Georgetown sits in Northwest Washington, in ZIP 20007, around M Street and Wisconsin Avenue shops, Georgetown University, the C&O Canal. This guide covers the locks you are likely to have here, what to check, and what to do when a key goes missing.
The locks on Georgetown doors
Rowhouse doors in Georgetown usually carry two locks: an older mortise lock built into the edge of the door and a deadbolt added above it. The mortise lock is worth keeping. It can be cleaned, re-pinned and fitted with a new cylinder, and it suits the thick wood door better than a modern replacement.
A security checklist for Georgetown
- Make sure the deadbolt throws fully into the frame; if you have to lift or push the door, the strike needs adjusting
- Replace short strike-plate screws with 3-inch screws that reach the framing
- Key the English-basement unit separately if it is rented
- Check the rear alley door and any basement door, which are the usual weak points
For the work itself see lock rekeying in Georgetown, lock change and installation and smart lock installation.
If you are locked out in Georgetown
Check every door and window you can reach safely, then call. Have ID ready that shows you live there. If you are stuck outside, the area around the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro is a safe, lit place to wait. Details: house lockout in Georgetown and apartment lockout in Georgetown.
Car keys and parking in Georgetown
Cars here live on the street, often a block or two from the house, so a lost key is normally dealt with at the curb. See car lockout in Georgetown, car key replacement, key programming and ignition repair.
Shops and offices in Georgetown
Businesses near M Street and Wisconsin Avenue shops call us for business lockouts and commercial rekeys and lock changes, usually after a staff change or a lost key.
Nearby neighborhood guides
- Palisades lock and key guide
- Glover Park lock and key guide
- Foxhall lock and key guide
- Burleith lock and key guide
- Observatory Circle lock and key guide
- ZIP 20007 locksmith guide
- Locksmith in Georgetown
Need a locksmith now? Mobile Locksmith DC is open 24/7 with a 15–25 minute response. Call (240) 202-2249.