When you want to lock your door but don’t have a key, there’s a solution. It may seem like a feat worthy of a spy movie, it’s very doable, although it requires a bit of work. But, first, let’s talk about doors, how they are designed, and how their opening style affects how your locking strategies go forward.
Doors are a critical part of the home. They shield us from burglars, animals, the weather, and anybody or anything that we don’t want in our personal space. This is why they come with locks. Locks give you the freedom and the choice to decide when to secure your place. However, some situations call for locking one without an actual look or key.
For Convenience
If you have a busy household, the door will most likely be opened and closed very frequently. In this situation, you will want the door that can be locked but not entirely, so that you can easily use it whenever.
For Added Privacy
Not all doors are intended for locking. For one, adjacent rooms have a point of entry in between that will need to either be opened all the time or temporarily barred for privacy. That said, alternative ways to lock it even without having a lock installed will come in handy.
For Emergency Situations
If you do have a lock, but it’s recently been broken, and it’s the middle of the night, then you will need a makeshift and secure method of locking until you do get it fixed.
Advantages of Having Alternative Locking Systems
- They don’t cost as much. These alternative locking methods are a lot cheaper compared to installing a full-on locking system. You can even install them yourself.
- They are easy to use. Anybody can get these alternative locking methods set up. However, if you do need some assistance getting it done the right way, just reach out to our friendly team at
- They provide ample security. Most of the strategies we will mention here are secure enough and give you ample peace of mind. For example, the out-swing security bar, which we will talk about later, is still popularly used in banks.
How To Lock Doors Even Without Locks or Keys
Now that we’ve identified the typical reasons you might want to lock your doors without a key or lock let’s go to how it can be done even without special tools. There are several ways to shutter your entryways alternatively, but the critical factor that you should consider is how your door is structured when it opens. Does it open outward or inward? The direction your door goes determines what types of locking alternatives you can apply.
Locking an Out-swing Door
An out-swing door is one that opens outward, which means locking methods are to be applied from the outside, too. Such a design is popular with old housing designs and commercial buildings. When it comes to security, while an out-swing door will be difficult for burglars to kick in, the exterior hinges can be manipulated from the outside. If this is what you have, there are several ways to lock this type of opening.
Use Security Bars
This is the most effective way to lock doors from outside. A bar can be used to jam the knob or handle, similar to what you see in banks and similar types of businesses. These bars are made of steel so it will be tough to get past them. They have a unique hook-on and lift-off mechanism that is emergency sensitive but also easy to install. If you’re unsure what type of security bars you need for your home or business, our team at GR Lock Smith can help find the best and most cost-efficient system.
Use Wedges
Wedges are a quick and practical way to lock out-swings, but in a not-so-secure way. While wedges can keep your doors closed for a time, they cannot be utilized in serious situations and cannot be relied on for security.
Locking an In-swing Door
As its name states, an in-swing door is one that opens inward so that any locking system should be set up inside. This design is the most popular among homes and also many business environments because the hinges cannot be manipulated from the outside. In addition, an in-swing door keeps the snow and rain from affecting your door’s top edge so that it does not rust or warp after a while. There are several easy ways to lock an inswing door without a key or lock.
Use Wedges
If you’re looking for a portable door locking solution, this is it. While wedges do not provide serious security, they help keep people out for a while. They can also be used to limit access into a space.
Use Door Jammers
Another quick and practical way to lock your in-swing door is by applying a door jammer. The typical unit is one that’s made of steel and is designed to make itself difficult for you or anybody to get it out of the way. A door jammer is easy to use, too. All you need to do is cut it to your door’s length and ideally position it under your knob so that when somebody tries to open your door, they won’t be able to.
Use Barricades
A barricade will cut access and prevent anybody from the outside from getting in. We see this in movies when people stack up heavy items to block doors. You can position any of your large furniture or invest in a professional barricading system. Some of these designs even come with alarms. If you don’t have bulky furniture, a good old chair is just as useful as a barricade.
Use an In-Swing Door Security Bar
Similar to the security bar for out-swings, inswing security bars are designed to block incoming traffic. The most popular ones are those that block either vertically (braced between the knob and the floor) or horizontally (positioned between two loops installed on either side of the door).
The Bottomline
Doors can work even without a locking system in place, and you can undoubtedly use alternative strategies to secure your space as needed. You won’t have to spend so much or set up a fancy system to achieve peace of mind. The methods we mentioned here should be enough for specific situations. If you have more questions about which types of locks and locking strategies you require, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at 647-559-2255.