Maintenance for your locks

It’s that time of year again when the weather starts to do funny things to our doors. I am already being called out to do jobs that could be avoided with some basic maintenance for your locks.

Here on the Norfolk Coast, locks are not only at risk of rusting, but also damage from sea salt and wasps (more on those later).

Norfolk coast

So what can you do to avoid having to call me, or at least make the call a bit cheaper?

Firstly, keep your door (and window) locks clean. It’s very easy to forget about the front edge of a door when it is shut while you clean, but I see some shocking sights in my work. The more dirt and dust is allowed to build up, the more it finds its way into the working parts of your lock eventually causing damage.

Maintenance for your locks

The next step is oiling your locks. There is a lot of argument in the locksmithing world as to whether WD40 or graphite is better. For me, I say WD40 used twice a year (every time you change your locks is an easy way to remember and perfect for changes in weather) works just fine because it coats and flushes at the same time. Oiling does not mean just squirting a bit of oil where you put your key in the lock. If you have a wooden door with a mortice (“Chubb” type) lock, then the part inside stops the oil getting to where is needed and if you have a lock with a “Yale” type key, then oil in the key way is only getting a tiny percentage of what needs to be oiled. If you have any lock with a latch, either pull the handle down or rotate any lever knob to retract that latch. If you look where the latch retracts, you will see that the wedge shape of the latch will create a perfect gap for you to put in the straw provided with cans of WD40. Squirt for about 5 seconds (10 seconds if first time) and then work the handles, etc a few times to get the oil all over the insides.

On doors with multipoint locking systems (eg UPVC doors) you should also look at the front edge and lift the handles up and down a few times. Give another squirt of oil to anything you see moving. When you do this, you might even find the sticker that tells you to oil the door that you never knew was there and the installer never told you about! If you have a wooden door with a single deadlock, unscrew the faceplate at the front and take it off. This will now give you a larger gap around bolt. You might have to hold the WD40 straw in one corner, but squirt what you can, being aware you might get some splash back at you and oil does not clean up from clothes easily, so no maintenance in your wedding dress/designer suits. Don’t forget to put the face plate back on afterwards. In all cases, put some rags on the floor as oil will run down and drip off the bottom of the door and WD40 even stains paving stones.

Once you have done all the above,  keep an eye on how difficult your door is to open. Hotter summers are warping even doors that never recognisably warped before. If your door is becoming difficult to operate in any way, there will be undue stress on various parts of your lock which will eventually lead to something breaking. The most common problem last year was French doors shrinking away from each other and the hooks of the multipont mechanisms not being able to get into their slots. Multipoint mechanism doors are usually adjustable, if your door is not as easy to operate when closed as it is open, best get the door adjusted before something breaks and you will have to add a locking product on to the cost of the adjustment.

Finally, those pesky wasps. If you have a wooden door with a multipoint locking system (lift the handles to lock) and it does not have top and bottom bolts, there will be a gap at the top behind the metal faceplate. This gap runs down behind the faceplate as far as the first moving part you can see. It is the perfect size for wasps to make cells in which to grow more baby wasps. Those cells harden a lot and can cause the mechanism to break. My advice is to at least put insect repellent all over the top of the door and then maybe stick a small cotton wool ball just in the top to bar access. I’ve dealt with a few of these cases now, and I really don’t like angry wasps trying to get me while I destroy their hard work!

If you have any questions regarding the above information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by phone, text or email.

Thanks for reading.

admin June 27, 2023

Keeping locks maintained / Lock maintenance / Multipoint mechanism maintenance / Oiling door locks / wasps and doors /

More Common Locksmith Questions Answered

Common Locksmith questions I am asked
AC Locksmiths Norfolk

 What is Lock Snapping?

This is a particularly vile form of attack burglars use to break in where the house has a upvc or composite door (any door where you lift the handle before locking). The intruders use simple tools to rip the handles off the door and then break the lock itself to gain access to a small lever inside the door that unlocks all the hooks and bolts. It takes less than 60 seconds with ordinary hand tools. If you have a upvc or composite door, look just below where your key fits and you will see a brand name. If you do not also see the British Standard Kitemark, you are definitely at risk of this type of attack. Moreover, I have come across some kite marked locks that still fail to protect. You should always consult your local locksmith when upgrading locks as they have the knowledge and experience to sort the good from the bad. At the time of writing, AC Locksmiths Norfolk are upgrading superior locking euro cylinders to properties in Sheringham and Holt.

