All Questions
445 questions
39
votes
11
answers
27k
views
How can I allow 911 first responders to access a locked residence? [closed]
What if I live alone and cannot unlock the door during an emergency? What can I do to enable 911 responders to enter my residence without tearing down the door?
- 3,154
37
votes
5
answers
294k
views
What kind of lubrication should I use for a lock?
I recently made the Yale lock on my front door much easier to open by spraying some WD-40 in there.
However, I just saw this question on WD-40 not being a “true” lubricant, and wondered whether it ...
- 565
31
votes
3
answers
64k
views
How to open a door that has the insides of a door handle inside without a door knob
Currently this is what my doorknob looks like below
I was trying to change out my doorknob and left both sides inside of the room but the AC kicked on and shut the door on me and now I am stuck ...
- 413
17
votes
12
answers
62k
views
How to get locks that are keyed alike? [closed]
I'm looking to replace 3 sets of deadbolts and doorknobs with new keyed alike handles and deadbolts (they don't need to be high security or anything, just regular exterior entry). All of the big box ...
user105037
17
votes
7
answers
43k
views
How to tell if your locks are bump proof?
I was reading about lock "bumping" where burglars buy 'bump' keys and can open locks very quickly. I was also reading that some locks are bump proof (double chamber perhaps?). My question is: how can ...
- 453
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How does Schlage SecureKey Re-keying mechanism work?
Here is their consumer info. And here is an amateur teardown, although I can't tell from the pictures how the thing actually works. Does any one have any better powers explanation?
But beyond just ...
- 405
14
votes
1
answer
171k
views
How do I remove a Kwikset deadbolt with no screws on the inside plate?
My exterior door deadbolt has gotten stuck - it'll open with the lever but not the key. By spraying WD-40 inside the lock, I've been able to get it to work but it's very stiff. I'd like to remove the ...
13
votes
8
answers
7k
views
Is it possible to replace just the antique locks or will I need to get whole new doors?
In the house I bought the doors are old but ok. However, the handle & locks are very old and we prefer to replace them. I am referring to the doors for the rooms inside the house.
Now the question ...
- 385
13
votes
7
answers
51k
views
Is it worth having two locks in exterior doors? [closed]
I've noticed that some places have a lock in the knob and a deadbolt in the exterior doors, and some places have a knob without a lock and just a deadbolt. Is there a benefit to having a lock in the ...
- 1,300
13
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How do I unscrew these?
I'm a college kid trying to sneak my boyfriend in my dorm window. The first section is the holder on the window, the second part is the end of the slider on the window. All I have to do is disconnect ...
- 139
12
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Do I need this special strike plate on my laundry room to garage entry? It's creating problems with a new lock
Good day everyone. I recently replaced my existing keyed Schlage lock with a keypad security lock on the door from my mudroom to my garage. The door is metal and the frame/jamb has thick rubber/...
- 305
12
votes
8
answers
78k
views
How do I disable a locking door latch?
I have the following door handle / lock combination that leads out to my garage. The key for the door has long been lost and sometimes someone will turn the internal lock and the door cannot be opened ...
- 2,113
12
votes
2
answers
8k
views
"key will unlock the door" vs "key will *open* the door, but not unlock"
Can anyone help me with terminology to describe two different types of functioning in a door lock. (Please note, I am not talking about a lock that is broken.)
My front door and my back door both have ...
- 221
11
votes
6
answers
44k
views
How to open a door with no handle
Long story short, my door handle fell off today while the door was closed. Luckily I was outside the room. I've attached a photo. Any ideas how to get it open? I've tried the old credit card trick but ...
- 147
11
votes
7
answers
15k
views
Suggestions for gate latch issue
Let me preface by saying that I'm not really looking for "shopping advice". I just need some direction on how to tackle this issue.
We recently purchased a house and it has a block fence around the ...
- 245
11
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Why won't my door's latch set open when rotated downward?
I have a Honeywell door handle with keypad. To open the door I lift the handle up instead of the intuitive pushing it down. I asked the person who installed it to fix that and they checked and told me ...
- 2,113
11
votes
4
answers
5k
views
What is the protective plate on a door lock called?
Some doors have this plate that guards the latch mechanism.
For some reason my search-fu is failing, I found tons of diagrams of lock and door parts but I can't find that plate.
What is that called?
- 1,068
10
votes
5
answers
4k
views
What is this kind of door lock called in English?
Would it be called "overlap door lock"?
Instead of being installed inside the door, it is screwed outside of the door.
- 235
10
votes
6
answers
257k
views
Why does my latch not retract when I push or swing the door shut, but will retract when the knob/lever is used?
This just started today. I have to turn the knob in order for the latch to retract. Before, I could just push to door shut and the latch would retract when it hit the plate on the door frame. But now ...
- 203
10
votes
5
answers
23k
views
How can I prevent an outside lock from freezing?
I store a bunch of the "outside stuff" in the shed for the winter. Mainly things that I only use when the weather is warmer. It pretty much remains locked up for the winter. Occasionally though, I ...
- 6,329
10
votes
2
answers
9k
views
How long do batteries typically last in electronic deadbolts?
I'm considering getting a Schlage Plymouth Keypad for our front-door but was curious how long the 9V battery typically lasts. The web site says "3 year battery life" but I'm... skeptical. =)
Has ...
- 8,163
9
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Unlock door with no knob
Any suggestions for how to unlock and open a door with this type of lock? A video on YouTube showed me how to remove the knobs since the push button lock would not release. I have tried using scissors ...
- 93
9
votes
7
answers
10k
views
Is there such a thing as hardwired/powered keyless door locks?
I've seen an explosion on the market of keyless door locks, keyless dead bolts, and so on. Schlage sells a bunch. From the looks of it, most of them are powered either by a 9V battery or some number ...
