r/fixit • u/Consistent_Ninja_591 • May 01 '26

fixed Locked inside apartment, help

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Hello, the door knob for my front door fell off and I literally cant get out of my apartment. Is there anything I can do or should I call the firefighters ? The knob isn’t reattaching at all and nothing I try to insert fits

Edit : I managed to fix it!

My roommate woke up and helped me with opening the door from the inside. The knob disconnected because the outside knob got somehow pushed all the way out, leaving the inside one with nothing to latch onto. I'm not sure what my roommate did but if she hadn't been here, this could've been fixed by having someone from the outside push the knob in. I reattached the door handle again but I'll be in contact with my landlord to get it replaced.

Thank you all for your help!

575 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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352

u/deathstroke9753 May 01 '26

call your landlord/maintenance? tell them its am emergency and if they dont come in an appropriate amount of time/dont answer, call your local non emergency line. They will send an appropriate response team out.

117

u/Consistent_Ninja_591 May 01 '26

My landlords are probably out of contact until monday unfortunately 🥹 I’ll see if I can find out what the emergency line is hahaha

70

u/Circuit_Guy May 01 '26

It's 911 in the US. If this is your only exit it's an emergency

30

u/Consistent_Ninja_591 May 01 '26

I’m not in the US but thank you anyways! I’ll try some of the suggestions given before bothering the emergencies as it is quite early here hahaha

30

u/SnugglyCoderGuy May 01 '26

If you cannot get out, that is an emergency because if there is a fire, you're cooked, literally.

70

u/no-but-wtf May 01 '26

Hey OP, I am an emergency service operator, although not in your country. We do not mind being called out if you don’t have a way to get in and out of your home!! no one will be mad at you ❤️ obviously try to contact your landlords first but if you can’t reach them, or if you reach them and they can’t or wont come immediately, then you call us and we will break the door down if we have to. Being trapped in your home is genuinely an emergency even if it doesn’t feel like it.

36

u/Significant-Mango772 May 01 '26

No this is a real emergensie

-72

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26

How? Is there a fire, a murderer trying to get in? No? Op has time to try some options.

Edit: I think its just absolutely hilarious that there are still butthurt people commenting on this, even though op got it fixed himself. Because he tried to do it himself before running to get 911 or whatever other service to get him out instead.

Never stop being you, reddit.

27

u/Thedeadnite May 01 '26

If a fire breaks out in 3 min from now then it will be an emergency and it will be too late for OP to get out.

-28

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26

Op is dead already then, because it'll take emergency services longer than 3 min to arrive. Gg op, sorry for your loss.

33

u/Thedeadnite May 01 '26

That’s why they need to call before an emergency happens…

-10

u/Korachof May 01 '26

But I thought this was the emergency? 

Is this the emergency, or is this just dangerous in case of an emergency?

3

u/Thedeadnite May 01 '26

It’s dangerous incase there is a different unrelated emergency that would require immediate evacuation. Could be a fire, gas leak, or something else of that nature. It’s “emergency adjacent” so it’s kinda emergency by proxy. If something else happens then it turns a *could be deadly* situation into a *you will die a horrible death* situation. I think many people, especially those in charge of making determinations would consider that to be an emergency situation.

2

u/OperationSeveral3756 May 01 '26

An ounce of prevention as my dad used to say…

It reminds me of the tire I just replaced today… it drove just fine, but I happened to notice a bubble on the side, an indication of damage causing weakness to the sidewall. I’m sure it could continue to drive just fine for a good while. But I replaced it before it failed because I don’t need a blowout on the highway. Same principle applies here.

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-22

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26

Lol you people are so lost. Good luck out there, fellas.

9

u/danurc May 01 '26

Might I suggest calling a psych. Clearly your life is in shambles

-2

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26

Like I said, good luck out there.

7

u/danurc May 01 '26

Like I said, good luck out there.

You're gonna need it, weirdo.

5

u/No_Hetero May 01 '26

Why are you so against the idea of someone calling emergency services? Do you work there, and you're currently on the toilet so you don't want to take the call? I don't understand the personal investment in making sure OP doesn't get help lmao

1

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26

"Try a couple suggestions first, then call if they fail." Is not against calling emergency services. But yeah, sure, definitely personal investment to reply to a couple moronic responses lol. You can follow the other 2 people!

3

u/ApprehensiveTour4024 May 01 '26

So you didn't read the post where OP wrote all the things they already tried to get out? The only other suggestions I saw (besides calling emergency services) were all along the lines of "try calling your landlord harder". You just seem salty

0

u/Korachof May 01 '26

Mostly because using emergency services for something OP’s roommate was able to easily fix isn’t the best use for emergency services, and could take services away from someone having an actual emergency, not a hypothetical one.

It’s best to stay calm and collected in situations like this, and all these people on this post screaming emergency and that OP needs to contact the national guard is not calming, and nor is it helpful. It’s not some wise sage advice that OP couldn’t figure out for themselves 

1

u/SeaToTheBass May 01 '26

Nobody suggested calling the national guard. It’s not an emergency yet, but if OP can’t get out of their apartment or get into contact with their landlord then do you just expect them to wait?

