UPVC Repair Services
UPVC Door and Window Repairs Near You
Looking for uPVC door or window repair? I’m Tom the locksmith and I’m based in Newton-le-Willows. It’s a great place to be as I can be in St Helens, Liverpool, Warrington, Wigan and Manchester within about 30 minutes!
I don’t charge a call-out charge, so if you are having problems with a uPVC door or window and want it repaired, I will come out to inspect the issue and quote there and then. I carry great stock of uPVC door and window parts on my van too, so there’s every chance I can fix the issue there and then.
Call me today to tell me about your uPVC repair issue.
UPVC Window Repairs & Maintenance
UPVC Windows can get jammed or fail for a number of reasons, usually required a skilled and equipped uPVC repairman to fix them.
Behind more uPVC window frames is an espagnolette mechanims (often called an ESPAG unit). When operated, this has sliding parts that lock and unlock the window by sliding rollers or shoots around the uPVC window sash.
When they roll into the keeps on the frame the window is locked in place and pulled into its weatherseal. When the handle operation rolls them out again, the sash should be free to move so the window can be opened.
But overtime, wear, weather and pressure can jam up an ESPAG unit, the gearbox can break or the whole thing can rust shut.
Likewise, the handles themselves can break meaning that a fully fuctional ESPAG unit may be locked down by a faulty handle.
Worse still, the friction stays (uPVC window hinges) can become twisted, bent or broken, meaning that the whole sash needs to come out and be put back in with new hinges – a job for a skilled uPVC window repairman.
If you live around St Helens, Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington or Wigan, call me at LockFort Security for expert UPVC window repairs and maintenance.
Emergency UPVC Door Repairs (24/7 Callouts)
When a UPVC door breaks down it can be seriously disruptive, meaning you may not be able to lock or unlock the door correctly – a job for an Emergency UPVC door repairman.
Despite being modern, there are many things that can go wrong with a UPVC door mechanism. The underlying cause is usually that the door has dropped and become misaligned over time. This then puts pressure on the moving parts of the multipoint lock mechanism along the locking side of the door, eventually causing something inside to break – usually a spring or small piece of metal.
This can mean that the door remains in the locked or unlocked postion, or may only work some of the time.
Either way, it could mean that you’re unable to enter and exit through that door, or worse still you may not be able to secure your property overnight or while you are out, causing a security risk and potentially making your insurance invalid.
That’s why at LockFort Security I include uPVC door repairs in my Emergency 24/7 callout service, so you can call me anytime to come secure your property even in the dead of night.
Don’t forget, it you are already struggling to lock or unlock your door, you may be able to prevent worse damage by getting the locksmith in early!
UPVC Lock Repairs & Replacements
Most uPVC door locks repairs and replacement are needed because one or more components of the locking mechanisms have failed.
This is easily the most common callout for us here at LockFort Security, and it usually comes down to one of two major failures: a broken Eurocylinder lock, or a broken multipoint lock.
The Eurocylinder is the lock that you actually put your key into to lock and unlock the uPVC door. It is actually only a small part of the door locking mechanism itself, and usually not the bit that has failed (although you do get lost cams or worn out cylinders).
The Multipoint Locking mechanism is made up of the long strip that runs from the top to the bottom of the UPVC door, with a primary gearbox in the middle housing the eurocylinder and handles. Is usually has another 2 gearboxes at the top and bottom. On lift-lever mechanisms (most commpn), when you pull the handle upwards these gearboxes fire bolts, shoots, rollers or hooks into the keeps in your doorframe.
But if the gearboxes become damaged or worn, then the whole uPVC door mechanism may jam up, stopping you from operating the door and in need of a uPVC lock repair or replacement.
UPVC Door Realignment & Adjustment
Just as important as repair is god UPVC door maintenance, usually in the form of door realignment and adjustment.
All doors are fighting gravity, and will usually drop or warp away from the top hinge over time.
In simple cases, this can mean that the uPVC door may start to catch on the bottom of the threshold, or not pull into its weatherseal correctly.
But left unchecked, the bolts, shoots and hooks may not align correctly with their keeps, making it harder to lock or even jamming it completely. This in turn causes extra wear on the gearbox which can cause it to fail prematurely and lead to a more costly repair. As the old saying goes; “a stitch in time saves nine”.
Good UPVC door realignment and adjustment should involve diagnosing where the problem is, adjusting the hinges where possible, and undergoing a process called “toe and heal” in which specialised packers are inserted into the UPVC door to straighten it out.
Most people leave their uPVC door without maintenance for years, but those who avoid repairs get their door realigned and adjusted when they start to feel it catching or not locking as easily as it used to.
Why Choose LockFort Security for UPVC Repairs?
I’m Tom and I operate as LockFort Security, a dedicated Locksmith service that helps customers get their locks, doors and windows back working again fast and affordably.
A personal member of the Master Locksmiths Association, I am commited to quality and value for my customers.
My customers feel it too, currently boasting a full 5-star rating on Google.
While other locksmiths dabble with watches and engraving, I am a dedicated full-time locksmith offering a 24/7 callout service with no callout charge, meaning the issue either gets fixed for the quoted price or you don’t pay me.
For your reassurance, I am also voluntarily DBS checked so that you can place your trust in me when it comes to your home.
Call or message me today to discuss your UPVC problem.
Common UPVC Door and Window Repair Problems
UPVC Door Won’t Lock Properly
If your UPVC door no longer locks properly then there could be one or several things wrong.