- 245
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
I lost the keys for a gate's lock. Where can I find a replacement cylinder or how can I get new keys?
I lost the keys for a gate's lock and I need to find a replacement cylinder or a way to craft new keys.
The cylinder has a peculiar shape. I couldn't find any brand on the gate or lock. I did find a ...
- 193
9
votes
7
answers
85k
views
Did I break my Kwikset SmartKey lock by trying to rekey with a key that doesn't fit all the way?
I got a Kwikset deadbolt lock (has key hole on both sides instead of key hole externally with latch internally). This lock uses SmartKey technology so you can rekey the lock to use a new key rather ...
- 5,912
9
votes
6
answers
20k
views
How can I fit a Schlage lockset in my front door?
I moved into a condo with a Kwikset lockset in the door. I wanted to replace it with a Schlage lockset, but the actual bolt portion of the deadbolt was too large to fit into the pre-drilled hole. If ...
- 233
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Door lock and unlock based on authorized user proximity
I want to install an electronic lock on my office/workshop that only a specific individual(s) can unlock. I want it to lock every time the door is closed and the room is empty but I do not want to ...
- 576
9
votes
1
answer
5k
views
What lubricant should I use for an outside garage door lock?
I recently asked what sort of lubricant I should use on locks.
I was wondering if the advice there (i.e. graphite powder) applied to an outside garage door handle lock?
The lock in question looks ...
- 565
8
votes
6
answers
22k
views
What is the best way to secure a set of folding attic stairs?
My company is opening a new office in an existing office building. While inspecting the office prior to move-in, I noticed that the attics between all suites in the building are open to each other. ...
- 21.4k
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How can I remove this Kwikset entry door dead bolt lock?
This is a picture of the Kwikset dead bolt from interior. I removed the outer layer. However, I'm having trouble removing the bottom plate.
This looks very similar to this question: Removing old Entry ...
- 83
8
votes
3
answers
11k
views
should door locks and deadlocks be keyed the same [closed]
Should door locks and deadlocks be keyed the same. Is there any advantage or disadvantage (besides having more then one key) in having them keyed different?
- 89
8
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Are easy-rekey locks reliable?
I want to replace an old deadbolt and handle on my front door, and most of the replacement sets at big-box home improvement stores are the easy-rekey kind. Kwikset's SmartKey seems better executed ...
- 283
7
votes
5
answers
24k
views
How can I remove a key that has broken off in a lock?
I broke a key off in the lock of a desk drawer. The lock doesn't look easily replaceable, so how can I remove it? I've tried tweezers but they can't get enough of a grip to pull it out.
- 471
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What kind of window is this? And how to open it?
This window sits above our (sort-of) 3/4 glazed french doors onto our balcony.
It looks like somehow this rod should turn, allowing the window to fall back into the room but we've had no luck so far....
- 171
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What type of key profile is this?
I have acquired a chest for which the key was lost years ago. Since I don't want to destroy the lock or the chest, I try to find out what key I need. The chest and key are of german manufacturing as ...
- 261
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Repair antique lock
We've bought a 1950s home and started doing minor reno's to the place. My partner loves the old door handle & locks so I'm trying to get them all in working order. One of the latches on the lock ...
- 71
6
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Why does the tongue of the door lock stay in the door, and the hole in the door frame?
To me it seems entirely reasonable for the hole of a lock to be in the door and the "tongue" of the lock to be in the frame. Is there a reason we usually do it only one way?
- 265
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Bedroom door lock
We hire people to care for my mom 24/7 in her home and we want one of the bedrooms to be off-limits to them. We lock the door from inside and then use a little screwdriver to unlock it. It was simple, ...
- 179
6
votes
7
answers
4k
views
How to “lock” a bathroom door without drilling or spending too much money?
I am currently renting an apartment with a few flatmates, but it seems that the keys to the bathroom door have been lost. The owner of the apartment is not open to modifications.
We are trying to find ...
- 161
6
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Install lock on electrical panel
I have this Siemens electrical panel and I am looking for a way to install a lock on the panel door so that it can only be opened with a key. Any suggestions? Are there latches that already have built ...
- 173
6
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Where can I find a key for my old locks?
My house was build in 1938 and the whole house has these door knobs everywhere. I believe they were made by Dexter. Is there a way to ID them properly and, if so, where can I find someone who makes a ...
- 251
6
votes
10
answers
50k
views
How do I open a padlock after it has frozen?
I do some maintenance on the neighborhood ice-skating rink. To control the lights, there is an outside electrical panel that is locked with a padlock.
This padlock always gets frozen. Every time I ...
- 163
6
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Home wireless lock
How can I improve my home with a kind of front door lock that would act like those car that can unlock when it receive signal of the key in your pant?
My goal would be to keep my keys in my pant ...
6
votes
1
answer
201
views
What kind of lock used to be here?
We're moving into a new place and have been told by the building's management that the top lock on our door is our own responsibility. It appears that the previous tenants had something in the top ...
- 163
6
votes
3
answers
10k
views
What is the name of this cast metal part inside my lockset?
I have a Baldwin front door lockset that doesn't completely retract the latch when using the thumb lever. The handleset is similar to this: model
After dismantling the thumb latch assembly, I ...
- 173
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What's the (current) process for getting Arrow locks fitted by USPS?
I'm not sure this question is at all appropriate for DIY.stackexchange, but it seemed the best fit so if it's not appropriate here it's probably not appropriate anywhere. Perhaps this is a question I ...
- 233
6
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Did I break my door lock by locking it from the inside before exiting?
The lock on my front door is broken.
When I leave my house, I lock the door handle from the inside, then close the door and lock the deadbolt with the key. My boyfriend is trying to tell me that ...
- 61