Can the lock be saved, or does it need replacing?

Often the broken piece can be extracted and the cylinder checked. If the keyway is damaged, the cylinder is replaced. The locksmith will tell you which it is in the estimate before work starts.

I live in a gated HOA subdivision in Alafaya. Does that change anything?

Platted HOA subdivisions, some of them gated, are the norm here. The locksmith still needs to confirm you are entitled to the property, so have your ID and something tying you to the address, such as a lease, deed, utility bill or a note from your property manager.

Is my house old enough for this to be a wear problem?

Much of Alafaya's housing is now 20 to 40 years old, so original locks and cylinders have had a lot of use. A key that has been stiff for weeks is a sign of wear. Replacing a worn cylinder after an extraction can prevent a repeat.

Does Florida license locksmiths?

Florida has no statewide locksmith license or licensing board. The trade is regulated at the county or city level, and the rules vary. Check with the county or city office where the work is done, and for general business registration or complaints, contact FDACS or the Florida Department of State.

Every job comes with a free estimate. The locksmith gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.

Urgent

Key snapped in the lock in Alafaya, FL

Alafaya grew up alongside the University of Central Florida, and much of its housing is now 20 to 40 years old. A key that snaps in a lock here has almost always been wearing out for a while. The metal is tired, and the cylinder it sits in is worn too. Part of the key is in your hand. The rest is stuck in the keyway.

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Humidity is high in Alafaya nearly all year, and Florida's moisture is hard on cylinders and brass hardware. Rust builds up, the key starts to stick, and one day it gives way. If yours had felt stiff for weeks, this is what it was warning you about. Stay calm. This is a common problem and it can be fixed.

While you wait — please don't

Do not push the stub in further. Pushing the broken piece deeper with another key or a pin usually turns a simple extraction into a cylinder replacement.
Do not use glue. Glue is what makes a lock unrecoverable, even when the broken piece is sitting right at the front.
Do not force the lock or the door. Leaning on the handle or twisting hard can damage the cylinder and the door, which adds to the repair.
Do not keep trying the half key. Each attempt can wear the keyway further and push the broken piece out of reach.

What the technician does

You call and describe itCall (866) 690-5848 and say your key snapped off in the lock. One Call Locksmiths is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent locksmith, and that locksmith does the work.
You get a free estimate firstThe locksmith gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing begins until you approve it.
Identification is checkedThe locksmith will ask for identification and proof that you are entitled to enter the property or the vehicle before opening anything. This is why this page is not a how-to, and it protects you too.
The broken piece is extractedThe locksmith removes the broken piece and checks the cylinder for damage. If the keyway is chewed, the cylinder is replaced.
A new key is cutA new key is made from the half that survived, or from the lock itself if both pieces are gone.
The lock and door are checkedThe lock is lubricated and the door alignment is checked so the new key does not bind and snap the same way.

Why this happens in Alafaya, FL

Alafaya's homes were mostly built from the 1980s through the 2000s, in concrete block and stucco. That is the age when original cylinders and door hardware wear out. Whether you are in Waterford Lakes, Avalon Park, Stoneybrook East, Timber Springs or near the UCF area, a lock that has been used daily for decades can be worn enough that a stiff key finally breaks. Large condo and apartment communities here add shared and managed entry points, and the same wear applies to those locks.

The weather adds to it. Alafaya sits inland in east Orange County, so there is little salt-air corrosion, but the damp is constant. Hurricane season runs June through November, with near-daily summer thunderstorms. Wind-driven rain and moisture encourage rust on exterior locks, and wood or tight frames can swell so a deadbolt binds. A bound lock needs more force from the key. Freezing nights are rare in Alafaya, so a cold snap is seldom the cause. Wear and moisture are the usual reasons.

Questions people ask

Can the lock be saved, or does it need replacing?: Often the broken piece can be extracted and the cylinder checked. If the keyway is damaged, the cylinder is replaced. The locksmith will tell you which it is in the estimate before work starts.
I live in a gated HOA subdivision in Alafaya. Does that change anything?: Platted HOA subdivisions, some of them gated, are the norm here. The locksmith still needs to confirm you are entitled to the property, so have your ID and something tying you to the address, such as a lease, deed, utility bill or a note from your property manager.
Is my house old enough for this to be a wear problem?: Much of Alafaya's housing is now 20 to 40 years old, so original locks and cylinders have had a lot of use. A key that has been stiff for weeks is a sign of wear. Replacing a worn cylinder after an extraction can prevent a repeat.
Does Florida license locksmiths?: Florida has no statewide locksmith license or licensing board. The trade is regulated at the county or city level, and the rules vary. Check with the county or city office where the work is done, and for general business registration or complaints, contact FDACS or the Florida Department of State.
What will it cost?: Every job comes with a free estimate. The locksmith gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.

One call

Call (866) 690-5848 and one call gets the right independent locksmith arranged for your broken key in Alafaya. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 690-5848

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