How long does it take to fix a broken lock?

This really depends on the lock. Some of the simplest cabinet locks with small parts and tight springs can take surprisingly long if you don’t want to damage the expensive furniture they are housed in. Sometimes, a part inside may have broken and gotten itself lodged out of sight. In my experience, half of the repairs I do are routine and half throw up something completely unique, or at least very uncommon. Just the other day, I was working on a composite door in Fakenham where the only way I could get the door open was to hammer the hooks into the open position as a gear had broken and become stick within the locking mechanism. Doing this with all the wrong angles and trying to preserve the door as well slows a job down. There is a quick way to do every job. If we are taking a long time, it’s because we care about your property. Time frustrates us as well. For a locksmith, there is nothing worse than leaving one job knowing you are already late for the next one, especially in rural areas where phone signal problems deny you the chance to explain to that next customer.

How long should I expect to wait in an emergency?

This all depends on how large an area your locksmith covers, time of day and what work the locksmith is currently doing. Larger companies and the Nationals who sub-contract can usually find someone to be with you within 2 hours, but it is surprising how often people get a call near the end of those two hours to say their locksmith has broken down! A genuine local locksmith can usually be with you in a sensible time. For example, my base is in Holt and if you need me to attend an emergency in Aylsham or Cromer, I can usually get to you easily within the hour. If you need me in Downham Market, or Stalham, or Caister, then you need to expect me to take an hour and a half to two hours. If I am working on a job when you call, I will give you a realistic expectation of time and update you as often as possible. If that time is too long, I will suggest another locksmith, but I can neither guarantee their ability to get to you sooner or the quality of their work.

Do you carry the parts to fix my locks?

In almost all cases we can fix or replace your lock, and if we can’t fix it on the first visit, we can make your door secure until we have had a chance to order the parts required. Carrying everything for every occasion would mean towing a small DIY store around with us! Before writing this blog today, I attended a property in Fakenham where they need a completely new mechanism for their composite door. The brand they need has about 20 different variations of mechanisms and that brand is only one of about 15 common brands, so I have locked their door and rendered it usable in emergencies only. The new part will be with me tomorrow. There is no additional charge for the second visit, just the cost of the part itself and my standard flat fee. Beware, some locksmiths will charge labour for every visit.

Do you cover evenings and weekends?

Yes. AC Locksmiths Norfolk is a 24/7 365 day per year service. However, I am human. I do like to celebrate peoples’ birthdays and observe other traditions and even sometimes get to go on holiday. My phone is always on me. If I cannot cover emergencies, my voicemail will tell you so. If I am away and cannot answer the phone, for non-emergencies always leave a voicemail and if possible, back it up with a quick text and I will get back to you with honest advice, and/or work timeframe estimations. Unlike many other locksmiths, my flat fee labour charge is fixed. So if you have an emergency on Sunday evening in Dereham, the labour charge will be exactly the same as if you call me out on Wednesday morning from Reepham. Pricing for distance is a little different when dealing with car keys due to the minimum amount of time they take to produce, but when you call me, you can be sure you are getting a fair price.

Should I change the locks when I move home?

Yes. If the home has had people living in it before you, you just cannot know how many copies of keys have been made. I once changed locks for a couple in Norwich who after having been moved in for six months, found a neighbour ‘just checking’ their home after they had not arrived back at their usual time. This neighbour had been given a key by the previous owner to use in emergencies. If you move into a new home on a large complex, the developer will have fitted the same brand and types of lock in all the houses on that development. Statistics show that several properties will have keys that open other properties on the estate. Best to change to a completely different brand and upgrade.

What are the insurance requirements for homes in the UK?

