When is the right time to call an emergency locksmith?

Nobody ever wants to get locked out. Whether it’s your car, your home, your place of business, anywhere you need access to, we all dread that moment of realising we’ve locked the keys inside or the lock has broken. The reality is, though, that it’s a situation we can all find ourselves in, so when should you call the emergency locksmith?

The right time to call the locksmiths

The answer is, quite simply, that you should call an emergency locksmith immediately.

The moment you realise what the situation you’re dealing with is, you should be on the phone with your local locksmith to come and help you. If you make it clear that you’re locked out of somewhere you need to be, like your home or your car, they’ll make it a priority to get to you as soon as they possibly can. This is why you should call them straight away.

What if you get locked out late at night?

It doesn’t matter when you get locked out, you should call a locksmith immediately. A 24-hour locksmith is there to help you any time, and they’re often available seven days a week for emergency callouts. If you have the number of a local emergency locksmith to you, you should always call them as a priority, especially if it’s late and you’re vulnerable.

Should you keep trying to get in yourself?

No. If you’re dealing with a broken key or lock, you shouldn’t try and force it or worry it into working. The odds are you’re only going to end up getting more frustrated, and you actually run the risk of making the damage to the lock even worse. Ultimately, that means your locksmith is going to have a harder job when they eventually arrive, and you’ll be even longer waiting.

If you’ve lost your keys or locked them inside the car/property, don’t try and break in. Your neighbours don’t know what’s going on and may think you’re attempting a burglary. Being locked out is stressful enough without the police arriving.

Where should you wait for the locksmith?

Calling your locksmith as soon as you realise there’s a problem means you’ll have the minimum possible waiting time. Knowing it’s an emergency means your locksmith will get to you as a matter of urgency, but you’ll still have some time to wait.

Where you should wait depends on where you are. If you’ve locked yourself out of your house, for example, knock on your neighbour’s door and explain the situation. This is particularly important if it’s cold, dark, or raining outside. If nobody is home, try and find yourself a sheltered place to sit until the locksmith arrives; phone games, music, or podcasts can help you kill time.

If you’re in your car, try and seek shelter, but do so as close to your car as possible. If there are any nearby cafes or shops you can find warmth and shelter in, they can be a more comfortable place to wait. You should either be sure you can keep an eye on your car or tell your locksmith where you’re waiting, to avoid them having difficulty finding your vehicle.

Call your locksmith to get the matter resolved

In short, the sooner you call a locksmith, the quicker you’re going to get the lock open. It’s as simple as that. Don’t try and force it, don’t try and break in, and don’t waste any time getting angry at a situation you have no control over.

Keep the number of a reputable 24-hour locksmith, like Lockout 24/7, stored in your phone and contact us as soon as you need to.