Locksmith West Midlands | 07724828289 | uPVC Lock Expert
UPVC Door Common Problems and Solutions
(estimated costs based on local locksmith rates during normal working hours in 2022
- Door not locking properly / Stiff handle...
There are several reasons why your uPVC door could be failing to lock correctly:
If the handle has been feeling a bit stiff and the key wont fully turn anymore, chances are that your upvc door is out of alignment. This can be caused by swelling and contracting of the upvc door at differing temperatures or from general wear and tear on the upvc door due to repeated slamming or hanging on the door itself. This can be sorted by adjusting the hinges of the door to re-align the keeps in the frame. once the lock is operating smoothly without obstructions the key will turn.
You can get similar symptoms due to debris in the upvc door frame preventing the door from shutting true. Regular cleaning of dirt and stones out of the frame will prevent this.
Estimated Cost: £65-80
- Door will only lock from one side...
If you find that your upvc door only seems to lock from one side of the door and the other will not allow a full turn of the key, then you will need a replacement lock barrel. This is caused by the central cam of the lock cylinder slipping out of alignment. General causes seem to be due to worn keys and lock components often as a result of heavy use and substandard quality locks,
You will need to call your local locksmith to replace the cylinder with a new one of correct size.
This is a relatively quick job if there are no other complications.
Estimated Cost: £75
- Handle is spinning all the way round, not opening the door...
This is often the aftermath of not getting your upvc door adjusted when it has been feeling stiff.
Prolonged forcing of the handle puts massive strain on internal parts and eventually they WILL break!
You have broken the spindle inside the lock back box and will need either a replacement center case or entire locking unit, depending on the type of multi-point lock fitted.
You will need to call a local locksmith to open the upvc door and order the new parts which can be pricey therefore it is important that you get your door adjusted when early symptoms of stiffness occur.
Estimated Cost: £150-200
- Lost Keys / Locked out..
This is definitely a job for an emergency locksmith,
DO NOT
attempt to force the upvc door open as you may cause more serious damage to the multi-point lock. A locksmith should be able to pick or drill the lock to open the door cleanly without permanent damage. Once the upvc door is open the lock cylinder can be removed and a new one fitted,
Estimated Cost: £75-100
Lock Cylinders
Often, the cylinders fitted in new upvc doors are not the best quality and may not be suitable to satisfy your insurance requirements. Exterior door locks need to conform to BS3621 and should display a stamped kite mark on the lock.
These upvc locks will be more expensive than bog standard ones, however provide considerably more protection against drilling, snapping and picking or bumping the lock.
There are many brands of lock that exceed the British Standard rating and offer incredible protection against unauthorized opening. These demand a high price but would be well worth investing in for protecting high risk premises.
The lock cylinder should not protrude more than 5mm from the handle of the door, ideally they should sit flush.
Locks that stick out from the face of the door more than 5mm are a considerable security flaw and you should contact a locksmith to arrange the fitting of a correct sized lock.
For more information on home security in the West Midlands you can visit the West Midlands Police Safer Homes website or get in touch with your nearest neighborhood watch group.
UPVC Door Care
UPVC door multi-point locking systems contain many mechanical parts. As with any mechanical product a certain amount of maintenance is required to ensure a long life and good working order.
It is important to keep the UPVC door frame free from dirt and obstructions such as small stones and debris. These can block holes for shoot bolts and lift the door slightly throwing the locking points out of alignment.
It is important never to hang on your door or indeed anything from it such as Christmas decorations that attach over the top of the door itself, as will again cause the upvc door to be out of alignment, and if repeatedly may cause permanent damage to hinges.
It is good practice to use a lubricating spray on the upvc door lock to ensure a clean free working mechanism. try to avoid long lasting grease sprays that will attract more debris over time.
UPVC Window Locks
UPVC Window locks can break easily with heavy use or repeated forcing of the handles. Your local West Midlands locksmith should be able to replace the handles for you or unlock them if you have lost the keys.
Repeated forcing of a stiff lock will eventually break the cam in the Espag gearbox and will require drilling and replacing. Regular maintenance will prevent your UPVC window lock from breaking as mentioned in the UPVC Door care above.
Lock Opening Service
Our locksmiths in the West Midlands
are trained in non destructive entry and in most cases should be able to unlock your door if you are locked out or have lost your keys. Locks that have broken or are damaged may need drilling to unlock your door but are usually included in the price of the work.
Lock Restoration
Our Master locksmiths are skilled in lock restoration. Antique and furniture locks should never be drilled open. Call our lock restoration specialists to open antique locks and make new keys for furniture, chests and other restoration items
