As the mum of five young children, I know how important it is to have access to a safe outdoor space for your children to play. Being cooped up in the house all day isn't good for the kids or the parents, but you also can't let young kids play in a space that's hazardous. When we bought our new family home, there was a lot of work to do in the garden to make it childproof, and we also wanted to make it a fun place for the kids to play. We erected a new fence, fitted a combination lock on the garden gate, had poisonous plants removed, cordoned off the pool and created a play area complete with swings, a slide and outdoor games. I started this blog to share my DIY gardening tips, and I hope you find it interesting and useful.
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Having the key to your door snap off in your hand as you try to lock or unlock the door can be very stressful. It can also be expensive, as hiring a locksmith to get the key out will cost money. There are a few methods which you can try to extract the key from the lock before calling the locksmith out. Take a look at some of the more common lock types used for propertie, and the method of extraction.
Keyed Knob Lock
Start by removing all of the trim screws which are along the door edge and the knob with a cross head screwdriver. Next, pull the edging plate from the door. Then, pull the knobs apart. Put a flat head screwdriver into the spindle and hold onto the knob with the other hand. You can then turn the screwdriver in a counter-clockwise direction until it stops turning. You should now be able to remove the whole lock cylinder and push the flat head screwdriver into the lock until the snapped key falls out. Reassemble the lock and remember to lubricate the lock when finished.
Mortise Lock
The mortise lock uses a lock mechanism which is set on the inside of the door, and the keyhole is situated under the lock. You will have to remove all of the trim screws at the edge of the door, including the lock facing. Carefully pry – using the flathead screwdriver – the lock casing away from the door edge and take apart the lock casing. Press the flat screwdriver against the key in the lock to push it from the keyhole. Carefully reassemble the lock.
Deadbolt Lock
These types of locks are quite common with regards to keys snapping off inside of them. This is due to the weight of the bolt which you turn. Unscrew all of the lock trim screws, usually with a cross head screwdriver, and use a flat head screwdriver to pry the lock from the door. Insert the flat head screwdriver into the lock and push on it to remove the portion of the stuck key. Reassemble the lock.
Jigsaw Blade
If you don't want to remove the whole lock, you can try to insert a thin blade designed for use with a jigsaw. Insert the blade so the teeth are facing downwards and push in the blade as far as you can get it to go. Next, twist the blade so that the teeth can engage with the piece of key and flick the blade back towards you. The teeth should grip the key and move it out far enough so you can remove it with pliers. It may take a few attempts to get the key out using this flicking movement.
Keep your locks well lubricated using a silicon based spray and remember to check your keys for signs of wear.
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