HELP - front door won’t lock!

[JustADrizzle]

Any ideas on how to secure it for tonight until I can get someone out to sort it tomorrow?

It has a handle and can be opened from outside if it’s not locked.

It’s a composite one so can’t drill a bolt onto it or nail it shut.

TIA!

In this situation if its not covered on your house insurance, I'd get an emergency locksmith.

I've done this a couple of times. And the costs weren't that extortionate tbh.

Failing that, shut as much possible. Push furniture against the door and sleep in the room (with one eye open). locksmiths get my vote.

I think a locksmith is your only option I'm afraid

Can you put a chair under the handle so that the hand can't be pushed down?

Try oiling the door frame, hinges and mechanisms if it's sticking

What is stopping it from locking.
Ours wouldn't the other day (handle wouldn't push up) but a good spray with some WD40 sorted it.

Sorry missed a ?

Why's it not locking

Our front door lock seizes up due to the temperature mostly when it gets too hot but has been known to seize when it’s too cold (front door is metal!) we usually get locked In or out. But on occasion haven’t been able to lock it. When that happens we use the chain as a temporary measure until the door get to the correct temperature.

But If I were you I think I’d jam a chair under the handle (as well as putting the chain on if you have one)

I'd just go to bed and forget about it. Don't listen to me though, I didn't lock my front door for 10 years.

You can make something out of a fork. Search YouTube for how to do it. You can also use door wedges.

I’ve had that happen, and couldn’t get hold of a locksmith. Or I did, but they didn’t turn up (night). I have a dog, which helps, but just slept downstairs and put stuff on the back of the door that would make a massive noise if opened.

@CoastAlong

I'd just go to bed and forget about it. Don't listen to me though, I didn't lock my front door for 10 years.

😱😱😱😱

Door wedge plus heavy furniture.

I'd imagine break in to be a bigger risk than fire.

Unscrew handles, take spindle out the middle, put handles back on again. Pushing the handle on the outside won't open the door, but make sure there is a window or something else you can use as a fire exit.

Just use something as a wedge. I hammered a chisle into the gap once but that was a wooden door.