Why is my uPVC door sticking and how do I fix it?
A uPVC door usually sticks because it has dropped on its hinges or moved out of line with its frame, so the locking mechanism and keeps no longer meet cleanly. Warm weather makes it worse, because the door expands. Most sticking doors need adjustment, not replacement. Adjusting the hinges, locking mechanism and keeps usually restores smooth operation.
Why do uPVC doors stick?
uPVC doors stick when the door and its frame stop lining up. Hinges wear and let the door drop, the frame moves slightly with the seasons, and the keeps, the plates the lock bolts into, end up misaligned. The multi-point locking mechanism then forces its bolts into keeps that no longer sit opposite them, which you feel as a stiff handle or a key that will not turn easily.
Heat makes it worse. uPVC expands in warm weather, so a door that is marginal in spring can jam in summer and free up again in autumn.
What can I check myself?
Some checks are safe to do yourself. Look at the gap around the door edge, because an uneven gap suggests the door has dropped. Lift the handle slowly and feel where it resists. Try locking the door while lifting it slightly, and if it locks easily then, the door has likely dropped on its hinges. Keep the moving parts lightly lubricated and the bottom of the frame clear of grit.
What to avoid is force. Slamming a sticking door or straining the key transfers the load into the gearbox of the multi-point lock, and a broken gearbox turns a small adjustment into a bigger repair.
When should a locksmith adjust it?
Book an adjustment when lifting the handle needs real effort, when the key binds, or when the door only locks if you pull or lift it. Locks & Alarms Ltd inspects and adjusts uPVC, wooden and composite doors, covering the hinges, locking mechanisms and keeps. Regular adjustment prevents wear and costly damage.
Repair comes before replacement where it can. A Checkatrade-verified job in DA14 was a repair to a balcony door lock, and the reviewer wrote: "Very prompt response to my request. Excellent service for a very reasonable price." Call 01322 436084 to book an inspection.
Related service: Locksmith Services