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How to Secure a Door Without a Lock

Sometimes, the situation may arise where your door no longer has a proper lock.  It could be because the original lock busted and you’re in between hardware, you’ve just moved in and discovered a lockless door and need a quick solution, or you simply don’t trust the door’s existing lock to do its job.  Whatever the case may be, not all is lost!  There are easy and effortless methods you can employ to secure your door when it lacks a trustworthy lock.

repairing a door lock

The Wedge Method

Most of us have a doorstop lying around the house and we might not immediately think this triangular piece of wood can be used in another way that’s not propping a door open.  In fact, you can use a doorstop to do the exact opposite—help keep the door closed.  For doors that open inward, a doorstop wedged underneath the door can buy you some time should an intruder try to bust in.  Keep in mind that you’ll want to get a decent lock as soon as possible because with enough force, the wedged doorstop method won’t hold up for very long.

Portable Door Lock

It seems like there’s an invention for just about every scenario these days—and that’s not a bad thing, especially if you need a quick fix to lock your door.  That’s where the portable door lock comes in handy.  Just like its name suggests, this tool is designed to travel wherever you go with the purpose of preventing a door from opening.  A portable door lock usually consists of a metal piece that looks a little like a propeller (sometimes it’s called a claw) that is designed to fit over the door’s exiting doorknob bolt or latch.  The claw is shaped just so, ensuring that the door cannot be opened inwardly.

Unfortunately, this device won’t work on an outwardly opening door, but if it’s still not a bad idea to toss in your travel bag in case you need one.  You never know when you might need an extra door lock if you’re traveling.

Security Bar

Some of these methods won’t provide protection against significant force, so if you’re looking for a way to secure a door that’s a little more dependable, try a security bar.  Security bars are heavy-duty metal bars that are secured against any inwardly opening doors with equally durable metal brackets that are fastened to the wall or doorframe.  Security bars are easy to install and the bar can removed by lifting it up and out of the brackets whenever you need to use the door.

Door Jammer

If you want a less permanent solution that a security bar, which requires you to install durable metal brackets into the wall or doorframe, consider a door jammer.  A door jammer is a long bar that is height adjustable, with one end designed to fit tightly under the doorknob of handle and with its other end equipped with a padded foot that offers resistance against an opening door by preventing sliding.  The tool essentially creates pressure against the floor if someone tries to inwardly open a door against it.  While it’s not as secure as a door lock, it does do the job for inward opening doors.

Belt or Rope

Let’s say you’re really in a pinch and you don’t have a door jammer or security bar.  What you might have on hand is a length of rope—or more likely, a belt.  Both of these items can be used to temporarily secure a door.  All you need to do is to restrain the function of the door handle.  Simply attach one end of the belt or rope to the door’s handle and secure the other end to any stationary object fixed in place.  If you can, use more than one belt or rope to add additional measures that prevent the handle from moving.  This method works well for outwardly opening doors as the belt or rope can be affixed to something extremely heavy like a piece of furniture or an appliance.

Floor Barricade

If you have the time and money, investing in a floor barricade to lock an unsecured door is a good call.  Much like a security bar or a door jammer, a floor barricade is tool specifically designed to prevent someone from accessing your home through the door.  The barricade consists of two pieces, a base and a brace that fits within the base.  The only downside is that the base must be installed with screws into the floor, so if you value your floors, you might want to consider another option.  The door can open and close just fine with the base installed, but once the brace is inserted into the base, it prevents the door from opening inward.

Feldco has high-quality doors in many shapes and sizes to perfectly fit your home. We also have professional and experienced installers to make sure the job is done correctly.

We provide homeowners with great local services and showrooms so they can customize their homes with a variety of styles and colors.

Speak with a product specialist and get a free quote today.

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