What to Do When Your Key Breaks in the Lock at the Worst Time

Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

The first and most important step is to stay calm and avoid making decisions when you are panicked. Check how the key is broken. If one part of the key is sticking out, you might be able to extract it yourself. If it is deeply stuck inside, don’t touch it. 

Don’t Force the Key Further In

This is a very common mistake. When people see a broken key, they attempt to turn it. But even if you try to fix it, you damage the lock even more. That way, you may break the key into the lock even more and cause serious issues. This will also damage the internal components of the lock. So if you want to avoid bigger issues, don’t touch the lock. 

Try to Remove the Key Yourself

If you see that the key is not broken deeply in the lock and one part is sticking out, you can try to pull it with some household item. So if the broken piece is pretty visible, you can use tweezers to pull them out and not push it too much. Also, you can use needle pliers or super glue. 

For example, if only a small portion of the key was broken you can use a little bit of super glue on the broken end and stick another half, extremely carefully. This will help you to pull out the keys but they won’t be good for future use, so you will need to get a new key. 

Lubricate the Lock

Sometimes keys break into ignition because of a lack of lubrication for a long time. If your key is broken like one part is visible, then you can spray a little lubricant in the lock and that way try to simply remove the broken piece out of the lock. In general, if you notice that your keys do not turn smoothly into the lock, spray a little lubricant and your problem will be solved simply. 

Call a Professional Locksmith in Toronto

If your keys are broken deeply in the lock, do not touch them, call the experts, like us at Matrix Locksmith! We have years of experience solving broken key cases and offer emergency services for such situations. We can help you with residential, commercial, and automotive locksmith cases.  We can also provide you with additional services if something new appears on the spot like lock repair, new lock installation, etc. So, if your key has broken into your house lock or car ignition, we are always here to help  

Prevent Future Key Breakages

To avoid key breakages it is possible. Here are some useful tips to consider:

• Have a key duplication: keys are small and they can get lost easily. If you notice that the original key starts feeling weak, you need to stop using it and instead, use a spare one.
• Lubricate locks regularly. The more frequently we use doors, the faster their internal lubrication decreases. If the lubrication is gone, internal parts start to scratch each other, and one day, don’t be surprised if your lock is completely useless. To avoid this, lubricate locks as soon as you notice that they do not work smoothly.
• Don’t use force while turning the key: if you do so, you will cause a bigger problem. Take this as a signal, and start taking care of solving it.
• Upgrade the lock: sometimes the reason is low-quality locks and keys. You can upgrade it and change it into for example smart lock or a stronger traditional lock, that is more durable. 

Final Thoughts

A broken key is not a simple issue and if you are experiencing it, just call us. We at Matrix Locksmith work 24/7 to help you quickly and effectively in such cases. No matter what lock you have or what the need is for cars, offices, or house locks, we are experienced in every case and can handle everything. Call us anytime you need us!