We use cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience on our website. By continuing to browse our website you accept you are happy to receive cookies from us. Lock Changes & Repairs Key Cutting Boarding Up Yale Smart Security Partner How Safe Is Your Neighbourhood? Please assist me with... Door Bolts & Bars Door Chains & Viewers I Can't Lock My Door Window Locks & Handles My Window's Been Smashed - What Do I Do? I've Been Burgled - What Do I Do? How Safe Is Your Neighbourhood App Top 10 Home Security Tips » Locksmith Services For Landlords » Commercial Locksmith Services Emergency Response : 0800 0612 677 Common Door Lock Problems Key Stuck In uPVC Door LockI Can't Lock My Door!" If you're having problems trying to lock your door, your key is stuck or your key is hard to turn in the lock, we have the expertise to help. There are a number of issues that you might have with locking your door.
Here are some common ones and their likely causes below : - Dead Locks/Sash Lock Warping - Sometimes due to very poor weather conditions the door/frame can warp. This can stop the locking points engaging the keeps, therefore preventing the door from locking! This is usually a quick and simple problem to fix. Broken Key - Keys generally break in locks because of too much force having been applied to them. All of our engineers have specialist equipment to cut various types of keys on site Key Stuck In Lock - If your key is stuck in the lock then it's best to call us as soon as you can. If you use too much force trying to remove the key yourself, it's possible that your key may snap or break inside the lock cylinder. We do not recommend forcing the key out of your lock as it can snap the key, but if you must : ensure you pull it directly out rather than twisting it. Twisting it could cause it to break. Key Is Hard To Turn Or Won't Go In The Lock - Don’t force the key!
Forcing it could break the key in the lock. It's possible that there is an issue with the Lock Cylinder. Debris or Ice from cold weather may be causing problems with the cylinder or you might simply be using the wrong key! Faulty Lock - The internal mechanism could be broken or worn. Our engineers carry the necessary replacement parts to repair most locks. All locks can be fitted or upgraded to British Standard to meet insurance specifications. Warping - If the door cannot physically lock due to the frame or door being warped, an adjustment of the strike plate could rectify the problem without the need of a new lock. Key Will Not Work - If you've had a new/spare key cut recently, it could be a poorly cut key causing the problem. Have you Had a new cylinder fitted? The spindle may have been cut too short. Has your nightlatch got a deadlocking function? If yes, you may have to turn the key more than once to unlock your door. If the key does not turn at all, you may be using a wrong key or the interior snib could have accidentally engaged.
If the snib has been engaged from inside, it will stop the key from working. Our engineers have specialist tools to deal with this scenario. *Sometimes burglars will “snib” the locks in homes they enter so the owner cannot just walk back into on property on their return. This will, however, alert the burglar, allowing them to make a clean getaway”* -The cylinder could be faulty or just worn due to age -The key itself could be old, worn or cracked. *Never force a key as it may snap inside the lock. If you have both pieces of a broken key, then our locksmiths will be able to replicate a fully working duplicate, saving the cost of a new cylinder. This can be done on site!* -Our locksmiths are able to extract broken keys to avoid replacing the lock. Dropped Door - It is very common for UPVC doors to drop, therefore misaligning the locking points with the keeps. It will usually make the door difficult to open, if it can at all! Modern UPVC doors are designed to be fully adjustable so this is usually quick to fix.
Tip - If the door locks perfectly while in the open position, it is an adjustment issue. However, if it is still hard to lock while in the open position it will more than likely be a mechanical fault, probably needing replacement parts. Faulty Euro Cylinder - If the key cylinder has failed then our locksmiths can easily replace this part, providing new keys without the need to replace the full mechanism. This will help keep the cost to a minimum. Faulty Mechanism - If the full length mechanism is faulty, in certain circumstances it is possible to only replace the “Gearbox” (centre lockcase). This keeps the job cost to a minimum. Replacing full mechanisms can be expensive, but in certain scenarios it is unavoidable. Do you have any of these problems and need work done? Call us on 0800 0612 677 for a free, no obligation quote. Are You Still Using a Key To Unlock Your Door?If you're having trouble closing or locking your door properly, there could be a few possible causes for this.
While it's important to make sure your door is secure, there are a few things you can try to ensure it's working as it should be. If you've noticed your door isn't locking as it should, this may be due to a problem with the locking mechanism, or the handle itself. If it isn't closing correctly, you might notice that the hinges or the frame of your door has been damaged, causing an obstruction that means your door can't close correctly. A door that doesn't close correctly The first thing to do is have a look around the perimeter of your door, as well as at the various points that it connects with the frame. Most Anglian doors will have multiple locks around the frame, so make sure there's nothing obstructing each bolt. You'll also need to check the drainage holes for blockages, and remove any that you come across. Once you've checked the door and frame, make sure you have a look underneath the door. There could be something stuck, such as part of a door mat, at the bottom edge of the door, stopping it from closing.
During particularly cold or particularly hot months, your uPVC door may have contracted or expanded slightly, causing it to not close properly. If you think this is the case, when the weather's hot take a cold, damp cloth and wipe around the top, side and bottom edges of the door. In cold weather, do the same with a warm, damp cloth. Let your door dry for about ten minutes, and repeat if necessary. If it's the lock that's the problem If you're having trouble locking your door, you may need to have a look at part of the door that's referred to as the 'snib'. On the long edge of your door, about level with the handle, you should see a small plastic switch that should be pushed down. If it's not in this position, lift the handle and push it down. If you're still unsure as to what may be stopping your door working correctly, simply get in touch with us at Anglian and we'll be happy to advise, or send out an engineer. For more information on Anglian doors, or to answer other common questions, take a look at our doors FAQs page.