Stay Calm and Read On: A Handy Guide to Handling a Key Stuck in the Lock
By Central Screens & Locks|June 26, 2023
Have you ever found yourself in the challenging predicament of having a broken key stuck in a lock?
Picture this: You’ve had a long, exhausting day. You only want to get home, sink into your favourite couch and disconnect from the outside world. You arrive at your doorstep, insert the key, and hastily twist it—only to be greeted by a gut-wrenching snap. Your key broke inside the lock!
This situation is undoubtedly frustrating and inconvenient, to say the least. But, don’t stress! There are tried and true ways to remove a broken key from a lock.
But first, let's explore why a key might break inside a lock in the first place.
Why does a key break in a lock?
There are various reasons keys break in locks, making it impossible to twist or pull the key back out. These include:
What to do when your key is stuck in a lock
Dealing with a broken key stuck in a lock can be a stressful experience, especially if you need to get somewhere urgently. Whether it's your home or car keys that are stuck, it's important to handle the extraction quickly
Leaving the broken key inserted in the lock for longer can cause significant damage, compromise security and lead to further lock problems. Here are our recommendations:
Identify your lock type
Is yours a padlock, knob lock, or deadbolt? Understanding these basics will help you identify the right strategy to remove the broken key stuck yourself or whether you need to call the experts.
Determine if you can remove the broken key
If you notice a broken portion of your key sticking out, you might be able to pinch it between your fingers and extract it. But if the piece of key protruding is too small to grab, contacting a locksmith to help you is best. Otherwise, you’re likely to cause more harm to the lock cylinder trying to remove the key.
Preventative measures
To keep your home safe, you can do various things to prevent your key from getting stuck inside a lock. These include:
Regular lock lubrication
You might get a key stuck in the lock due to poor maintenance. To prevent this, remember to spray a silicone-based lubricant into the keyhole twice a year or anytime you notice excess friction and grinding when unlocking your door.
Replace your key
Keys that are used frequently, will eventually start to wear out. When this happens, it is time to toss away the old pair and go for a key replacement.
Calling a professional locksmith
When you can’t do it yourself, you might want to call a professional locksmith to help you remove a broken key from a lock.
Picture this: You’ve had a long, exhausting day. You only want to get home, sink into your favourite couch and disconnect from the outside world. You arrive at your doorstep, insert the key, and hastily twist it—only to be greeted by a gut-wrenching snap. Your key broke inside the lock!
This situation is undoubtedly frustrating and inconvenient, to say the least. But, don’t stress! There are tried and true ways to remove a broken key from a lock.
But first, let's explore why a key might break inside a lock in the first place.
Why does a key break in a lock?
There are various reasons keys break in locks, making it impossible to twist or pull the key back out. These include:
- A worn key: The metal of your key can experience fatigue and wear out over time. That said, you might still be able to get your key inside the lock before it gets stuck.
- Poorly cut key: When a new key is stuck in a lock, it could be due to poor setting and cutting of the teeth.
- Using the wrong key: A common mistake that can damage both the lock and key. Similarly, if you turn your key the wrong way or at the wrong time, you can alter its shape, creating a jam.
- Lock fails: Sometimes, the lock is the problem.
What to do when your key is stuck in a lock
Dealing with a broken key stuck in a lock can be a stressful experience, especially if you need to get somewhere urgently. Whether it's your home or car keys that are stuck, it's important to handle the extraction quickly
Leaving the broken key inserted in the lock for longer can cause significant damage, compromise security and lead to further lock problems. Here are our recommendations:
Identify your lock type
Is yours a padlock, knob lock, or deadbolt? Understanding these basics will help you identify the right strategy to remove the broken key stuck yourself or whether you need to call the experts.
Determine if you can remove the broken key
If you notice a broken portion of your key sticking out, you might be able to pinch it between your fingers and extract it. But if the piece of key protruding is too small to grab, contacting a locksmith to help you is best. Otherwise, you’re likely to cause more harm to the lock cylinder trying to remove the key.
Preventative measures
To keep your home safe, you can do various things to prevent your key from getting stuck inside a lock. These include:
Regular lock lubrication
You might get a key stuck in the lock due to poor maintenance. To prevent this, remember to spray a silicone-based lubricant into the keyhole twice a year or anytime you notice excess friction and grinding when unlocking your door.
Replace your key
Keys that are used frequently, will eventually start to wear out. When this happens, it is time to toss away the old pair and go for a key replacement.
Calling a professional locksmith
When you can’t do it yourself, you might want to call a professional locksmith to help you remove a broken key from a lock.
