how to easily service your upvc/composite door locks:
By the end of reading this, you will know how to service your Upvc door locks. Quickly and easily. There are no ‘tools’ required to follow these steps. There is also no DIY knowledge required. This is a very basic guide designed to help you get the most out of your Upvc door locks.
Upvc / Composite doors are fitted with a ‘Multipoint lock’. This refers to the multiple locking points down the edge of the door that are engaged when you lock the door.
Unfortunately, multipoint locks are often manufactured using low-quality steel. This means it is crucial to service the parts properly. It doesn’t need doing every week or even every month. But two/three times per year will be enough to stop it becoming stiff. As an experienced locksmith, I have attended many jobs where the multipoint just needed a quick service. The descriptions customers use include:
‘Stiff lock’
‘Stiff handle’
‘Sticky door’
‘Handle sticking’
‘Lock feels tight’
Sometimes, there are other reasons rather than the lock just needing a quick service. In which case, it is best you call a qualified local locksmith. There has been many jobs over the years where the door has dropped and that is the reason the handle or the lock feels tight to operate. However, by trying this quick and easy service first, you can at least say you have tried. If the service does not resolve or help issues you have locking and unlocking the door, you are best calling a locksmith and explaining you believe the door is out of alignment. The locksmith should be able to make some adjustments to the hinges or the receiving plates.
If this service does not work, and you leave the issue as it is, you will very likely break the gearbox or the cylinder, which will cause a much bigger cost down the line. This is why as a Qualified Master Locksmith, I always recommend if people want to save money, they should
Plan A: Service their locks 2/3 times per year as described on this article
Plan B: If servicing does not resolve tight, stiffness, call a locksmith to re-align the door.
This is almost guaranteed to save you money.
the Multipoint Service
Ultimately, the service includes a good blast with some lubricant. But to service a multipoint properly as a locksmith does, the most important thing is how and where.
Purchase some GT85. You can purchase a large can of this for less than a fiver and it will work wonders on anything with moving metal parts. You can use any PTFE based lubricant, but every locksmith I have met uses GT85. It is affordable and does the job.
Lift the handle to engage all of your locking points.
Spray your PTFE based lubricant into the cases which contain your locking points (a quick 1 second spray will do). In most cases, there will be hooks and bolts. Don’t worry too much about the small round locking points.
Push the handle down so that the latch goes inside the door. Using the nozzle on the lubricant, blast a good amount (2-3 seconds hold) into the case.
Now that you have sprayed it into these locking points, just lock/unlock the handle a few times with the door open. This will help the lubricant work into the small gaps.
Give the keyholes a small spray of lubricant too.
This is the service complete. It might be worth repeating the steps a couple of times to displace any moisture or dust fully.
I DO NOT recommend using WD40. It does not contain PTFE, and attracts all of the dirt and dust over time, leading to even more issues long term. I also do not recommend graphite powder. It is not pressurized to reach right into the gearbox, and is just messy.
I really hope this information can help you out and save you some money. As mentioned, if this does not resolve your upvc door problems, you will be best calling a local, professional locksmith.
