Composite doors look great and keep your home safe, so it’s not surprising that they are one of the most popular types of doors in the UK. Read on to find out how to fix the most common problems with Composite Door Locks.
In 2021, more than three-quarters of burglars got into homes through a door. If your composite door’s locking mechanism isn’t working right, this could be a security risk for your home. If your Composite Door Locks are not locking properly, it may be time to have them serviced. In this guide, we’ll go over all of the most common problems with composite doors and show you how to fix them so that your home stays safe.
How Does a Composite Door Work?
A composite door has a wooden core that is surrounded by a reinforcement material like uPVC, laminate, or even glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). People often think that composite doors are stronger, more secure, and last longer than uPVC or wooden doors.
Problems that often happen with composite doors
Many people think that composite doors are the most reliable and safe type of door. However, composite doors can also have problems with their doors and locks, leaving homeowners worried about their home’s safety and whether or not their door is working properly. Swelling, sticking, and the inability to lock the door can be serious issues, but they can usually be resolved quickly with proper maintenance or a visit from a specialist for uPVC, Composite Door Locks, or wooden door locks.
Heat causes the composite door to swell
Like most doors, a composite door can often get bigger when it gets hot. If you have a south-facing home and the temperature goes up, your composite door may naturally swell and grow, making it hard to open, close, lock, and unlock.
Solution
To help fight the effects of swelling, you should make it a habit to “throw the handle” every time you close a door. Usually, to lock a composite door, you have to turn up (throw) the handle to engage the different locking points down the door. However, many people don’t realize that if you don’t engage those locking points, the door will only rest on the latch in the middle of the door. If you don’t throw the door’s handle and just let it rest on the middle latch, the top and bottom of the door could warp or swell.
The handle on the composite door won’t turn up
To lock a composite door, you usually have to turn the handle up. This engages all the locking points in the door, so you can then turn the lock over. If you can’t turn the handle up to lock your composite door, it’s usually because the door isn’t in the right place or the lock mechanism has broken.
Solution
If your handle won’t turn, you’ll have to call a professional York Locksmith to help you fix the problem. They will be able to service, fix, or even replace any broken parts in your composite door or Composite Door Locks to get it working again. Lifting the handle when you close the door, even if you’re not locking it, will take pressure off the middle lock and keep your door in place.
The lock on the composite door is stuck
A stuck lock makes it hard to put a key in, turn the lock, or take a key out when the lock is being used. This usually happens when dust, dirt, and other gunk build up on the inside of a lock. Stuck locks are mostly annoying and inconvenient, but they can also make you more likely to break your key in the lock and get locked out. They can also make your home less secure if the lock doesn’t work as well as it should.
Solution
Most stuck locks on composite doors can be treated by keeping the locking mechanism and cylinder in good shape. Most people will reach for WD-40, but we strongly advise against this because it can often make things worse instead of better. Instead, think about using a grease lubricant for the locking mechanism and silicone or graphite-based lubricant for your door cylinder (the part where you insert your key). We recommend doing this every 6 months, but if you’re not sure, you can always call a professional locksmith who will know how to service your locks properly.
How to Fix Problems with Composite Door Locking Mechanisms
Most problems with composite doors are caused by a lock that doesn’t work properly. If a part of the mechanism in a composite door is broken, it can be hard to lock or close the door, or it might not work at all. Most of the time, if you have problems with your composite door locking mechanism, you will need to find a local locksmith to help you fix the problem because it will need to be fixed or replaced. The Locksmith York can help you with all your issues related to composite door locks.