Why is it important to rekey your locks after a broken key incident?

In this blog entry, the professional Charleston emergency locksmith service team here at Charleston Locksmith Pro will detail whether it’s necessary to rekey your locks after a broken key incident.

What happens when keys break?

• Keys can snap due to wear or tear, use over years, exposure to harsh weather, or weak metal
• Keys can also break when forced or misaligned. The key can be turned too hard in the lock, or the lock itself is broken
• The broken part of the key will often get lodged inside the lock cylinder. A locksmith will need to carefully extract the key using specialized tools to avoid damaging the cylinder pins

Do broken keys compromise locks?

This depends on the lock condition and whether internal components of the key were damaged during the lock break.

• If the key cleanly snapped off and the lock cylinder is undamaged, you might not need to rekey the lock at all
• If the lock was jamming or sticking before the key snapped, we recommend rekeying or replacing the lock to avoid future issues
• If the key broke outside of the lock and somebody still has the other half of the key, we recommend rekeying, especially for those with security concerns

When is Rekeying Important

• When you don’t know who else might have a copy of your keys
• If your lock is damaged or has a failing cylinder
• If you suspect someone might try to use the broken key
• If you’ve lost one or both of the pieces of the key

When is rekeying not necessary?

• If the broken key is clearly old and there’s no other key copies in circulation
• If the lock is in ideal condition without any internal damage
• If you witnessed the break, have both pieces of the key, and have full control of your keys

Why have your locks professionally rekeyed?

Our professional Charleston locksmiths will:

• Remove the broken key from your lock safely
• Inspect the lock itself for damage thoroughly
• Advise you whether you need to rekey or replace the lock
• Cut and test new keys on site