You’re wasting money on a locksmith over a triviality: You can get the broken key out yourself

How many times have you stood at the door, turned the key, and worried it would stay in the lock? It can happen if you’re in a hurry and unlock the door under stress, or if the lock is frozen. This frustrating situation is usually solved by calling a locksmith immediately. However, in some cases you can also deal with the problem yourself. And you can do it very quickly and without paying for unnecessary services.

If you happen to have a broken key left in the lock, there is no need to panic. In some cases, you can manage without professional help, but of course you should always consider whether you will damage the lock even more by your own efforts. When should I call a professional? And when and how can you deal with a broken key yourself?

How and why does the key remain broken in the lock?

Sometimes the situation is so difficult that you cannot avoid the help of a specialist. Yet in many cases, people react rashly without trying simple advice. Expert guidance says that one of the first steps in such an unfortunate situation is to lubricate the lock and, if necessary, use tweezers or another fine tool to pull out the broken piece.

The reasons why this unpleasant condition occurs are often simple. A worn out key, a bad copy, a clogged lock, improper securing, or excessive force when turning the key may be to blame. But frost can also cause problems in winter.

How can you deal with the problem yourself?

Try the following techniques before you decide to call a professional:

• Lubricate the lock with oil or a special spray, which you should keep in your garage just in case. This will reduce friction and significantly improve the chances of the key being removed.
• If you can’t grab the key with your fingers, try tweezers or maybe some smaller pliers. Never bend the key sideways, always pull it straight to avoid damaging the lock.
• If the key does not protrude at all, experts recommend another extraction tool. You can try saws or various hooks to hook the broken piece and pull it out. However, this is only recommended if you are skilled and have experience with similar situations.

Sometimes you can’t avoid calling for help

In many cases, people try to get the key out of the lock themselves at any cost. It is true that this is a quicker solution and, above all, cheaper. Especially at weekends or late in the evening, locksmiths charge quite a lot of money for their services. If you are that handy, it is definitely advisable to try to fight the problem first.

However, if the key doesn’t protrude from the lock even a little bit and you have no experience with problems, you’d better call for help. Because if you pry the key yourself in the wrong way, you could damage the entire lock. And it will cost you more money to replace it than it would have cost to call a professional.

In conclusion: You don’t always need to panic and spend money on a locksmith right away. On the other hand, you have to use your common sense and judge when you can deal with complications on your own and when you simply can’t cope with them anymore.