WHY YOUR uPVC DOOR WON'T LOCK OR OPEN.
I am always being called out by home and business owners in the Exeter and East Devon area because they have a problem with a uPVC door on their property that will not close or lock correctly, so using my extensive knowledge and experience of sorting uPVC lock issues day in day out, I have compiled a short guide to help you should this happen to your uPVC doors and how you can fix it yourself or seek my help as a locksmith so I can diagnose the problem you have with a few checks and soon have you door working a good as new.
1. My uPVC Door Will Not Lock When Closed Shut.
In 99% of cases when you close your uPVC door and try to lock it and it won't lock it is usually an alignment issue, meaning the door has moved slightly and can easily be rectified by either adjusting the door hinges or adjusting the lock keeps / strikes - they are parts where the lock bolts / latch and top and bottom locking points go into on the door frame to secure the door. This problem can be be an easy fix that you can do yourself, but if you are not sure a locksmith can give advise or come out and help make your door lock correctly.
2. My uPVC Door Will Not Lock Even When It Is Open.
Yet again very common problem I come across on a daily basis, you can't lock your uPVC door even when it is in the open position the lock won't work, I hear this from my customers all time but unlike the alignment problem there can be many reasons:
a. uPVC gearbox has failed. most common reason see below:
b. Multipoint locks top and bottom have failed.
c. Problem with key lock Cylinder.
d. Door / Lock lubrication.
e. Door alignment.
uPVC Gearbox Failure / Multipoint Damage
The central gearbox, the part behind the handles is the most common causes of a uPVC door not locking even when open. When this fails in most cases it will need replacing and a good competent locksmith when called out should have in their van a selection of the most commonly used gearboxes and should have you door back in working condition, locking and unlocking correctly within an hour or so. If the problem is caused by another bolt, hook, mushroom or roller, these are the additional locking points on the strip of the multipoint lock which can be found above and below the gearbox, you may need the whole Multipoint removing from the door and replacing, in many instances a locksmith may carry a direct replacement lock, but sometimes the lock maybe an older type and maybe discontinued and a lock maybe have to be ordered to be retro fitted into the door, but this would also mean an upgrade in your security as all modern multipoint locks are far superior than ones from yesterday year.
3. How Long Does It Take a Locksmith to Repair a uPVC door ?
Having been called out to replace and repair thousands of uPVC door locks I can tell you that a simple alignment of a door under normal circumstances should take about 15 - 30 mins, a more complicated problem with the mechanism, i.e changing the gearbox/ cylinder, or the complete replacement of the multipoint can be from 30 mins to 1 Hour. Please bear in mind sometimes the most complicated part of any job especially with old discontinued locks is finding a correct alternative, but have no fear there are many varied brands so a part can always be sourced that can be retro fitted to your door and in most cases making the security of your door better than when it was new.
4. What May Have Caused My uPVC Door To Not Lock Or Open?
I have probably dealt with almost all reasons that have caused or lead to a uPVC door not locking or opening, from just failure of a part, to a door not being correctly fitted in the first place and even straight forward malicious damage or misuse. Here are the most common reasons:
Why uPVC Doors Won't Lock or Open.
uPVC Multipoint locks are extremely common and have been around in doors for over 45 years and are made up of many small moving parts and with age can become worn, brittle and then break causing the mechanism to jam.
The materials in the construction of uPVC door, metal, plastic even wood in some newer composite doors can expand in hot weather and contract in cold weather, sometimes up to 2mm thus causing the door not to lock or unlock correctly.
Cold and hot weather can also cause the metals in the lock to fatigue and break.
A door that is slightly out of alignment and not fixed early will lead to pressure being put on the lock as is gets stiffer to close and lock leading to parts in the mechanism failing.
5. What I Should I Do or Not Do When I Have A uPVC Lock Problem?
My best advise would be to call a locksmith, because unless you have the knowledge and skills to be able to fix it, you would be best advised to leave it alone as you may make a small problem worse, it would also allow a locksmith like myself to see what the issue was that first caused the problem.
But these are the things I advise you NOT to do before you call a Locksmith:
DO NOT TRY AND FORCE YOUR HANDLE IN ATTEMPT TO LOCK THE DOOR, AS IN DOING SO, THIS WILL CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAT COULD BE AVOIDED LEADING TO EXTRA COSTS.
DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO HELP YOU OUT HOWEVER WELL INTENTIONED THEY ARE. UNLESS THEY HAVE THE NECESSARY SKILLS, THEY WILL JUST ADD TO THE PROBLEM, AND MAKE THE LOCKSMITHS JOB HARDER AS THEY WILL NOT THEN BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST INSTANCE.
For more information : click here or for assistance in Exeter or East Devon call 01392 409449
