A lock that’s stopped performing properly often has a broken key fragment stuck somewhere inside the mechanism. Metal fatigue is one of the most common

A key that’s snapped off deep inside a lock can leave you unable to either get in or lock up properly. Years of consistent use

A distorted key fragment stuck inside a lock can jam up the internal components and stop it from operating properly. Older keys break more often

Debris from a snapped key sitting inside the cylinder can throw off normal locking and unlocking altogether. Metal fatigue is usually the real cause –

A stuck piece of a broken key can be enough to keep the whole lock from working properly. Ordinary daily use puts steady stress on

A key fragment jammed inside the lock can keep the door from turning either way, locking or unlocking. That kind of break is usually years

A broken key fragment stuck inside a cylinder is a job for a professional locksmith rather than a household fix. The metal in a key

Years of frequent use can leave a key weakened by metal fatigue, and once that weakness catches up with it, snapping becomes a real possibility

Metal wears down gradually under long-term daily use, and fatigue like that is one of the more common reasons a key breaks unexpectedly rather than

The constant stress of everyday locking and unlocking is enough, over time, to cause the kind of metal fatigue that leaves a key cracked and