Today I Learned!

Today I learned that my door chain has been broken for a while, whoops!

I had loaned Jason my car overnight and he was bringing it back and I usually hear him parking and locking the car, but I didn't this time.  But I did hear him at the door, using the key to come in.  Usually when I hear him parking, I'll unlock the deadbolt and the chain thing, but this time I wasn't aware he'd shown up so I heard the key in the door and was like "Wait, wait, the chain!" and as I was running towards the door, the door opened and the chain fell out and I went "What???"

So, laughing, I said, well hi there, I guess I'm not as safe as I thought I was, and I tried putting the chain in and opening the door and POP, out it came again.  Oh dear!  Because, see, while I don't really expect burgalars to have a key, there have been times I've been, say, in the bath or something and someone (usually a tipsy upstairs neighbour) has tried my door, or the manager lady has come by with a worker and I always think "well, good thing I have the chain so that I can at least call out HANG ON when the chain stops them!"

Well, now... not so much!

I showed it to Jason and he pointed out the broken bit and I said I figured it'd been like that forever but that someone had "fixed" it with these plastic washers and I do remember a year or two ago some of the washers fell out and I just kind of shrugged, but now I realize they were "plugging" the hole and so, whoops!  Door's been less safe for a while!  (Although Jason did point out that any bad person who really wants in will not be stopped by a chain but that's not the point here!!!)

So, for now, I've stuffed the hole/break with an elastic band.  It's not pretty but it technically makes the chain work.  I'll probably just buy a new one or find something more permanent than the elastic band...  I thought last night about clay, like modelling clay or something but I don't really know.  It's more for my brain to feel safe than actual RAWR safety if you know what I mean?

Anyway... double check those safety features you assume work, eh? Better to find out they need fixed before you actually need them.  (Which reminds me, how are your fire extinguishers?!)