Welcome to the Doors Clinic

My doors won't close/lock properly

If you're having trouble closing or locking your door properly, there could be a few possible causes for this. While it's important to make sure your door is secure, there are a few things you can try to ensure it's working as it should be.

If you've noticed your door isn't locking as it should, this may be due to a problem with the locking mechanism, or the handle itself. If it isn't closing correctly, you might notice that the hinges or the frame of your door has been damaged, causing an obstruction that means your door can't close correctly.

A door that doesn't close correctly

The first thing to do is have a look around the perimeter of your door, as well as at the various points that it connects with the frame. Most Anglian doors will have multiple locks around the frame, so make sure there's nothing obstructing each bolt.

You'll also need to check the drainage holes for blockages, and remove any that you come across. Once you've checked the door and frame, make sure you have a look underneath the door. There could be something stuck, such as part of a door mat, at the bottom edge of the door, stopping it from closing.

During particularly cold or particularly hot months, your uPVC door may have contracted or expanded slightly, causing it to not close properly. 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. In cold weather, do the same with a warm, damp cloth. Let your door dry for about ten minutes, and repeat if necessary.

If it's the lock that's the problem

If you're having trouble locking your door, you may need to have a look at part of the door that's referred to as the 'snib'. On the long edge of your door, about level with the handle, you should see a small plastic switch that should be pushed down. If it's not in this position, lift the handle and push it down.

If you're still unsure as to what may be stopping your door working correctly, simply get in touch with us at Anglian. We'll be happy to send out an engineer to help resolve the problem. At Anglian, our doors are made to measure for a perfect fit. If you feel your door has been poorly fitted it may be that your door supplier did not comply with industry standards. At Anglian, every door meets or exceeds all industry standards. For more information on Anglian doors, or to answer other common questions, take a look at our doors FAQs page.