Front door won't open

chacha11

Hi,

I went to open my front door today, and it won't open. A locksmith put a new lock in it a couple of months ago.

Unfortunately, I live in a terraced house where it is impossible to get out from the back garden. There are very high walls either side of my back garden that you can't even jump over.

My front door is my only way out. And the door won't open at all today. It has a lock I'm not sure how you'd describe it. It's not just a key lock. The door doesn't have a handle. It has a little bit on the lock that you turn to the left to open the door.

When I try to turn this now ,the lock mechanism turns a little bit, but then it sticks and won't turn the whole way.

I don't know what to do. I'm stuck in the house. I can't afford the locksmith as he charges 100 euro minimum for any call out and I don't have that this week

Is there anything I can do to help open it?

naughtysmurf

Are you 100% sure the door is FULLY closed, give it a good solid push at the height level of the lock, may get lucky

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058330569/front-door-wont-open

"A locksmith put a new lock in it a couple of months ago" So get them back to fix it, it should be under warranty.

chacha11

@con747 from meeting the man before I know he will tell me that I need to pay to fix the locl.

He is very unlikely to do anything for free. I'll try and ask him but, I can't see him doing anything for free.

Thanks though

TheSunIsShining

Maybe post a photo and someone might be able to help

chacha11

Thanks @naughtysmurf . I tried that , no luck.

When I opened the door earlier today to get into the house, I noticed that the lock ft a bit different. It was harder to turn

However I was able to open the door and get into the house.

Now I'm in the house, it won't open at all. It keeps sticking at halfway point.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594682#Comment_121594682

Tell him to read this https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/contracts-and-services/problems-with-services/

chacha11

Here is the lock. You turn the small handle on the left to open the door, but now it is only turning a tiny bit, then it totally sticks.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594708#Comment_121594708

Is the square part beside it a deadlock that moves up and down?

chacha11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594727#Comment_121594727

Yeah it is Con. But the deadlock is definitely down in it's 'open' position. Door still won't budge.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594752#Comment_121594752

Down is locked on my parents lock which is identical.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594752#Comment_121594752

Not much I can say then apart from get the locksmith back out or force it open where it latches on the right and then repair it unless anyone else has a better solution.

chacha11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594758#Comment_121594758

On my deadlock "down " was open and "up" was locked.

Ive tried opening the door with the deadlock up and down

It won't open either way.

It feels like something is wrong with the mechanism.

So annoying !

Thanks for your help

TheSunIsShining

Are you only using your hand? I'd suggest gripping the part you turn with a vice grips to give more leverage - see if that allows you to get it open

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594708#Comment_121594708

That's your new lock, just a couple of months old?

Dtoffee

Get a knife and put it in over the gap where the lock bolt/lever it. Push it down behind the bolt and at the same time twist it right to left to try to open the bolt, if its stiff push on the door at the same time (as if you are closing it).

Basically you need to get the lock lever to retract and if the knife wont move it, try a small flat head screwdriver.

That is not a new lock in your picture, so it looks like the locksmith changed the cylinder and gave you new keys..... not a total new lock..... nothing wrong it that, so long as he only charged you for a new cylinder and not a full new lock.

Best of luck.

chacha11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594838#Comment_121594838

Yeah he told me he put a new lock in.

What happened was I locked myself out of the house a couple of months ago. I called him. He came round and opened the door for me. He said the old lock was in a bad way and that I could do with a new lock.

And then he put a new lock in the door. As far as I remember he said it wouldn't cost me too much more to get a new lock put in, on top of me calling him out to open the door.

Maybe he just meant he was going to put new parts into the lock, but the words he used were that he was going to put in a "new lock" and he gave me a new set of keys to go with it.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594924#Comment_121594924

I'm far from expert on such things, but it doesn't look new to me.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594924#Comment_121594924

He fitted something new so he has to stand over it with a warranty, get him to fix it.

Dtoffee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594953#Comment_121594953

The problem appears to be the back lock mechanism and if the locksmith only fitted and charged for a new cylinder, then its not his fault. The OP is locked in his house and says he cant get out, taking that at face value.... then he's trapped. In that situation I would either get out a window (if poss) or phone a friend to come around and hand them out the key to open the door from the outside.

My guess is that the snib (button shaped object to he right of handle) is broken and is stuck in the locked position. Once the door is open, take out the screws on the side and the lock should pull off. You will then be left with a plate on the door with a metal piece like a flat ice pop stick pointing out. Once the lock is off, you could send someone to buy an exact replacement and just fit it back on yourself using the same screws you took out.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594988#Comment_121594988

Not sure if that negates your consumer rights? He fitted something new and it now won't work if that's the issue.

greasepalm

Might the door be warped and putting pressure on the lock , put your shoulder up on the door and retry as weather does funny things to door.

Dtoffee

I know what you mean and it all depends where the problem is, it appears to be the old lock on the inside.

The only way it would be the locksmiths fault is if the issue was the cylinder he fitted and the only way to find that out is like I said, get someone to try and open the door from the outside. If the lock will not open from outside then the locksmith should be called back.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121595025#Comment_121595025

I know, I just don't/can't understand how the OP couldn't just get over a back wall and go through a neighbours house and try opening it from the front. The walls can't be higher than the legal limit so even a chair would be enough to get you over it. Sure who knows!

greasepalm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121595030#Comment_121595030

Maybe the person is unable to scale the wall into someone else's garden or have hedges on the other side?

