Technology has led to a change in building technology in an attempt to move with changing trends. As such, PVC materials in the construction industry have taken the front, replacing woods, which was common for furniture, doors, windows, and other building elements.
uPVC doors specifically have become very popular as they give a cheaper, sleeker solution to metallic and wooden doors. They come with their locks, which have a fair share of problems, to say in the least.
Despite their affordability, uPVC door locks often give headaches. While some of these are quick fixes by ourselves, others usually need the expertise of locksmiths. Here are the top common faults uPVC door locks have:
1. Euro-Cylinders Getting Stuck
This is the part where the key is inserted and opens or locks the door when the door handle is lifted. When the euro-cylinder fails to budge, the key refuses to work. They fail due to a couple of reasons some being: trying to insert a key while there’s already one on the opposite side, using copied keys which damage the makeup of the key sequence, wear and tear where internal springs found here are destroyed or dirt build-up. This usually calls for a replacement of the entire lock.
2. Mushroom Rollers Not Coming into Contact Properly with The Rest of The Lock
Rollers usually hold the door tight to avoid breezes. They usually are a necessity for small doors and may be absent in larger ones. When these rollers are used, they gradually shift a bit, which makes it hard to close the door as they do not contact the reset of lock properly. Their damage could very well warrant whole-door replacement, especially if a door is a sealed unit, and they’re affecting the working mechanism found inside the door.
3. Misalignment of The Door and Frame
This the main reason for uPVC Door Lock Repairs. It is caused by hinges that are old and worn out, door expansion, poor frame fixings, or poor arrangement of the glass or door panel entirely. You can detect this problem using a spirit level where you confirm if the door is level or not. Another way is using a tape measure to obtain diagonal measurements from corner to corner and check whether the measurements match. Finally, you could observe the joints on the door and frame to see whether they are in line. The key is to avoid forcing the door to re-align if it’s proving to be difficult, but rather to call an expert who easily repairs, saving the cost of buying a new door.
4. Failure of Multi-Point Locking Systems
It is also a usual occurrence with uPVC doors. They may be as a result of misalignment, after which someone tried to man-handle the door, leading to one of the parts in the lock giving way. The result is either being unable to lock the door or open it. Failure can also come from wear and tear over a long time, poor maintenance, or physical external force on the lock. This can be avoided by simply oiling the system and aligning your door when the need arises, to avoid physical pressure on the lock as it just might succumb.
There, you have it. These are the most recurrent problems that constantly call for uPVC door lock repairs all over the globe. The key thing to remember is not to attempt to force the lock or the entire door to open or close when it seems stuck or jammed. This could lead to more damage, which could cost you more in the long run. When a problem seems complex to fix on your own, give a locksmith a call!
5. Key Won’t Turn in Lock
There are several potential reasons one might encounter this problem. Before going into details, however, it is important to realize that you should never attempt to force a key into the lock, because it could break it, leaving only one solution: to completely remove the lock, which will not only prove to be a costly mistake but will also cause you a lot more trouble.
If you are faced with this problem, then you will want to lubricate the lock with a silicone-based lubricant or graphite spray. If either of these doesn’t help, there must be a misalignment problem mentioned earlier in this article.
Unfortunately, in either case, you will need the help of an expert locksmith to overcome these problems.
6. The Door Only Locks on One Side
If you have difficulty locking your door from both sides, i.e., if you can only lock the door from one side and you are unable to insert or turn the key, you might have to replace the lock cylinder.
You may also need a replacement cylinder if you notice you cannot remove the key after you insert the key and turn the handle. This typically happens when the center cam of the lock cylinder slides out of alignment.
The principal cause of this problem can be ascribed to wear and tear on keys and other crucial lock components owing to heavy use or substandard build quality.
However, it should be noted that such problems can be easily solved, as there are no known complications involved.
Where to Get Professional Help!
People often assume that once their door’s or window’s lock stops working or begins exhibiting locking problems, the entire fixture will have to be replaced, but the truth is that in most cases, it’ s not necessary and that the repairs are really easy and inexpensive.
At Double Glazing Doctor Essex, we have been successfully serving residents and businesses in Essex with cost-effective, user-friendly services for over five years. Our professional locksmiths and engineers have the expertise and equipment necessary to handle all kinds of locking problems, ensuring that all your security concerns are resolved in a timely manner.
If you are experiencing a problem with your UPVC door, give us a call at 01621 788123, and our trained professionals will soon be at your doorstep to provide you with unparalleled efficient service.
