Expert: James - 2/24/2009

Question
I have a locked interior door and cannot get into my bed room.  In the past ( at my previous residence) I have been locked out and used a wire hanger to get in.  However, this lock will not open using this method (pushing a small button inside the lock with a coat hanger).  Do you have any suggestions?

Answer
Hello Brian,

Some privacy locks, which is what you likely have, use a pushbutton on the knob, others use a turnbutton on the knob and other use a pushbutton on the trim next to the knob.

Think about how yours locks.  Do you turn it to lock or do you push a button on the rose?

If you turn the button you'll need a small screwdriver in the outside knob to turn the piece inside it to unlock it.  If you push a button on the rose (the trim piece) you'll also want a small screwdriver to turn the slot in the outside rose.

The only locks that work with a nail or coat hanger are those that have a pushbutton on the inside.

James
www.jmlock.com