How Do I Open an Interior Door That Is Locked?

Determining the Type of Lock

It can be frustrating or even frightening to find a locked interior door. This is particularly true if a young child or pet is locked on the other side and unable to get out. Fortunately, interior door locks are installed only for privacy reasons and not security purposes, such as a deadbolt is on an exterior door. This means that interior doors can usually be unlocked, quickly and easily. The first step is to figure out the type of lock installed on the door. There are two types of interior door locks that are most commonly used. The first is a push-button lock in the middle of the interior doorknob or on the plate beneath the knob itself. The second type is a twist lock, which has a small handle in the center of the knob that locks when turned clockwise.

Locate the "Key" Hole

Locking interior doorknobs include a small hole or slot on the opposite side of the lock for safety purposes. If the door has a push-button type of lock, look for a small, round hole either in the middle of the doorknob itself or on the doorknob plate, usually below or to the side of the knob. The hole will be small; they are typically about the diameter of a pencil or a bit smaller. If the door has a twist lock, look for a small slot or hole in the middle of the doorknob. If by chance the door has a key lock, check the doorknob fixture for accessible screws that might allow you to take the knob apart and access the room. Otherwise, a locksmith will have to be called out to get into the room.

Pop the Lock

If the door has a push-button lock, find a thin but sturdy object that will fit into the hole in the knob or on the plate of the doorknob. The object will be used to press the push-button mechanism outward, unlocking the door. Some effective items found around the home include metal hangers or wire paper clips, which can be straightened and inserted into the hole. When pressing a hanger or clip into the hole, aim as straight as possible to successfully release the lock. If the object is slid in at an angle, it may hit the metal around the push-button and miss the button itself. If the door has a twist-style lock, slide a thin, flat head screwdriver into the slot or hole on the doorknob. It needs to be slid in as horizontally as possible, as the screwdriver head needs to fit into the twisting handle on the interior side of the door. Once the screwdriver is inside of handle, turn it clockwise. It should only turn a quarter of the way. If it turns further than that and does not unlock the door, it may not have been properly inserted into the lock mechanism.

Safety First

If someone is locked in a room, and you are concerned for that person's safety, contact emergency services immediately. You can then begin trying to unlock the door.

References

• http://www.kidsmartliving.com/inandexdoors.html