For wooden doors, insurance usually states a five-lever mortice lock on all final exit doors or a kite marked equivalent. Basically, if the locks on your wooden door do not have kite marks, then they are probably not covered unless you have a special agreement because of preservation orders, etc. Some five lever mortice locks do not have kite marks and are fine with your insurance, but make life so much easier for the burglar. Be very careful when looking at ‘smart’ locks as many will actually downgrade your security. For upvc and composite doors, there is no kitemark requirement for most insurers, but having kite marked cylinders might well reduce your premiums. For peace of mind, you should always upgrade to kite marked products. At a time when we are all worried certain standards will drop after we leave the EU, rest assured, in many cases the kitemark outstrips EU standards in the area of locks. Insurers will try all things to get out of paying. If you have a kite marked lock and the burglar does manage to defeat it, the insurer might inspect your home and find another lock that does not meet standards and refuse to pay because you have a lock that does not conform. All ground floor windows should have locks and most insurers will insist on first-floor windows as well with a note that all accessible windows be lockable. If you have children of any age, window locks or cable restrictors are highly advisable anyway as kids are very good at falling from windows and they make such a fuss when bones break!

If you have any questions regarding the above, please don’t hesitate to get in contact via any of the usual methods found on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading
Alan,
AC  Locksmiths Norfolk

admin November 22, 2019

British Standard Kitemark / broken locks / emergency locksmith / lock snapped / locksmith emergency / Locksmith questions /

Seasonal UPVC door Problems

After the Beast from the East has left us, the weather has finally started to warm up again.

And with the warm weather, comes the next round of problems with upvc door locks.

This is especiaSpringlly true for French doors that have been shut through the entire winter and lockingmechanisms on wooden doors as the wood starts to dry out. If you have any type of door where youhave to lift the handles to lock it, and the door has become hard to lock, then call your local locksmith now, before something breaks. Your local locksmith can usually make some dooradjustments to get everything working fine again, thus saving you the extra cost of replacingexpensive broken mechanisms. Check your door locking mechanisms for any sign of rust and oil twice a year- I suggest when you put the clocks forwards and back. When oiling, give a good squirteverywhere you can see a moving part, and if you push the handles down, the retracting latch willreveal a small hole into which you should squirt more oil to make sure everything is well lubricated.
Away from multi-point locking doors, I have been on a few jobs recently where the customers havecomplained of hard to operate mortice (often called ‘Chubb’) type locks. My first action upon arriving, is to try the lock for myself. When discovering that the lock is indeed difficult, I inspect thekey. Locks usually work or seize up. Intermittent problems usually point to something else, and ninetimes out of ten, I see the customer has given me a co
pied key, or one of the prongs is bent. Keys cutin chain key cutting shops are usually done by people who are not trained very well because the staff turnover is high because wages and career prospects are low. Cobblers, engravers, etc who do key cutting have usually been doing it for yearsand have a more practiced eye when comparing their cut to the original. You can also ask your local key cutter to provide genuine copy blanks for you. 
UPVC door
You might have to pay a bit more and you might have to wait while they order some in (some don’t stock because too many people want the cheap option when it is not properly explained), but your key will be better quality, last longer and protect the life of your lock. It all works out better value in the long
run. My main point on this topic however, is this; if you are having intermittent problems with yourlock, gather all your keys and try each one with the door open about ten times. Keep the keys that work. Get more copies from the originals that will have the lock bran
d on them, and ask your key cutter for original brand blanks from which to cut your new keys. Doing this yourself, will save the cost of calling me out to fix a non-existent problem. If all keys experience problems with the door open, or the problem persists when the door is closed, then by all means, call your local locksmith.
In other news, smart locks for wooden doors that are insurance standard are coming soon. If you want more information on this brilliant new product, please call or email using the in
formation on my contacts page.
A reminder that many elderly people do not have access to relevant information. If you know
someone without internet access, please check their locks for the British standard kite marks. If theydon’t have these marks, there is a strong likelihood that these people are not covered by the insurance they are paying for. Please give them the number of a local locksmith who will do a free security check (if he is worth anything) and give a no hassle, no obligation quote. And while UPVCdoors do not currently need a kite mark, cylinder snapping is on the rise and entirely preventable with the correct kite marked, anti-snap cylinders. I have tested ones you can buy in DIY shops and they are not as good as ones your local locksmith can provide.
If you require any more information about the topics raised in this or any of my other blogs, then please contact through any of the ways shown on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading.

admin April 9, 2018

UPVC door problems /

Multi-point lock problems

Lock maintenance




In previous blogs I have mentioned the importance of regular lock maintenance. This has been highlighted recently, as I seem to be going through a series of cases where doors with multi-point locking systems seem to be causing problems. This is especially true when the doors have shoot bolts at the top and bottom of the doors.

