Upvc door shrinkage and expansion the change in temperatures hot weather and warm air can cause your upvc doors to shrink contract and expand.
Patio door won t lock in hot weather.
Heat caused by a patio heater hot weather or direct sunlight could cause your patio door to expand.
The best thing anyone can do is to leave it as it is and call in a locksmith upvc specialist asap.
Cooling down the door with cold water and a cloth would get the door back to normal.
This can still occur with plastic doors however the effects would likely be less severe than a wooden door.
If it s the lock that s the problem.
In cold weather do the same with a warm damp cloth.
The door has expanded due to heat.
Wood expands more so than plastic therefore the lock inside it can become stiff or the key may not fit in properly because of the expansion.
This upvc door shrinkage and expansion can make it difficult for you to lock your doors.
What should i do when my upvc door won t lock.
Let your door dry for about ten minutes and repeat if necessary.
If it comes out watch to see whether it connects with the lock catch in the door frame.
Hot weather or heat expands most materials.
You can also try to use a lock de icer which is available in a spray can or a small tube.
Check the side of the door to ensure nothing is trapped or blocking the door s locks.
If you re wearing thick gloves this might be a bit of a hassle.
Locks aren t usually the problem with wooden doors as we see a lot of warped frames doors.
You might need to prop the door up and tighten its connection to the door frame.
You may feel that you have to apply force when opening and closing your doors.
It it doesn t check to be sure the door is properly aligned.
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.
To unfreeze a lock in your door try heating the key from a cigarette lighter or a candle.
Hot weather can cause your upvc door to not lock due to the upvc expanding in warm weather which causes the door to become stiff so it will become difficult to shut or open 7.
This is usually due to the weather especially in hot cold months.
Open the patio door very slightly and turn the lock.