Locks will typically weaken due to a poor installation, extreme temperature changes, a buildup of debris in the internal mechanisms and/or rough key handling. If it’s hot, don’t leave them in direct sunlight and try to prevent sitting on them by not putting them in your back pocket. Only use keys for what they are intended for and try to keep them locked in smaller compartments within your bag so that they don’t travel and “bounce around” too much. When your key is damaged, it’s much more likely to break off or get stuck inside your lock.

For example, using your key to open parcels or tins of paint is likely to wear the teeth down and leaving the key in your back pocket or loosely “knocking around” in your bag can cause stress to the body making the key bend. What causes the key to weaken?Īs keys are made from soft metals they are prone to damage for seemingly innocuous uses beyond their intended purpose. Most importantly, manufacturing keys using soft metals makes them much less likely to damage the door lock as you insert it. Being made from a soft metal allows key cutting to remain cheap as well as much easier to alter if the first cut didn’t quite fit the lock it was made for. Keys are usually made from brass, soft metal and aren’t as strong as we might assume. We’ll take a look at some of the common issues for keys breaking into locks and how to prevent these from happening. Alternatively, it may be that the lock is faulty or it’s mechanism has become clogged up with debris. Firstly, the key itself might have weakened over time making it more likely to snap when being turned, especially if done so with excessive force.

Why do keys break in locks?Ī key might break in a lock for a number of reasons. In most cases, however, you should be able to resolve the problem yourself, quickly and cheaply, with a few household items. You may think your only choice is to call out a locksmith which is likely to cost you upwards of £70 plus any new hardware that you need.

A broken key in a lock can feel like an emergency.

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