The bolts themselves are never particularly strong, so if the system is engaged without the door being properly closed first, it is very easy to push these bolts out of shape, which then causes them to wear as they do not fit properly into the holes in the frame. I do see this happening a lot with French doors. UPVC doors are usually easier to correct as there are often adjustments that can be made, but wooden doors that warp, expand and contract with the weather, can be very tricky.

If your door handles are hard to raise, or you need to hold them up to turn the key, then there is likely to be a problem. Stand back and look to see if the doors are straight and even. Check they fit into the frame properly. Look for signs of wear caused by bolts scraping woodwork. If there are signs of damage, call your local locksmith while there is a chance the problem can be rectified.

Should you have any questions regarding this or any other issues mentioned in my blogs, please get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin May 29, 2016

double glazed door problems / Double Glazed Wooden Doors / multi-point locking mechanisms /

Different locks explained Part 4

Having looked at the locking barrels for double glazed doors in my previous blog, this blog is dedicated to the actual locking mechanisms themselves. There are several different ways in which they work.

The first and most basic is called a roller;

A C Locksmiths










When the door closes and you lift the handles, it simply rolls into position behind a keep that sits on your door frame and looks like this.
Roller














Very few doors only have rollers on their own nowadays as they are incredibly easy to bypass. Their main purpose is to hold the door a bit tighter when closed to stop draughts and they might be the only option on small doors. They are harder to bypass on smaller doors. Without giving the reader tips on how to break into a home, I can only suggest that if you have a double glazed door and it only has these rollers holding it in place, you might want to seek advice from your local locksmith to see if alternatives are available.

Over time, these rollers can shift a little in position, making the door difficult to lock and unlock. You can see from this next image that the correct sized allen key (hex key) can be inserted to rotate the roller. A quarter turn should be tried before attempting to lock the door again and if that does not work, then a further quarter turn and so on until you have established the problem is not with the roller or the problem is fixed.
Different locks explained
If this does not rectify the problem, it might mean the door has dropped a little and simply moving the keep up or down a few millimetres might do the job, but at this point, I would suggest calling your local locksmith as there could be more serious problems to contend with.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………

A step up from the roller is the mushroom;
Mushroom mechanism

It is more secure than the roller because it slides into a slotted keep where it holds tight. There is nothing to adjust on these mushrooms, so if it causes trouble, and the door cannot be adjusted, the only option is to move the keep accordingly.
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Next we have hooks and bolts that come out of the mechanism like this:
Door mechanisms














The hooks and bolts themselves do not adjust, but again if the door is out of position, there are adjustments that can be made, this time to the keeps, that look something like this.
Double glazed door lock mechanisms
You can see from the picture that an allen key will allow you to adjust this keep. Some only allow backwards and forwards movement, so again, if you are unsure, please call your local locksmith.






Hopefully, you will never have to see behind the scenes of one of these mechanisms, so here is what goes on in the hook case itself.
Door mechanisms
You can see this one has a hook and bolt. These parts do not often go wrong by themselves, but when they do, the door is extremely difficult to open without damage to either the door itself or the door frame. Therefore basic maintenance is vital and any signs of stiffness when lifting the handles should be dealt with by a professional.




We can now take a look at the gearbox, or centre case, where all main action takes place. There are many brands of these each with differing sizes and shapes within the brand, so this picture is just one example;
Different locks














This example is called a double spindle and can be set up in two ways. The standard way is to have both handles operating through this hole.
Door mechanisms














In this case, the door will only be secure when the handles are lifted and the key is turned. However you can have handles where the inside handle operates through the top hole, but the outer handle is slightly lower and goes through this hole
Door keeps





In this case, everything operates exactly the same, but the lower hole does not allow the latch to pull back, meaning that you need the key to get back in. of course, if you are going further than the end of the garden, you should engage the locking mechanism completely as normal, but with this configuration, the door is at least technically secure.


