Do I need a new lock after a key breaks?

Not always. If the cylinder is undamaged, the locksmith can remove the broken piece and keep it. If the keyway is chewed up, the cylinder is replaced. The locksmith tells you which, and gives you the price, before work starts.

Can a new key be made if I only have half of the old one?

Yes. A new key can be cut from the surviving half or from the lock itself. Keep the half you have until the work is done.

Does Florida license locksmiths?

Florida has no statewide locksmith license. The trade is regulated at the county or municipal level, and the rules vary. To check current requirements, contact the county or city consumer protection or licensing office where the work is done.

I live in a condo in Deerfield Beach. Does that change anything?

It can. The locksmith needs proof that you are entitled to the unit, such as a lease, deed or utility bill. Confirmation from a property manager or landlord also works. Have one of these ready, along with your photo ID.

Why did my key break when it worked fine yesterday?

Salt air and humidity wear on cylinders over time, especially close to the ocean or the Intracoastal. A key that has been getting stiff is usually the warning. A swollen door that binds on the deadbolt adds strain to the key.

Urgent

Who to call for broken key extraction in Deerfield Beach, FL

Deerfield Beach sits between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal, and the salt air here is hard on metal. If your key snapped off in the lock, part of it is almost certainly still in the cylinder and the other half is in your hand. This work is done by an independent locksmith. One Call Locksmiths is a referral and scheduling service that arranges that job. We are not the locksmith. Look for someone who gives you the price before starting, asks for identification, and will tell you plainly whether the lock can be kept or needs replacing.

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Keys break here for a simple reason. Humidity and salt corrode the cylinder and pit the brass, so the key drags a little more each month. In Florida's heat and damp, wood doors and frames swell, and the deadbolt starts to bind against the strike plate. You then lean on the key harder, and a worn key gives way.

While you wait — please don't

Don't push the stub in with another key. Pushing the broken piece deeper usually turns a simple extraction into a cylinder replacement.
Don't use glue. Glue is what makes a lock unrecoverable, even when the broken piece was easy to reach.
Don't poke at it with a pin. A pin can damage the inside of the keyway and wedge the broken piece tighter.
Don't throw away the half you're holding. A new key can be cut from the surviving half, so keep it somewhere safe.

What the technician does

You call and describe what happenedCall (866) 690-5848 and say the key snapped off in the lock. We arrange an independent locksmith for the job and you get a free estimate.
The price comes 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 vehicle before opening anything. That protects you as well.
The broken piece is removedThe locksmith extracts the broken piece from the lock.
The cylinder is checkedIf the keyway is chewed up, the cylinder is replaced. If it is sound, it stays.
A new key is cut and the door is checkedA new key is cut from the surviving half or from the lock itself. The lock is lubricated and the door alignment checked so it does not happen again.

Why this happens in Deerfield Beach, FL

Near the beachfront, the Intracoastal and the canals in Deerfield Beach, salt-laden air and canal humidity attack metal fast. Deadbolts close to the water often need service years earlier than identical hardware a few miles inland. If you live in the Waterways, on the island near the pier, or anywhere close to the water, a key that has been stiff for weeks was warning you. Getting the lock looked at before the key snaps costs less trouble than after.

Much of the housing here is concrete block and stucco from the 1960s through the 1990s, and a lot of it is condos and multifamily buildings. Century Village East is one of the largest condo communities in South Florida. In buildings like that, the association or property manager may need to confirm you are entitled to the unit. Demand also rises in April through June before hurricane season, and again in October and November when seasonal residents return and reopen their homes and condos. Keys that sat unused all summer are often the ones that give out.

Questions people ask

Do I need a new lock after a key breaks?: Not always. If the cylinder is undamaged, the locksmith can remove the broken piece and keep it. If the keyway is chewed up, the cylinder is replaced. The locksmith tells you which, and gives you the price, before work starts.
Can a new key be made if I only have half of the old one?: Yes. A new key can be cut from the surviving half or from the lock itself. Keep the half you have until the work is done.
Does Florida license locksmiths?: Florida has no statewide locksmith license. The trade is regulated at the county or municipal level, and the rules vary. To check current requirements, contact the county or city consumer protection or licensing office where the work is done.
I live in a condo in Deerfield Beach. Does that change anything?: It can. The locksmith needs proof that you are entitled to the unit, such as a lease, deed or utility bill. Confirmation from a property manager or landlord also works. Have one of these ready, along with your photo ID.
Why did my key break when it worked fine yesterday?: Salt air and humidity wear on cylinders over time, especially close to the ocean or the Intracoastal. A key that has been getting stiff is usually the warning. A swollen door that binds on the deadbolt adds strain to the key.

One call

Call (866) 690-5848 and we will arrange an independent locksmith for your broken key in Deerfield Beach. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 690-5848

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One Call Locksmiths arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.