Key will not turn

A key that will not turn is one of the most frequent call-outs in Torrevieja. Often the lock has been stiff for a while and one day it simply gives up.

Most common causes

• Dirty or rusty cylinder. Salty air and sand seize up the pins inside. It is the most common cause on the coast.
• Worn or bent key. A badly cut copy or a key that is years old no longer lifts the pins properly.
• Dropped door. If the door has sagged a little, the latch rubs against the strike plate and the key does not have the strength to move it.
• Key left in on the inside. With many cylinders, if someone has left the key in on the other side, yours will not turn.
• Internal fault or tampering. A broken part inside or an attempt to force the lock can block the mechanism.

What to do now

• Check that it is the right key and that you are pushing it all the way in.
• Gently push or pull the door while you turn: if the latch is rubbing, sometimes that is enough to free it.
• Try another copy, if you have one.
• Ask at home whether anyone has left the key in on the inside.

What not to do

• Do not force the key with pliers or lever it. If it snaps, things get more complicated: see key broken in the lock.
• Do not pour in cooking oil, grease or penetrating spray in quantity. They trap dirt and make the cylinder worse.
• Do not hit the lock.

How we sort it out

We work 24 hours a day, every day, in Torrevieja and the Vega Baja. From what you tell us and a photo, we give you a fixed quote.

If you are outside and cannot get in, we check that you have the right to enter and open the door with the least invasive method. Then we look for the cause: if it is dirt, we clean and lubricate the cylinder with a suitable product; if the door has dropped, we adjust it; if the cylinder is worn or broken, we suggest replacing it. Before we replace any part we tell you, and you decide.

You will find all the information under lock repair. If the problem is that the door does not fit properly, door repair and adjustment may also help.

Warning sign

If the key was working fine and suddenly will not turn, and you see scratches around the keyway or something odd pushed inside, it may be an attempt to force the lock. Do not tamper with it and see attempted burglary.

Pay by card, Bizum or cash, and talk to us on WhatsApp in your own language.