You might have noticed that exterior doors with a keylock knob have a security latch which has a semicircle piece on the side. That is called the deadlock. When the deadlock is engaged properly, it increases security by not allowing the latch to be manually pushed back into the door.
Grandpa TJ: I’ve located videos which deal with many of the types of lockouts you may run into at home. If you are handy with some simple tools and can get to a hardware store, these videos will give you enough information to get the job done for far less cost than a locksmith.
Remember, you can get personalized help including video chat during your repair if you need it. Visit Grandpa TJ’s Inner Circle for more information on how to schedule a live consultation.
The video below shows how you may be able to open an exterior door whose deadlock is not properly working and how to ensure that your deadbolt is working properly also.
Thanks to ACME Locksmith for the YouTube video
If you are locked out and can shim an exterior door latch, consider it lucky.
But now you need to fix it so no-one else can get lucky!