Storage Unit Lockout

Most Austin storage facilities require cylinder locks or disc locks rather than combination padlocks. These provide better security and allow the facility to cut them with bolt cutters if needed for emergencies or abandoned units.

Disc locks - those round, flat locks that sit flush with the latch - are the most common at modern facilities. They're designed to resist bolt cutters by hiding the shackle. We can pick or bypass most disc locks without damage, preserving the lock if it's valuable to you.

Standard padlocks with exposed shackles are less common but still found at older facilities. These are easier to attack - which is why facilities have moved away from them - but also easier for us to open non-destructively.

Combination locks present a different challenge. If you've forgotten your combination, we may need to decode the lock (time-consuming) or cut it (faster but destructive). For cheap combination locks, cutting and replacing is usually the most cost-effective approach. For higher-quality combination locks, we can attempt decoding.

Some high-end facilities use electronic locks on individual units. These require facility involvement to access - we typically work with management on these rather than attempting lockout service directly.

When you call, we need your location (facility name and address), unit number if you know it, and what type of lock you're dealing with. If you're already at the facility, check in with management and let them know you're calling a locksmith - some require this before we can proceed.

We'll meet you at the facility and verify your authorization to access the unit. With that confirmed, we assess the lock and explain your options. Non-destructive opening preserves the lock but may take 15-30 minutes. Cutting the lock takes 2 minutes but you'll need a new lock afterward.

If we cut the lock, we can provide and install a replacement on the spot. We carry common disc locks and padlocks on our trucks. If you prefer to buy your own, that's fine too - just don't leave your unit unsecured while you shop for a lock.

Storage lockout calls typically run $65-95 depending on lock type and whether we're preserving or replacing it. We provide pricing before starting work. If we need to spend significant time on a difficult combination lock, we'll discuss that before beginning.

Storage units get accessed infrequently - often months between visits. This makes it easy to forget combinations, lose dedicated keys, or let locks corrode in Austin's humidity. A few simple practices prevent most lockouts.

Use a key lock rather than a combination lock. Keys can be kept on your main keyring where you're less likely to lose them. Combination locks sound convenient but become a liability when you haven't visited the unit in 8 months and can't remember whether you used your birthday or your anniversary.

If you must use a combination, record it somewhere accessible but secure. A note in your phone's secure notes app, a password manager, or a locked drawer at home all work. Don't write it on the storage contract that's sitting in the unit you can't access.

Keep your storage key on your everyday keyring, not a separate ring that lives in a drawer. You might not think you need it often, but when you do need it, you need it immediately.

Lubricate your lock annually, even if you rarely visit. Austin's humidity causes locks to corrode and seize. A shot of graphite lubricant during your occasional visits keeps the mechanism functional. We've cut plenty of locks that were too corroded to open even with the correct key.