Did your key break off inside your residential or commercial lock? Fortunately the broken key extraction experts here at Green Locksmith have your back. In this blog entry, our team of locksmith experts will detail the steps to take in order to remedy the predicament of a key broken off inside a lock.
Why do keys break off in locks? What can I do if this happens?
Keys are often made of soft metals like nickel or brass. When keys get worn out over time, or if a lock is inadequately lubricated or jammed with obstructions, keys can easily break off inside them. Broken keys can damage locks, and can prevent you from locking the door, or even opening it if the door was already locked and closed when the key broke off. If your key breaks off inside your lock, we recommend contacting the expert locksmiths here at Green Locksmith for assistance.
You can try extracting the broken key yourself – CAREFULLY – with a set of needle nosed pillars. Keep in mind that if you have to poke around alot, it’s better to have the assistance of a professional as you could be further pushing the key fragment into the lockset. If the key has fully disappeared in the lock, you MAY be able to use a flathead screwdriver that fits in the keyhole to lever the key position until part of it sticks out of the lock, and then try to remove it with needle nose pliers. But again, it’s a much safer and better bet to enlist the assistance of a locksmith expert.
Preventing Broken Off Keys
You can prevent the issues associated with keys broken off inside locks by regularly lubricating your lock – at LEAST every 6 months – with a silicone based lubricant. This should be done additionally if you ever notice extra friction or grinding when a door is locked. We also recommend getting a spare key in the event an existing key starts to wear down, meaning you can avoid using a worn down key that can potentially break off inside a lock.