This is usually due to the weather especially in hot cold months.
Patio door won t lock in hot weather.
If you re wearing thick gloves this might be a bit of a hassle.
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.
Upvc door shrinkage and expansion the change in temperatures hot weather and warm air can cause your upvc doors to shrink contract and expand.
To unfreeze a lock in your door try heating the key from a cigarette lighter or a candle.
If it comes out watch to see whether it connects with the lock catch in the door frame.
The main locks could then also be applied.
Hot weather or heat expands most materials.
My parents had this problem in a council property to such an extent that the only way to close it on warm afternoons was to push the door fully closed applying pressure to the door frame seals whilst flipping up the handle to apply the lock rollers.
You may feel that you have to apply force when opening and closing your doors.
This upvc door shrinkage and expansion can make it difficult for you to lock your doors.
If it s the lock that s the problem.
You might need to prop the door up and tighten its connection to the door frame.
What should i do when my upvc door won t lock.
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.
It it doesn t check to be sure the door is properly aligned.
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.
In cold weather do the same with a warm damp cloth.
Cooling down the door with cold water and a cloth would get the door back to normal.
The door has expanded due to heat.
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.
Let your door dry for about ten minutes and repeat if necessary.
This can still occur with plastic doors however the effects would likely be less severe than a wooden door.
The colder temperatures usually mean there s a lot of rain and this can cause wood to expand with moisture and contract as it dries out.
You can also try to use a lock de icer which is available in a spray can or a small tube.