Urgent help needed. Kitchen door won't open!

[StuckDoorHelp]

My kitchen door has been a bit 'sticky' the last couple of weeks.

Door was shut last night at bedtime, it now won't open at all.

I expect the bit inside is buggered, I can pull the handle down, but it obviously isn't turning the bit inside.

My poor cat is in there, mewing for her breakfast! Can't get the children breakfast either!

House is housing association, I expect I can call them and get someone out to fix it, but as it is sunday not sure how long that would take, I thought Id try and see if I can sort it first.

Anyone have any advice? Please!

It is similar to this one;

www.thevictorianemporium.com/images/uploads/products/875/ve_brass_dl55__large.jpg

[notoneforselfies]

Take a screwdriver to it and get the handle off so you can access the inside bits?

[StuckDoorHelp]

Thanks.

Son has just unscrewed the handle plate on this side, pulled the 'square' stick bit out and can see that the die cast bit that it slots into is cracked and in several pieces.

Can't really see what bit to wiggle with to make the bit that goes into the bit on the door frame move?

[notoneforselfies]

You need to turn that die cast bit. If the long metal rod no longer does that you need to stick something like needle nose pliers in that hole that you can force open to get some traction on it and simultaneously turn

[notoneforselfies]

Or can you slip a credit card between the frame and the door? This will only work from one side but you might be lucky...

[StuckDoorHelp]

The die cast bit is broken into several pieces though, def not turnable. The metal rod is fine, its just the bit around it thats shot.

Will try slipping something between the door and frame, but I think the way the frame is on that side means that won't work. Will give it a go though.

[StuckDoorHelp]

No luck.

The frame has an extra bit, so you can't get anything through.

[notoneforselfies]

Ah bugger. You might need to break the door down... You can always tell housing association a person was trapped in there who required medical assistance so you couldn't wait for a call out and had to act immediately! Anyone being called out would need to do the same anyway, by the sounds of it.

[elvisola]

Mine got stuck like that and I got it open by sticking a coat hanger hook above the bit that goes in the door frame and pulling

[StuckDoorHelp]

Bugger indeed!

My son was all for bashing it down, but I thought that might be overkill!

Thanks for your help.

[StuckDoorHelp]

Did you do that from the inside elvisola? ie after taking off the handle plate?

[elvisola]

It's difficult to explain but mine was jammed with the metal bit still stuck in the door frame, I wedged the hanger hook through the gaping the door, pulled down so it caught behind the metal bit and pulled it open, we don't have the same door as you though so might not work on yours.

[notoneforselfies]

Ah - similar I the credit card trick but from the other side. Clever...

[StuckDoorHelp]

Thanks for the advice, Problem is now solved!

I called the out of hours number and the lovely maintenance man was here in 20 minutes.

Children and cat have now had brunch, all is well