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.If you are trying to find a locksmith in the West Midlands, you have reached the right place.We have compiled a list of local West Midlands locksmiths and UPVC door lock specialists and separated them into their respective areas across the West Midlands.Choosing your nearest locksmith in the West Midlands could not be easier. Simply select your nearest town using the links menu on the right and top of this page. Selecting your local West Midlands locksmith means you receive a quicker response time and will avoid paying the call out charge of a locksmith based further from your home.All our locksmiths are fully qualified and maintain a high level of health and safety and insurance requirements. They carry most sizes of lock and a variety of stock to meet your property requirements, whether your after the cheapest locks for your budget or high security specialist locks that offer considerable protection.
Our locksmiths in West Midlands recommend locks conforming to BS3621 to meet insurance requirements.Information on the best lock for your door can be found on our lock guide.West Midlands locksmiths and UPVC door experts are experienced in bypassing and gaining entry to your property if your locks are broken, you have lost your keys or need your locks replacing.(estimated costs based on local locksmith rates during normal working hours)- 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: £40-60- 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: £40-60- 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 backbox 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: £100-200- 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,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 kitemark 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 unauthorised 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 neighbourhood watch group.UPVC door multi point locking systems contain many mechanical parts. As with any mechanical product a certain amount of maintainance 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 alignmentIt is important never to hang on your door or indeed anything from it such as christmas decorations that attatch 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 mechansim. try to avoid long lasting grease sprays that will attract more debris over time.UPVC Window locks can break easilly 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 maintainance will prevent your UPVC window lock from breaking as mentioned in the UPVC Door care above. 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. Be sure to contact your nearest locksmith to eliminate the need for a callout charge