These next two pictures show the hole that the locking barrel slides through and the barrel in place.
Differents locks part 4More locks













This is the simplest part of the lock. Everything inside above that, however is a minefield of cogs, levers and other moving parts. Please don’t expect your locksmith to be able to open these up and replace inner parts as with so many products around, knowledge of every one would be amazing and the locksmith would need an extra trailer to carry the spares, which would only be second hand as our suppliers do not provide anything other than complete products.

The centre keep for this part, looks something like this.
Locking mechanisms
And again, we can adjust certain parts like the latch keep on this one. Loosening these screws, allows the keep to move forwards and backwards.
Locks
I have come across many problems where simply adjusting this part, which may have moved when someone slammed the door, has rectified the situation. Quite often, the locking mechanism will not operate if the latch is still being pushed in, which it can if this part is in the wrong position.
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Now, in this blog, I have mentioned doors dropping, which they often do. A sudden gust of wind, stroppy teens slamming, or even direct sunlight warping can all affect how the door sits in the frame.
Most modern upvc doors have hinges that are adjustable. If you have a door with hinges like this;
UPVC doors
Then there is a good chance the door can be adjusted. The picture shows the one type of hinge that can be a little awkward because you have to prize it apart gently but firmly to get at the adjuster inside. Most actually have a plastic plug easily visible, which when removed, allow access to another allen key adjuster inside. If you are in any doubt, call your local locksmith. But if you feel like taking the job on yourself, half a turn of the adjuster should be all you move before trying to lock the door again. That should be enough to tell you if the door is easier or harder to lock. If harder, then you need to turn the opposite way. Remember, there are anything from two to four hinges that may be adjusted, so this is not an easy job.

Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to contact me through any of the methods on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading

admin February 3, 2016

Different locks explained / Lock mechanisms /

Double Glazed Doors & Heat


The heat is on!

Door 4



There have been some very hot days recently, and the direct sunlight on many UPVC doors is keeping me busy. I have already mentioned in previous blogs that the sun has an effect on these doors, warping them and causing problems. If this sounds like a problem you are having, do not force the door handles up or down as this could break the internal mechanism.

If you can use another door, do so for the rest of the day. One customer of mine thought his door was completely stuck in the morning when the sun was shining straight on it. I was busy all day and could not get to him until the evening, at which point the door had cooled and was working fine again. So if you can, wait until the door has had some shade, or evening has come around, and then try the door again – it may save you a locksmith fee.

If your door is still causing problems when it cools down, call your local locksmith before putting too much pressure on the handles. Usually your locksmith can rectify the problem by adjusting the door hinges, or other parts of the door to make it all operational again.

Please remember that this problem can re-occur, though and you may need to call your locksmith out again, especially if it gets really hot.

If you have any questions regarding the information above, please use any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading

admin July 14, 2015

Double Glazed Doors in the Heat / UPVC door repair /

Door Maintenance

Now the rains and winds have more than made themselves known, it is time to make sure your doors and locks will last as long as intended.

Wooden doors will now soak up the damp and you may find you either have to push against the door to lock it, or that the latch is not engaging properly. If your door is hard to lock then extra pressure is being applied to parts of the working mechanisms which will eventually result in breakages. On a mortice or “Chubb” type lock, small broken parts causing jambs can be a real problem even for a locksmith as the usual methods of opening will not work. It might mean a big hole in your door where he/she has to drill. On the frame of your door is a “keep” for the latch and bolt to go into. Re-positioning this will normally alleviate the problem. Putting a weather strip on a door frame can also cause this same problem.

A spray lubricant into the lock will also be a help in getting things working and lasting longer. Spray everywhere you can get to inside a mortice lock, and at least into the key hole of a “Yale” type lock. You should also check the wood for rot and give it a good clean up. Plane off anywhere the door sticks to the frame and give it that re-coat of paint or varnish you have been putting off for years.

