Emergency Locksmith in Knoxville, TN

What makes a lock problem urgent

These lock problems cannot wait for a convenient day:

• Someone is at risk. A child, a pet or an adult who cannot get out is locked in a car or house, or someone outside is in danger from cold or heat. Contact emergency services first.
• A door will not lock after damage. A storm or a forced entry left the bolt short of the strike, or the latch will not hold.
• A break-in. The door or lock was forced and the building cannot be secured.

After a storm

Tennessee has received 33 major disaster declarations for severe storms and flooding since 2000, and in February 2021 heavy snow and icing did widespread damage. A storm can rack a door in its frame so the bolt no longer reaches the strike, or leave a lock full of water and grit.

After a break-in

Call the police first and wait for them before touching the door; the lock and frame are part of what they look at. Once the police are done, the goal is a door that shuts and locks, then new keys if any were taken; see lock replacement.

In Old North Knoxville, think before adding bars or a security door. The guidelines (Windows items 9 and 10) do not allow burglar bars or security devices more visually intrusive than storm windows, and allow security doors only if they are full-view glass painted to blend with the trim. This is general information, not legal advice.

Staying safe while you wait

Warm, humid Gulf air in summer and ice in winter both make waiting outside risky. Go somewhere sheltered, such as a neighbor's home or a nearby business. For a house, see house lockout for what to have ready.

What to send first

In an emergency locksmith request, say:

1. What happened, and whether anyone is inside or at risk
2. Whether police have been called, and any report number
3. The street and nearest cross street
4. The door and lock type, with a photo if you can

Get the full cost in writing before work starts, and keep the estimate and invoice. The Division of Consumer Affairs in the Tennessee Attorney General's Office mediates consumer complaints. Neighborhood context is on the Knoxville page.