Construction & Contractors Blog
Since you likely deal with keys and locks on a daily basis, it is no surprise that you will experience a lock and key emergency from time to time. One of the most common lock and key issues that you can face involves breaking your key off inside of your door lock when you try to turn it. If this type of lock and key emergency happens, there are a few ways that you can try to remove the broken key from the lock on your own. It is important that you are aware of the most helpful tips to enable you to remove the broken key quickly.
Oil
In most cases, you will notice that the lock had been difficult to turn for weeks leading up to this incident. This means that you should have had a warning that the lock was becoming harder to operate than in the past. You should use a type of penetrating oil to spray into the keyhole. This oil should help to loosen the key somewhat. In some instances, using oil is enough to pry the key loose using pliers, but this is not always the case.
Key Cuts
It is always a good idea to take a look at the broken part of the key that is left in your hand. If you notice that some of the key cuts are still on the part of the key that you have in hand, this will mean that the lock is most likely in alignment. If the part of the key that you have in your hand does not have any key cuts, this means that the lock has most likely been turned. To put the key back into alignment, you will need to use a screwdriver. You need to put the screwdriver into the lock and then move the lock back to the vertical position.
Pliers
Once you have the lock aligned, you can then work to remove the broken key. Using a pair of pliers is normally the preferred method. You can use the pliers to get a grip on the key that has been broken in the lock. Once you have a hold of the key with the pliers, you should be able to pull it out as long as the lock is in alignment.
If you are unable to remove the broken key yourself, contact a 24 hour locksmith like Rivercity Locksmiths Pty Ltd for assistance.
Share22 December 2015
Welcome to my blog! My name is Richard and my big passion in life is looking for old buildings to restore. My love of old buildings started when I was seven years old and I visited my grandparent's house in Alice Springs. It was a large Victorian building which looked magnificent even though it was in a bad state of repair. Once I grew up and made some money, I decided I would like to invest in old buildings to bring them back to life. I hire a range of different contractors to complete the work on my behalf but I take a keen interest and I have learnt a lot of things.