A popular subject in our office this week and one of our family members got locked into a bathroom when the door locking mechanism broke and jammed.
A few years ago one of our other agents got locked into a bathroom when the single woman buyer was with him in the house. The bathroom didn't have a window so the event proved to be frustrating and very funny.
So, here is a quick set of tips:
1. Relax. Unless the home is on fire it is not life threatening. You will get out. Life will go on.
2. There are two parts that hold the door in the door frame. The knob/latch, and the hinges. To get the door open you need to release or remove one or the other.
3. Most door knob assemblies have two screws on the inside flange. There is also usually some small spring spring arrangement that you push on to take the knob off, but you usually don't need to do that.
4. If you want to take the knob assembly apart, you can use a screwdriver or something like a kitchen knife to remove those two screws. Once that is done the door knobs on both the inside and the outside usually will come off. At that point you can see the inside of the latching mechanism and possibly move it with your screwdriver or kitchen knife to release the latch and open the door.
5. You can also sometimes use a flat tool or a thin stiff item like a credit card to slide inbetween the door and the frame to push the latch in.
6. If those ideas don't work or aren't practical, you might try to remove the hinge pins. Most bathroom doors have three hinges and three hinge pins. You will normally need a screwdriver or knife to pry the pin up from the hinge, then you will usually need a pair of pliers to pull the pins out. This is a bit difficult on a jammed door, but once it is done the door will normally come apart and you can get where you need to be.
If you need tools and there is someone outside to pass them to you a window is very convienent. But don't forget you may be able to get something to someone through a clothes shoot. Even if you need to pass them string under the door to put down the clothes shoot to tie to the tool so they can pull it up.
Good luck and I hope you never need this advice!
Jon Boyd, Broker/Manager
The Home Buyer's Agent of Ann Arbor, Inc.
Click here for information on Ann Arbor real estate homes for sale
member office of http://naeba.org
734-662-6240
1908 W. Stadium Blvd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Ann Arbor's Most experienced Exclusive Buyer's Brokerage!
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