The key is bent but still opens the door - can I continue to use it?
Let's call the client Artyom. One day he noticed that the main key to the apartment was slightly bent. Not much - it was visually noticeable only if you…
The client's name and certain details of the story have been changed to maintain confidentiality.
Let's call the client Artyom. One day he noticed that the main key to the apartment was slightly bent. Not much - it was visually noticeable only if you put the key on a flat surface.
At the same time, he still opened the door. Artyom decided to continue using it because:
“If the key works, then there’s nothing to worry about.”
For a few days everything was really fine. Then the key began to fit into the cylinder a little harder. And after a while there was a fear that at the next turn it would simply break.
Why a bent key is more dangerous than it seems
When the key is deformed, the load inside the cylinder is no longer distributed as intended by the design. Even if he opens the door for now, this does not mean that the situation is safe for the key or mechanism itself.
The problem may gradually get worse.
What can happen
If you continue to use a noticeably deformed key, you may:
- further curvature;
- profile wear;
- damage to the internal elements of the cylinder;
- jamming;
- breakage of the key directly inside the lock.
The latter option is especially unpleasant if the door is closed at that moment.
Is it possible to just straighten the key?
Straightening it yourself can also weaken the metal. After several deformations, the key may look normal, but its strength will be reduced. Therefore, it is wiser to use a working spare key and check the condition of the cylinder.
What if the key is bent because of the lock itself?
This is an important question. Sometimes the key becomes deformed not by accident, but because the mechanism is already working too hard. For example:
- the door is skewed;
- crossbars are under load;
- the cylinder is worn out;
- the lock is jammed.
In this case, simply making a new key is not enough.
What is better to do
If there is a second working key, try it. If it works much easier, the problem may be in a deformed copy. If the spare key requires a lot of force, it is worth checking the mechanism itself.