UPVC door difficult to lock

[mandiskid]

We have a upvc back door, the one where you pull the handle up first then turn the key to lock it. Yesterday it became increasingly difficult to turn the key, only turns part of the way. Like something is stopping it but nothing there!!

Looking at the hole in the frame it seems to be higher than the lock in the door!! How and why!? Any ideas?

 

[Glassman]

Do you struggle to lift the handle to engage the locks? If so, the door might have dropped slightly and will need a toe-and-heel.

If the handle engages okay then it could be that the cylinder needs replacing.
Remove the grub screw on the side edge of the door where the cylinder is to remove it and see how it works when you're holding it in your hand. If it feels a bit stiff then try lubricating it or just get a new cylinder making sure that the new one matches the existing one.

 

[HandyHands]

Basically, if the handle and mechanism work when the door is open, but not when closed, then the mechanism and frame strikes are not alligned. Toe & Heel, or adjust the hinges, or adjust the strikes.

 

[mandiskid]

Thanks to both of you. I'm a first timer to this site and you have been really helpful