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121595037#Comment_121595037

Possibly, but who hasn't got a mobile phone to ask someone to try open the door from the outside. I'm not saying the OP isn't in the situation but if it was me I would have been out in a few minutes by whatever means.

greasepalm

Lacking a neighbour that has a key for me might have an issue but have 2 exits so not an issue yet.

con747

OP, keep us updated anyway so we know the outcome.

greasepalm

Reread the thread again so new keys handed over sounds like new barrel and key on other side which we cant see.

As a security device does moving lock into lock position stop someone from the outside using the key to get in ?

Do you have and WD40 to spray on the up / down catch as i think that is what is stopping you from twisting the handle to open the door.

chacha11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121595030#Comment_121595030

The walls are extremely high on both sides of my back garden. Even standing on a chair you wouldn't get over them.

And it would be a terrible drop down to the other side.

These kind of walls are very common in older terraced houses in Ireland . There is no way to jump over them

chacha11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121595040#Comment_121595040

I feel a bit sad reading this.

You seem to think that everyone lives near friends /family . Or that people have a lot of friends and family. Alot of people don't live near any friends or family in Ireland. Or many people don't have a lot of friends or family. Ireland can be very lonely.

And alot of people don't know their neighbours either, as people move around for work. Ireland can be very lonely for a lot of people.

I moved to a new town last year for work. I dont have any family in this town. I don't have any friends in this town either. I e gone to groups but people have not been that friendly. I live alone.

My house- On one side of me there are no neighbours at all,as that house is up for sale ,and the people who own it are not living in it.

On the other side of me lives one old man, he is not here half the time as he goes to visit his adult daughters in another city alot, as far as I know. He is not there in the house now.

I'm going to have to call the locksmith out and ask him if I can pay him at end of month

HeidiHeidi

Should we send food parcels?

I'm sceptical about this whole thread, tbh, now that it's apparently gone into a second day and the OP seems very relaxed about being trapped in their fortress terraced house...... but taking it at face value....

Have you asked someone to come and try to open the door from the outside?

If you can't open it from the inside, and it also can't be opened from the outside, then you'll have to call the locksmith back - it's as simple as that.

chacha11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121596036#Comment_121596036

Its not two days is it Heidi. I started the thread at 10.30 pm last night, and it is now early the next morning.

I don't know anyone in this town to come and open the door for me form outside. My family don't live in the same town as me, as I moved here for work. Ive no neighbour on one side as the house is up for Sale. And I have one elderly male neighbour the other side who is not in bis house. He is away.

I've called the locksmith. He is not sure if he will be able to get out today as he is on a job in a different town. But if he can't come today , he will come tomorrow.

greasepalm

Have you tried what i asked earlier ?

chacha11

Yeah greasepalm I put my shoulder up to the door. I don't have wd40 in the house.

The locksmith called me back. He should be able to get out to me this evening.

Luckily I work from home and I have food in the house so I'm okay for today.

I can laugh at it all a bit now. You have to laugh or you'd cry! Thanks for you all chatting to me on here.

Do you all have lovely low walls in your back gardens then? I think in the big cities like Dublin, lower back walls would be the norm as you have more houses backing on top of each other maybe.

I live in the west of Ireland. In my town , we have towering sky high back walls. They are a bit badly designed. With no way from the back gardens to any exit

Dtoffee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121596273#Comment_121596273

You put your shoulder to door that opens in towards you, did you think you were going to burst open the door frame as well?

I can understand the high walls out back scenario, but have you no ground floor windows ? sounds like you are living in a death trap.

Did you try the knife like I told you, it should work as you already said the lock is only going back half way.

Given you can call the locksmith and have internet access to chat on here, while at the same time accepting you have no friends..... why not order a take away deliver to your house and get the delivery guy to try your key?

greasepalm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121599706#Comment_121599706

Yes as i have done that at times as it relieves any stress on the lock , its obvious the door opens inwards.

chacha11

@dtoffee I do have friends and family. They just don't live anywhere near me. I dont know anyone well enough in this town that I could ask to come over

I have no ground floor windows. It is a very old terraced house and the downstairs Front window is just one pane of glass. With a tiny bit at the top that opems you wouldn't squeeze out of.

Knife didn't work.

I didn't call the delivery guy as im broke and don't have money .

It just after Christmas. Payday is not till end of month

I told locksmith that i had no money and he agreed that i could pay him at end of month,thankfully.

He came and fixed it. Something was wrong with the lock

Yeah house is not In great condition. I'll be moving out of here later this year anyway.

It's sorted. Door is open now.

Dtoffee

Great, I'm glad its finally sorted and you can get out of the house.

How did the locksmith get in ?

chacha11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121600969#Comment_121600969

He had an electric tool to open the door from the outside

chacha11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121596036#Comment_121596036

Why be such a cow? Do you just do it to get a kick out of it? Does it give you a thrill. I often wonder about people who write things like this.

I hope one day you come on boards and ask for help and some one is nasty to you.

What goes around comes around

Rubberchikken

Been following. Glad door is sorted🤗