The most common causes
- A worn or dirty cylinder.
- A door that has moved: damp, swelling wood, sagging hinges.
- A misaligned multipoint mechanism.
- A worn or badly copied key.
- An attempted break-in that damaged the cylinder.
Key broken in the lock
Do not try to pull out the piece with a sharp object: you may push it further in. We extract the piece, then check the cylinder.
Repair or replace?
If the problem comes from the door (hinges, strike plate), an adjustment is enough. If the cylinder is worn, it is better to replace it: see lock replacement. We explain the choice before we start.