If your lock is stiff, you may insert the key and turn too hard, breaking your key off in the lock. When this happens, you may be unsure of what to do next. Knowing the proper steps to take can help you to remove the key without causing any damage to your residential lock. Here are the steps you should take if you break your key off in your front door. 

Step 1: Turn the Lock Back Up Into the Vertical Position

The lock must be in the vertical position for the key to be removed. The key will not remove from the lock if it is in the horizontal position. If a portion of your key is sticking out, use needle-nosed pliers to grasp the key and rotate the lock. If there is not a portion of the key to grab onto, insert a flat screwdriver to push on the key and rotate to get the lock back in the upright position. 

Step 2: Remove the Key

The next step is to remove the key. If a portion of the key is sticking out, use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to grasp the key and pull it outward. This is the fastest and easiest way to remove the key from the lock. If a portion of the key is not sticking out, use the smallest blade on a jig saw. Insert the blade so the teeth face the key, and then slowly pull the blade out. The teeth should slowly move the key out of the hole, allowing you to eventually grasp it and pull it out with needle-nosed pliers. 

Step 3: Spray the Lock

Once the key is removed, you will want to spray the lock with a lubricant, such as WD-40. This helps to lubricate the lock and prevent future keys from sticking. In turn, this decreases the chances of a key getting broken off in the lock again. 

Knowing how to remove a broken key from a lock can help you to salvage a lock. Unfortunately, not every key can be removed from every lock. If you have a key that is stuck in a lock and you are unable to remove it on your own, contact a locksmith that offers residential lock repair services. They may be able to remove the key from the lock without damaging the lock. If they are unable to, they can replace your lock for you.