Learn What To Do If A Key Breaks In Your Door Knob
If you door key has broken off in the lock, you may be at a loss for what you need to do. You will have to remove the key from the lock in order to be able to safely lock and unlock the door. Use the following guide to learn how to deal with a broken key in your door lock.
Assess the Situation
Look closely at the portion of the key that is stuck in the lock. You need to look to see if any portion of the key is sticking out of the edge of the lock. If you can see a portion of the key, you can more than likely remove the key yourself.
Unlock the Door with Ease
If the key broke before you were able to unlock the door, press the edge of the key that is stuck in the door with the edge of your thumb. Try to turn the key while you apply pressure to the doorknob. You may need to wear gloves when attempting to open the knob to ensure that the key does not cut your finger.
Use Pliers to Remove the Key
Use a pair of needle-nose pliers and try to grasp the edge of the key. Be sure that you have a secure grasp of the key and try to gently pull it toward you to free it from the lock. You may have to jiggle it to the right and left slightly a you pull it out, as it may be stuck on the pins in the lock.
Replace the Knob
If you managed to get the door unlocked before the key broke, you can simply replace the knob altogether instead of trying to remove the key. Use a screwdriver to remove all of the screws that are holding the knobs to the door. Each knob will pull away from the door individually. You can then place a new doorknob on either side of the door and use the screwdriver to tighten the new screws. The doorknobs will come with a new key so that you can lock and unlock the door with ease.
If you are not able to unlock the door, hire a locksmith from a company like Tri-County Locksmith to come to your house to unlock it for you. The locksmith will have the tools and supplies needed to get the lock unlocked quickly and easily. Once the key is removed, you can choose to have the knob replaced or a new key created to use in your old lock.