First, test if the door will lock normally if the door is NOT closed: so if you lift the handle all the way, will and the shoots/rollers and hooks move into their locked positions? Will the cylinder lock turn and lock them in place?
If not, you have an issue either with the gearbox(s) or the lock itself.
If it WILL operate find outside of the door, then it’s a problem with the way in which the multipoint lock is interacting with the keeps in the door frame. The door likely needs uPVC door realignment and adjustment to get things working again.
In either case, it’s best to call a locksmith.
UPVC Door Won’t Open or Is Jammed
This is a toughie – if your uPVC door is jammed shut and won’t open this almost always requires a locksmith to minimise damage while opening it.
It could be because the door is so misaligned that the hooks are jammed into the keeps and won’t budge.
Or it could be that the gearbox is locked down due to a broken internal part.
Without specialist locksmith tools and knowledge this can be pretty hard to fix, but you can try raking the handles up and down to see if you can dislodge anything inside. Otherwise, this is almost always locksmith time to avoid causing extra damage to the door.
Stiff or Seized UPVC Locks
Key won’t turn in the lock?
A lot of the answer to this will depend on the type of UPVC gearbox, as sometimes the key might not turn to lock or unlock the door because it is moving the deadbolt which is being intefered with by the keep.
However, sometimes its just because water, dirt or rust has built up inside and the cylinder can no longer turn cleanly.
We DON’T recommend forcing the key to turn as quite frequently forcing the issue will result in a broken key inside the cylinder which creates its own problem.
Likewise, don’t be tempted to use standard WD40 unless you are prepared to change out that cylinder. WD40 is a great product but using it in a lock often causes more dirt and grime to build up over time. Instead use a rust or dirt eating penetrating lubricant to get the barrel unstuck.
Alternatively, call a locksmith – many of use are trained on how to bypass the cylinder and unlock the door so we can effect an easy barrel change, but it takes specialist equipment and knowledge.
Dropped uPVC Door
A UPVC door dropped overtime is almost inevitable, but can be fixed with a little maintenance and know-how.
Signs your UPVC door may have dropped include it no longer shutting properly, catching on frame, or no longer locking or unlocking properly.
In most cases, a locksmith can adjust the hinges and perform “toe and heal” process which helps lift the door back into shape.
Lost keys to UPVC Door
A classic problem – lost your keys to your upvc door?
As tempting as it may be to try and force a door or a window open, as locksmiths this tends to end badly, which more permanent damage done to the door or window, and even the occasional injury.
A real locksmith will first attempt non-destructive methods of entry to get past a UPVC door, normally by picking or bumping the lock, or by bypasing it completely. In rarer incidents or on high security locks, they may use a more destructive technique but done in a way that still protects most of the door and targets the most replaceable parts (like the eurocylinder) first.
Why won’t my UPVC door lock when I lift the handle?
If lift the handle on your UPVC door doesnt let you lock it, it’s usually one of two things:
- The gearbox that sits inside the door is broken. Regular wear and especially forcing the handles up to hard can cause something to break in the gearbox. Sometimes, that broken piece gets stuck in an even worse spot inside the gearbox, jamming it up solid.
- The door is misaligned with the frame in such a way that the hooks/bolts/shoots/rollers on the multipoint lock are not engaging with the keeps on the frame, getting blocked. Adjusting the door or the keeps is usually the way forward but can be easier said than done without knowledge and the right tools.
UPVC door only lock when pulled hard?
Again, this is usually a door alignment issue, or in some cases the door or frame may have warped (happens in direct sunlight or in its absence).
The fix is likely a UPVC door realignment and adjustments.
Why is my key stuck in the UPVC door lock?
There could be a few reasons as to why your key is stuck in the lock of your UPVC door.
- It’s the wrong key. Happens more than you’d think. Will likely take a locksmith to remove it. More likely if the lock wont turn
- If it WILL turn and the door will lock and unlock but you can’t remove the key, it may be a slipped cam on the eurocylinder itself. This means that the cam which engages the gearbox in the door has moved round about 90 degrees and can no longer rotate enough to allow the key to return to the 12 O’clock position to be removed. Again this is probably a eurocylinder change and can be done easily by a locksmith.
- Dirt or something else has gone into the keyway and is interfering with removal of the key.
Why won’t my UPVC door unlock from outside?
Again, it may take a locksmith to diagnose the reason, but if it will lock from the inside but not the outside it may be a slipped cam or a damaged cylinder. More than likely, a eurocylinder change will fix the issue.
Why is my UPVC door handle floppy or loose?
Again, it may take a locksmith to diagnose the reason, but if it will lock from the inside but not the outside it may be a slipped cam or a damaged cylinder. More than likely, a eurocylinder change will fix the issue.
Why does my UPVC door handle lift but not lock?
If your door handle will lift but not lock, there is a test to see what is wrong:
Open the door, lift the handle and turn the key in the lock. If the handle and mechanism locks then its not the lock, it’s the way the shoots/bolts/hooks and interacting with the keeps on the door frame.
If the door STILL doesnt lock while its open then its probably a broken central or auxillary gearbox on the multipoint mechanism which requires repair or replacement.
Why is my UPVC door catching on the frame?
Most likely classic UPVC door misalignment. Doors drop over time, and usually DOWN and AWAY from the top hinge.
You can usually correct this by tightening the top hinge, and sometimes loosening the bottom one a little. However, sometimes thats not enough and you may need to “Toe and Heal” the door, however you are getting into locksmith territory there!