You might find yourself in a rut if your storm door gets locked and you can’t open it for some reason.
This can happen due to several reasons, like the cold weather causing the latch to freeze, or someone leaving it closed from inside while you’re stuck outside. You’d now have to figure out a way to break in without damaging the door.
Is this even possible?
The good news is, you can open a locked storm door but there is a step-by-step process behind it. This includes determining which side the door is locked from, locating the lock, and then figuring out the unlocking mechanism and using gentle force to do so.
This may seem confusing at first, but with our in-depth guide, you will manage to unlock your storm door in a few minutes. Keep reading to find out how to do this successfully by yourself.
Be aware that these instructions are for use on a storm door that you own – tampering with someone else’s door and property without permission is illegal.
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How To Open A Locked Door – Step By Step
Step 1:
The first thing you need to find out is whether the door is locked from inside or outside. In case it is locked from inside, this probably means that someone occupying the house has pulled the sliding screen and shut it close.
Step 2:
Once you have determined that the door isn’t locked from inside, it means it was closed from outside. This could have happened due to external force or someone locking it.
Now, take a look at the bottom part of the door and try to locate a locking mechanism. Usually, there is a handle or latch on the left side of the door. Sometimes, you can find it on the top of either side of the door.
If you are having trouble finding it, gently push on these specific areas and you might find the mechanism.
Step 3:
After finding the location of the lock, you have to try and get access to that part of the door. You should slide back the screens and then be able to reach inside with a little effort.
If there is no screen here, then remove the screen from the front of the door and move it here. If there is no screen at all, try looking for a thin tool or some equipment to help you reach inside so you can unlock the main mechanism.
Step 4:
Next, you should look for the locking device for your storm door. This can be tricky, but with a few attempts, you’ll find it. One way to do this is by pulling the door handle gently and looking around for a metallic part located near the handle area. This might have a stick-like or ruler-like feeling.
You should also try and locate another lock right above the handle. After finding the lock, push on it and try to move it in an upward or downward direction. This should help you unlock it.
If this doesn’t work, then push and turn the lock in a clockwise motion. Also, try doing this with any other locks you find nearby. At some point, the main mechanism should get unlocked as well.
Step 5:
If you keep trying different movements and the lock still does not seem to move, then you shouldn’t keep tampering with it. This might cause it to get damaged and make the situation worse. If this ends up happening, don’t worry. Just call a locksmith to replace the locking mechanism.
You now know how you can unlock a locked storm door with a few simple steps.
Make sure to use gentle force while attempting to do this. If you need to open the door during an emergency, these tips will help you find a quick solution and avoid having to kick the door down. However, if there is ample time, then it’s best to let a professional help you fix the problem to avoid any damage.
Final Words & Tips
Before you try to open the locked door, try to find out whether the door keys are for a single-cylinder or double-cylinder lock. Take a look at the key and see how many lines there are on the keyhole. This indicates the number of keys required to open the deadbolt on the storm door.
Try some time to understand how you can engage the lock in multiple ways. But never hurry or rush into the process and make sure not to jam anything into the mechanism.
Our final tip is to hold the keys with a good grip in one hand and then reach out with your other hand to work to unlock the door.
We hope this article was useful and that you are now prepared for the unexpected situation when you have to open a storm door that is locked.