If you have a upvc door it may also be problematic as the weather changes. Doors that get a lot of weather exposure, or are nearer the coast are at particular risk. Again, spraying lubricant into every moving part will help, including pulling the latch back to make enough of a gap to get inside the main working parts. The more adventurous may want to take the handles off to expose more areas to get at. Remember to make sure the screw heads are on the inside of the door when putting the handles back on, though. If the levers are still hard to engage or the key is still difficult to turn, check for parts that may be adjustable, either by screwdriver or allen key. Often only a small amount of adjustment makes a big difference, so if you are unsure, call a locksmith. A small labour charge now could save you a lot in broken part replacements later.

If your door has up and down shoot bolts, make sure the hole for the bottom shoot bolt is cleaned out regularly as build up here puts stress on the system leading to breakages. I have found that small children are very good at finding these holes over the summer and filling them with stones, etc. So keep an eye on them.

Composite doors (fake wood) are often tighter fitting than upcv doors and not as easily adjustable so if these even start to feel stiff in any way, call your local locksmith to make adjustments before they go expensively wrong.

Aluminium doors seem to be the least effected by the weather, but are often old. Some are extremely difficult to change the locks on without taking the door to pieces or are of a design that the parts are just not available for any more. If you have an aluminium door, it is essential that you keep the door clean and the lock well lubricated. Be prepared for the worst case scenario, in that you may need a complete door replacement if the lock fails.

Sliding doors also need a lot of attention. Make sure the runners are cleaned out regularly, especially with older doors and those exposed to rain. Lubricate the locking mechanism. Check for damage. Again, if you have an aluminium sliding door and it goes wrong, the lock may not be accessible without taking the door apart and a double glazing repair company might be a better choice than a locksmith and a new door may be required.

If you would like any further information, please use our contacts page. AC Locksmiths will not charge you to come and look at your problem. We only charge if we carry out work for you.

Thanks for reading.

 

admin January 4, 2014

UPVC doors /

Older UPVC doors.

With the weather warming up, we are noticing an up turn in upvc doors that are in need of adjustment. French doors that have been shut over the winter are being opened again, and the owners are finding that the handles are stiff to operate. A relatively easy problem to fix as long as it is dealt with straight away, but expensive if the handles are forced and the mechanism breaks. At AC Locksmiths we would much rather do the adjustments than see money wasted further down the line and we charge nothing to have a look for you. We only charge if we have to do any work.

The other thing we have noticed is that many upvc doors are still of the old type that have rollers as the multi-point locking mechanism. Without going into details, these are extremely easy for burglars to gain entry through and should be upgraded to incorporate hook and shoot bolts where possible. Most people think this requires a whole new door, but in most cases, it is just a new mechanism that is required to increase your security.

While Norfolk is statistically low for reported burglaries, we have attended a fair number of cases in the North Norfolk area. For further information, please do not hesitate to get in contact via the contacts page. We do cover locks for the whole of Norfolk with particular focus on the Holt, Sheringham, Cromer, North Walsham and Fakenham towns along with the local villages.

admin May 5, 2013

AC Locksmiths / Fakenham / Holt / North Walsham / Sheringham / UPVC doors /

UPVC Doors

Here is a reminder that upvc doors should be oiled regularly and checked out by a locksmith if the handles are getting hard to engage. We have just completed a job where the key would not turn in the lock. The customer said that the handles had been a problem for the best part of a year!. Had this been looked at when the problem first started then the customer would only have incurred a labour charge to re-align the door. But by leaving it, eventually something was bound to break and indeed this did happen, leaving the customer with not only a cost in labour, but also the added cost of expensive inner workings as well.

So, if your handles are stiff, get them looked at before it becomes a major problem. High use doors such as business premises and French doors seem to be the most common to drop, but often when doors are caught in the wind or been banged shut for any other reason, it can cause the door to drop, so as soon as you notice any stiffness when pushing the handles up, it is best to call the locksmiths as soon as possible. In most cases, the handles should be as easy to lift when the door is closed as they are when it is open.

admin April 15, 2013

UPVC doors /