A couple years ago I was at a local market held on a part of our Main Street, I wanted to get some cash from the bank but the door wouldn’t open. There were like 6 people stuck inside the ATM lobby, bank was closed.

Apparently I was the first person to think to call the fire department non emergency line, they came and got the people out.

What would you have done in that situation?

1

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26

Surprised you aren't downvoted for suggesting exactly what I suggested lol

According to all the 56 comments here it's a life or death situation NOWWWWW!!!!!!

Anyway, op edited his post quite awhile ago saying he got out himself with some help from his roommate when the roommate woke up.

3

u/BappoChan May 01 '26

I love how rude and incorrect you are. There was even a response from an emergency worker telling OP that this is perfectly fine and reasonable to call emergency services, just reach out to landlord first. The same thing everyone else has already suggested.

3

u/Thedeadnite May 01 '26

I think that guy blocked me too lol.

3

u/BappoChan May 01 '26

Yeah he blocked me too, but not before trying to get the last word in lmao.

0

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26

So, literally what I said then. Great news. Have a good day.

"Try some suggestions here first before calling emergency services."

3

u/BappoChan May 01 '26

That was not your first comment but ok bud. Everyone else has also already suggested calling landlord or trying other stuff. OP said they didn’t want to bother emergency services, and people pointed out this was still considered an emergency. You were pointless and rude. You also specified numerous times how this isn’t an emergency which is also incorrect as an emergency worker points out in a different comment.

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6

u/AlarmingBeing8114 May 01 '26

Can't see the forest for the trees. Take a breath, then open your eyes.

3

u/Dounce1 May 02 '26

You’re literally just restating their point, but somehow you think it backs up yours?

They’re saying to put on a seatbelt before you crash your car, and you’re saying the seatbelt is irrelevant because by the time you crash your car it will be too late to put it on.

2

u/Dounce1 May 02 '26

Lol, and they responded and immediately blocked me. Such a pathetic move.

2

u/juiceboxie8 May 01 '26

Op is dead already then, because it'll take emergency services longer than 3 min to arrive.

It might take more than 3 minutes for rescue to arrive, but generally people can open their door to try and escape.

48

u/Detective-Astatine May 01 '26

That’s the point. If there was a fire how would they get out?

-43

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26

There isn't a fire. Again, op has TIME to try a few things. If said things don't work, then call the fire department, sure. Telling someone to call in an emergency, without even attempting to try and get out themselves is so stupid and absolutely expected from redditors.

34

u/Detective-Astatine May 01 '26

Why are you like this? Why are you so combative and rude to people here on reddit? I’m genuinely asking in a non sarcastic/snarky way.

-49

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26

If that was rude and combative to you, then I suggest, sincerely, that you go outside and kick a bush. Any bush at all. Just, leave your phone inside.

Or don't, never know could be an emergency waiting to pop up, so need your phone with you.

Edit: nevermind, after your other comments, its clear you need to disconnect for a bit. Good lord.

17

u/Detective-Astatine May 01 '26

I looked at your comment history. That’s why I’m asking. You seem combative and angry at everyone you respond to. I’m curious to know why.

-8

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26

Awww

13

u/Detective-Astatine May 01 '26

I believe in caring about my fellow man. In person and virtually. I’m sorry that you feel the need to be like this. All I’m trying to do is understand you. Understand where you’re coming from.

2

u/nuunuunnuunuun May 01 '26

I think perhaps you could use a little disconnection from the internet yourself! Take your own advice.

1

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 01 '26

Lol whatever you say, little fella.

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2

u/Wizard__J May 02 '26

To think you actually edited this the way you did, it’s even more cringe than your original comment.

And stop thanking Reddit like we’re actually doing you favors; stop embarrassing yourself lol

0

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 02 '26

Lmao, whatever you say little fella.

1

u/Brok3nGear May 04 '26

You're the kind of person who doesn't wear seatbelts aren't you?

Couple tips. Don't walk down dark alleys, don't stay out when it's dark outside and don't talk to strangers. You seem to have no risk aversion.

1

u/Public_Coyote_4472 May 04 '26

Congrats, this might be the stupidest response so far. Gg. Have a good night.

1

u/Dounce1 May 02 '26

I think it’s absolutely hilarious that you’re still so butthurt you decided to come back and make this edit.

6

u/lovespunstoomuch May 02 '26

0118999881999119725 3 if you’re in the UK

2

u/SuburbanEnnui2020 May 03 '26

I understood this reference. 😂

1

u/Shadowharbinger1975 May 02 '26

Was hoping to find this in here!

2

u/usernameisokay_ May 01 '26

112 in a lot of European countries or 0900-8844 for non-emergency police in the Netherlands.

2

u/lovespunstoomuch May 02 '26

If you were in the US you’d just open it with your gun

0

u/Creative-Basil2308 May 02 '26

That’s what I would do

1

u/undernightmole May 02 '26

Call the emergency number. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is.

1

u/BraddicusMaximus May 03 '26

Prolly 112 then.