwdriver so that you can subsequently grab it with your hands and carefully pull it out.
Removing the lever mechanism is much easier. It will be enough to unscrew the plate, move the internal device to the edge, and carefully remove it.
Experts recommend taking photographs of each stage of work so as not to forget the location of parts during assembly Source zamochniki.com.ua
Preventive measures against breakdowns
To prevent damage to external fittings and locks, you should follow a few simple rules:
- Don't chase cheap prices. Chinese silumin mechanisms last only as long as they cost: not much.
- Do not try to open a jammed mechanism by force. You can break it completely.
- Constantly clean and lubricate the locking device (every 2-3 years).
- Tight door closure, extraneous clicks and loose handles are signs that the structure will soon fail.
In case of minor breakdowns, the best way to avoid major ones is to replace the lock completely. And always have with you the phone number of a reliable technician who can help you in case of force majeure with a metal door.
Continue
Prevention
To avoid unpleasant situations associated with accidentally blocking a door, you need to:
- Regularly care for door locking devices (timely repair, periodically lubricate).
- If defects are found, immediately replace the jamming mechanisms.
- Keep an extra set of keys in stock.
- When installing the door structure, leave a gap in case you have to cut off the latch tongue.
- Do not use complex locking mechanisms unless absolutely necessary. If small children live in an apartment or house, it is advisable to give preference to simple latches and latches.
Advice! It is advisable to buy locks that are equipped with a special emergency device. It will help open the door if it accidentally slams.
In order for the door lock to work properly at all times, it needs to be regularly maintained Source pbs.twimg.com
Options for opening the door if the handle breaks
If the door opens outward and it slams, but the handle does not press (does not turn), then use any thin and sharp object to press the tongue.
If the door opens inward, and there is a protrusion on the frame that prevents you from reaching the latch tongue, then you will need two straightened paper clips or pins. Let's bend them. First we insert one and, using careful movements, use the sharp edge to reach the lock mechanism. Then we insert the second one, move the curved edges in different directions and turn the paper clips, imitating the movements of a key.
But the surest way to solve the problem is to contact a specialist in the installation and repair of locking mechanisms.
Troubleshooting
Having the necessary tools, almost all repair work can be done independently. Actions are carried out after carefully examining the damage and determining the type of problem.
Handle jamming
Metal parts wear out with constant use. Where regular friction occurs, grooves are formed. Over time, they can cling to other parts of the lock and interfere with movement. Sticking and, in some cases, even resistance to movement occurs. Often this problem can only be solved by completely replacing the mechanism.
And as a preventative measure, repairing a handle comes down to simply lubricating an iron door. In particular the elements of her castle. A little lubricant is dripped onto all moving parts including the bolt. Then you need to twist the mechanism parts in all directions so that the lubricant gets to all the necessary parts. Such a simple operation will extend the life and performance of any locking mechanism and its external parts, including the handle, for many years.
If the handle falls off
In this case, the circlip is to blame. Its deformation or displacement will weaken the grip of the handle on the guide. The ring may burst. To fix the problem, you need to get to the desired node. To do this, remove the decorative parts. You may have to unscrew hidden screws.
Having freed the node, they study the problem. If the ring comes out of its grooves, then it is installed in place. If it becomes warped or split into pieces, a new ring must be found. After repairing the unit, it is necessary to mount all parts in the reverse order.
The tetrahedron is broken
Sometimes the inner square is made of silumin. If the purchased product is inexpensive, then so be it. The use of low-quality brittle material in the swivel assembly will lead to the fact that it will quickly break if used frequently.
To fix the problem, buy a new tetrahedron, preferably steel. The locking mechanism is partially disassembled. The outer covers are removed and the handles are disconnected. The debris of the old square is removed and a new one is installed. All parts are secured in reverse order.
The tongue stopped moving
Usually the same tetrahedron is to blame. However, in this case it did not break, but was simply a little short. During installation, it was installed exactly in the middle. Then, during operation, it gradually shifted to one side and stopped clinging to the lever with one edge. The latter begins to move “idle”.
To repair a door handle, you need to purchase a new square, which will be longer than the previous one. It is possible to buy a part slightly larger than the thickness of the iron door. The excess can be sawed off. During the work, one of the handles is removed and replaced.
The handle does not return to its original position
When the lever remains lowered, the culprit is a small spring. It’s good if it just fell off and can be put back in place. If it bursts, you may have to replace the entire locking mechanism. The fact is that such a small detail rarely appears on sale.
Door handle made in China
Products from China are characterized by low-quality fittings. It is not uncommon for parts of the lever to break off. If the locking mechanism remains operational, then only the handles on the lock can be changed. To do this, new ones are purchased that match the shape and color of the entire door structure. Then the broken ones are removed, and the purchased ones are installed in their place.
Results
If you correctly determine the cause of the breakdown, then repairing the handle will take place without any problems. You just need to remember that on a metal door such parts can be right or left. This requires attention when choosing.
As a rule, there are many small parts in the locking mechanism. Extreme care must be taken so as not to lose them during repairs.
When repairing it yourself, you must first familiarize yourself with the design of the mechanism by studying the instructions. When all the features are known, the repair can be completed successfully.
General steps
Adjustment of metal entrance doors in case of friction between the door leaf and the frame is carried out in the following order:
- Use a wrench with a suitable profile (most often a socket is required) to loosen the fastening of the middle hinges.
- In a similar way, slightly release the loop at the level of which friction is detected (upper or lower).
- Move the canvas slightly away from the box or towards it, depending on which direction it is skewed. Then tighten the end nut.
- By gently rocking the metal panel, you need to ensure that the loops return to their place, after which their fastening is tightened.
- Having opened and closed the canvas several times, check how effective the above-described manipulations were. If friction on the metal entrance door is still observed, the procedure is repeated.
If the canopies are significantly worn, adjustment may be useless. In such a situation, all that remains is to replace them.
Along with traditional hinges, hidden ones are used, which are equipped with metal fillings of more expensive entrance openings. Adjustment of such loops is carried out using a special tool. Hidden canopies are reliable, so the likelihood that they are the reason for the incorrect operation of the product is small.
