don't want to find ourselves locked out one day

cally6008

Good title, hey?! Lol.

Front door has a Traditional Night Latch (yale type, bog standard) lock.

On pushing the door shut (from inside) the little round button sometimes drops down so that the lock is locked. Luckily this has only happened when one person still in house so able to open door from inside.

We have often said that we dread the day this happens and find ourselves locked out.

Is it a simple case of something needs tightening up ?
Or do we need a new lock ?

wallbash

I have buried a key in a jam jar in the garden .
Its not a high tech solution , but it gives me reassurance.
Even knowing where to dig, will take us some time to recover the key
But its better than calling a locksmith/breaking a window to get in.

I do not think hiding a key under a stone is a good idea.

Zazen999

I'd get a new lock personally. I can't see burying a key being of any relevance whatsoever.

cally6008

You've missed the point completely - wallbash

If the little round button drops down and locks the door, it is completely locked and will not open with a key from the outside. The only way to open it is to be on the inside to be able to sort the latch out.

latecomer

Buy a replacement lock. You should be able to get a good one for £10-15 and it shouldn't take more than about 30 mins to fit. Getting new keys cut if you need more that its supplied with should be the biggest problem.

wallbash

cally6008 I was Not answering the question about the lock, I know nothing about locks , I was stating what I have done , so that I ( and only I ) will not be locked out.

latecomer

But the problem isn't about not having a key, its about being unable to open the door using a key.

jitters

latecomer wrote: »

Buy a replacement lock. You should be able to get a good one for £10-15 and it shouldn't take more than about 30 mins to fit. Getting new keys cut if you need more that its supplied with should be the biggest problem.

Could you not get the same/similar lock and change the cylinder? So you can use the same set of keys. Might work?

Zazen999

latecomer wrote: »

But the problem isn't about not having a key, its about being unable to open the door using a key.

I've got at least 8 pumpkins in my shed.

latecomer

jitters wrote: »

Could you not get the same/similar lock and change the cylinder? So you can use the same set of keys. Might work?

That would also work

We did the opposite when we first moved into our first flat and just changed the cylinder rather than the whole lock.

clockworks_2

good advice above, get the same lock, leave the cylinder in place so you dont have to change the keys and just unscrew the back and swap over.