Broken key extraction

A key snapping inside the lock is one of those things that happens at the worst possible moment: in a hurry, at night, with your hands full of shopping. The good news is that, in many cases, the piece can be removed without taking anything apart and the lock carries on working as always. We deal with broken key extractions 24 hours a day, every day, in Torrevieja and right across the Vega Baja.

Why a key breaks

A key does not snap for no reason. There is almost always a cause, and it is worth knowing so it does not happen again:

• The key is worn from years of use, with a thinner neck than it looks.
• It is a poor quality copy or one made from another copy, and it does not fit properly.
• The lock cylinder is stiff. On the coast this is very common: salt air, sand and damp gradually seize it up and you need more and more force each time.
• It was forced when turning because the door had dropped and the bolt was rubbing.
• It was used as a lever, to pull the door or to push it.

What to do as soon as it happens

What you do in the first few moments can decide whether the piece comes out cleanly or the cylinder has to be changed:

• Do not push anything into the keyway: no tweezers, pins or hairgrips. The usual result is pushing the piece further in.
• Do not use glue to stick the other half on and try to pull. If the glue seeps in, the cylinder is ruined.
• If the door is open, do not close it. That way you keep access to the house and the job is simpler.
• If a bit of key is sticking out, do not pull while turning. You may snap it again further in.
• Keep the piece left in your hand. It helps to see what the key was like and whether it broke from wear.

You have the same advice, written for the moment of panic, in key broken in the lock.

How we do it

To remove a broken key we use very fine extraction tools that go into the cylinder keyway alongside the piece, hook it and pull it out without forcing the mechanism. It is a job of patience and skill, not strength.

When the piece is very deep, has turned or the cylinder was already damaged, it may not come out through the keyway. In that case the cylinder has to be removed and sometimes replaced. If so, we tell you first, give you a fixed quote and do not carry on until you are happy.

If the key broke with the door closed

If you are locked out with half a key inside the lock, the job is no longer just removing the piece: the door has to be opened. In that case, before opening we check that you have the right to enter the property, as with any door opening. We explain how that is shown when you call. You have everything you need to know in door opening.

After the key is out

Once the piece is out, we test the cylinder with another key, if you have one, to see that it turns properly. And we tell you what we see:

• If the cylinder is fine and the key broke because it was old, using another key in good condition is enough.
• If the cylinder is stiff or worn, it will happen again. The sensible thing is to change it; you have the explanation in cylinder replacement.
• If the broken key was the only one you had, changing the cylinder solves the problem, because the new one comes with its own set of keys.
• If the problem is in the lock rather than the cylinder, we explain the options in lock repair.

How to stop it happening again

• Do not force a key that will not turn. If it is hard going, that is a sign something is wrong.
• Lubricate the cylinder from time to time with a product made for locks, never cooking oil, especially in houses near the sea.
• If all your keys are badly worn, do not wait for another one to snap: changing the cylinder gives you new keys.
• Have the door checked if you find you have to push or lift it to get the key to turn: that is not what the key is for.

Quote, payment and language

The quote is fixed and you know it before we start. You can pay by card, Bizum or cash. If you do not speak Spanish, message us on WhatsApp in your own language.