Dealing with a house lockout in Columbus? Whether you’re locked out of your house, condo or apartment, we come to you and look at the lock and the other ways in before deciding how to get you back inside. A locked knob, a deadbolt, a keypad that stopped responding or a garage door that won’t reopen: we explain the options and the cost before we begin.
If a child or someone who needs help is alone inside and in danger, call 911 first.
Front doors, bedrooms, keypads and garages
We handle lockouts at:
- Front, back and side doors of houses and condos
- Apartments, including after hours when the office is closed
- Bedrooms, bathrooms and other interior doors
- Keypad and smart locks that stopped working
- Homes where the garage door won’t reopen and every other door is locked
We cover Columbus and Central Ohio, including Dublin, Hilliard, Grove City, Westerville, Worthington, Upper Arlington, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, Bexley, Pickerington and the communities in between. See all our service areas.
What a house lockout costs
During the day, a standard house lockout around Columbus is an $85 service call plus $45 to open the first standard residential lock. We give you the full price before we start.
| Service | Daytime price |
|---|---|
| Service call, local Columbus area | $85 |
| First standard residential lock | $45 |
| A second lock on the same door | Often discounted when both locks can be picked |
| Simple interior knob, such as a bedroom door | About $30, plus the service call |
| A working key made after we open the lock | $20, when the lock can be picked and decoded |
| Rekeying after you’re back in | Quoted for your lock |
| Evenings, specialty locks, severe weather | Quoted based on the situation |
How we get you back inside
We start by looking: which doors you can reach, what kind of lock is on each one, whether there’s a spare key or a backup power option, and the condition of the hardware. Then we choose the method.
When it works for the lock, we use a non-destructive method, and a standard lock can often be picked. Drilling isn’t our default. Some locks and conditions do need it, and if yours does, we explain why and what it means for the lock before we touch it.
Winter matters too. Freezing weather can make locks harder to work, so in severe weather the method and the price can change. We tell you that up front.
Back inside: a new key, or a rekey?
A lot of people call asking for a rekey or a new key while they’re still standing outside. First we get you in. Then the right next step depends on whether the lost key worries you:
- Unlocking gets you back inside.
- A new key from the lock gives you a working key when the original is gone. We can often make one after picking and decoding a standard lock. The lost key will still work, though.
- Rekeying changes the lock so the lost key, or any old key, no longer opens it.
If the key could be in someone else’s hands, rekeying is usually the better choice.
A few lockouts we’ve seen
A mother stepped out onto her patio while her toddler was inside. The child flipped the latch on the sliding door and locked her out, and couldn’t work out how to undo it. We got her back in by picking the front door lock.
Garages trip people up too. Someone leaves through the overhead door, shuts it, and then the opener loses power or the door fails, with every other door locked. On one call, the garage door failed right after the customer had closed it. In cases like that we look at the other doors and the safest practical way in. A broken opener or spring may still need a garage door company afterward.
Waiting for us? Our guide on what to do in a home lockout covers the first few minutes.
Apartments, keypads and Kwikset SmartKey locks
Apartments. When you call, tell us whether the deadbolt or the knob is locked. A locked deadbolt usually means the key is missing, while a locked knob can leave more options. If the leasing office or maintenance team has a key and is open, they may be the quickest help. After hours, weekends and holidays, we’re the call.
Keypad locks. It depends on the model. Many keypad handles and keyed keypad deadbolts can be handled much like a regular lock. Some models have a backup power connection we can try, while others have none, or it doesn’t work. A keypad with no keyhole and no working backup can’t be picked, so we look at the other ways in.
Kwikset SmartKey. Many Kwikset SmartKey locks have a small slot next to the keyhole. That slot is for rekeying the lock with a working key and a special tool; it isn’t an emergency unlock. When a SmartKey lock’s key is missing, picking isn’t always practical, so after checking the door and the alternatives, drilling and a new lock can sometimes be the answer. We’ll tell you before anything is done.
Proving it’s your home
Before we open a door, we check that you live there or are authorized to be there. A bank statement, utility bill, order confirmation or another record with your name and address usually works. If your phone and ID are locked inside, we have other reasonable ways to check. Once the door is open, we still ask to see your own proof.
For an inherited home, a deceased owner’s property, or anything where access is disputed, we need the proper legal documents first.
And when you call, you reach us. We don’t dispatch others, we dispatch ourselves.
FAQ
How much does a locksmith charge to unlock a house in Columbus?
During the day, a standard house lockout is an $85 service call plus $45 for the first standard lock. Other locks and situations are priced before we start.
Can you unlock my house without drilling the lock?
Often, yes. We choose the method after looking at the lock and the other ways in. Some locks or conditions need a different approach, and we explain it first.
I lost my house key. Can you make a new one without replacing the lock?
Sometimes. If we can open and decode a standard lock, we can make a working key without the original. If you want the lost key to stop working, ask about rekeying instead.
Can you open a locked bedroom or bathroom door?
Yes. Simple interior knob lockouts are part of what we do, and we give you the price based on the lock.
My keypad lock stopped working. Can you get me in?
Yes. How depends on the model. Some have a backup key or power option; others need a different way in.
My garage door won’t open and I’m locked out. Can you help?
Tell us which other doors you have. We’ll work out a practical way back inside. A broken opener or spring may still need a garage door company.
How do you know I’m allowed in?
We check that you live there or are authorized, using documents or other reasonable proof. After the door is open, we still ask to see your own proof. Tip: if your driver’s license still shows an old address, you can update it through the Ohio BMV’s online change of address.
From a front door with the keys still on the counter to a locked bedroom, a dead keypad or a garage that won’t reopen, we’ll help you get back inside. We’re open every day from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, we answer our own phone, and we come out ourselves. Call 844-644-6539!