Broken Key Extraction in Rockville, MD

Where keys snap in Rockville

Keys break where they are turned most and strained hardest, and in a city of large buildings that is often a shared door. New projects along Rockville Pike have been mostly apartments, alongside stand-alone shops and restaurants. In a large building, many residents' keys pass through the same entry lock every day.

Other common spots:

• Mailbox locks. Their keys are small and thin, and they bend and crack easily.
• Worn cylinders. A key that has to be jiggled to turn is already under strain.
• Cold mornings. A key forced against a stiff or iced cylinder can shear off at the shoulder. Lock de-icer works better than force.

What not to do

• Do not keep twisting or yanking the stub. That pushes the fragment deeper and can bend the pins.
• Do not put glue on a tool to fish the piece out. Glue that reaches the pins can ruin the cylinder.
• Do not rely on a lock with a fragment jammed in it; it may not turn or latch.
• Keep the broken half. Matched with the fragment, it can serve as the pattern for a new key.

Shared doors and car locks

If the key broke in a lobby or garage lock, tell building management first. In a large building those cylinders may belong to the building, and management may handle the lock itself or need to approve outside work. If it broke in a car door or ignition, a new key will be needed once the piece is out; see car key replacement.

Photos and details to send

• A photo of the keyway showing the fragment, and one of the half you still hold.
• Which lock it is: lobby, unit door, mailbox, garage, car door or ignition.
• Whether the door is locked or unlocked right now.
• The building name and nearest cross streets.

The broken key extraction page covers the service itself.