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Key broken off or stuck in the lock?
Stop turning. Don't push the broken end in further, and skip the superglue. Text us a photo of the lock and we take the piece out and cut you a key that works, usually on the same visit.
You approve the price before we start. Not sure it's really us? See who's coming.
What do I do if my key breaks off in the lock?
Stop turning and don't push the piece in any further. Skip the superglue, which can seal the lock for good. If part of the key is sticking out, try pulling it straight out with needle-nose pliers. If it's flush or deep, a locksmith can extract it and cut a new key.
Stop, and send us a photo
A snapped key is a small problem that grows with every twist. Leave it where it is and text us a clear photo of the lock with the piece inside. It tells us which tools to bring and lets us give you the price.
Skip the superglue. It's the tip that shows up everywhere online, and it can glue the pins and ruin the lock.
Door locks
We remove the broken piece with extraction tools that catch the cuts on the key, no drilling. Then we cut a new key, either from the broken pieces or from the lock itself. If the lock is worn out, which is often why the key broke in the first place, we say so and you decide whether to replace it.
Car ignitions and car doors
A key jammed or snapped in an ignition needs more care, because the ignition is part of starting the car. Put it in park and don't force anything. We extract the piece and, for most makes, cut and program a new car key on site.
Salt, damp and ice in the keyway
Near the coast, exterior locks take a beating. Salt air pits the pins and springs, damp gets in and stays, and a freeze-thaw night can leave a film of ice in the keyway by morning. Put a worn key into a lock like that, lean on it, and it shears.
If a lock has been fighting you, don't wait for the snap:
- Ice? Warm the key in your hand and try once, gently. No hot water, and no lighter on a car key with a chip in it.
- Stiff all the time? A dry lubricant made for locks helps. Skip household oil, which gathers grit and gums up in the cold.
- Still rough? Book a service visit. A cleaned or replaced cylinder costs far less trouble than a broken key on a dark, wet night.
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Questions people ask
- Can I pull the broken piece out myself?
- If a good grip's worth is sticking out, pull it straight out with needle-nose pliers, no twisting. If it's level with the face of the lock or deeper, leave it. Prying usually wedges it tighter and damages the pins.
- My key is stuck in the ignition. What should I do?
- Check the car is in park, then rock the steering wheel gently while turning the key back. Don't force it. If it won't come free, call us. Forcing a stuck ignition key is how they snap.
- Why do keys break in Halifax locks?
- A thin, worn key meeting a stiff lock. Salt air corrodes exterior cylinders, and freeze-thaw nights leave ice in the keyway. A lock that has been getting harder to turn is warning you.
- Will I need a new lock afterwards?
- Often not. Once the piece is out, many locks work fine with a fresh key. If the lock is worn or corroded, we tell you and quote a repair or replacement, and you decide.
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Open 24 hours, 7 days. You approve the price before we start.