A broken key, whether it’s a house key or car key, can really put a damper on your day. Not only do you now need a new key, but you’re often either stuck outside your house or car or with an unlocked home, leaving your valuables at risk or you with nowhere to go. Advanced Lock and Security is here to help when you’ve suffered a broken key. Whether it’s potentially removing the key yourself or giving us a call to get it out for you, here are a few steps you can take if you just broke your key off in a lock.
First, it’s important to take care of the broken key quickly. Not only is breaking a key a hassle, but it’s also a security risk. All of a sudden you have no way to lock your home, apartment, or car, so your valuables are vulnerable. If your door is already locked, now you may be stuck outside with nowhere to go. Even if you do end up getting the key out yourself, call a locksmith as you start the job because you’ll want to get your lock inspected for damages anyway. Getting a broken key out of a lock is often simply a job for a locksmith; however, in some cases it is possible to do it yourself, most often when the key is broken partially out of the lock. In this case, you could attempt to simply pull the key out, or use pliers if you have access to some. If you were in the process of unlocking your door or you just finished locking it, getting to a pair of pliers may prove difficult. Also, keep in mind that anything not done by a professional has the potential to damage your lock or door even more.
If you’ve broken a key in a lock, chances are either the key was old and worn out, or the lock was. Either way, like we said before, you’ll want to get the lock inspected. Sometimes a locksmith can just remove the key and get you a new one, or sometimes you’ll need a new lock. While there’s ways you can fumble with the broken key to get it out, this often damages the lock more and makes it so you have to get a new lock because the old one was rendered useless. Calling a locksmith is the best way to safely get the broken key out of the lock and make sure it is still in a condition to keep your home or vehicle safe.
Advanced Lock and Security believes that the best way to solve a problem is before it happens, which is why we think you should know of some ways to keep your key from breaking in the first place. First, a simple lubrication of a lock when it becomes more difficult than usual to unlock a door can go a long way. Also, your keys take an unexpected amount of wear and tear on a daily basis, so keep an eye on them and replace them as necessary before they get too worn out. Car locks have the potential to freeze during the winter, so, instead of forcing your key into a frozen lock, try heating up the key before you insert it to prevent damage.
A broken key doesn’t have to be a hassle. While there are steps you can personally take when you’ve broken a key in a lock, calling a reliable locksmith is the best and easiest way to go. Advanced Lock and Security hopes you’ll entrust your locksmith needs to us, but even if you don’t, find a trusted locksmith in your area to help you out because the security of your home or vehicle shouldn’t be cut-rate.
