Conservatory Door Problem.

[keenonhist]

We have a small conservatory which serves as a green house,it`s attatched to the back of the house. The problem is that I/we can no longer lock the door.The door is doubled glazed and has three hinges.Each hinge has access points to the adjustment screw.This allows the door to move backward or forward. I`ve been trying for a day or so to get the door to engage with the lock but to no avail. I`ve been using a 5mm alan key on the hinges.So if there is any one out there with a tip or two please let me know.Many thanks.
Keenonhist

[-Talbot-]

Not much to go , keenonhist.

Does the door shut ok?

[TWR]

As you open the door look at the lock mechanism, at the screws are they loose? if one is out of alignment it will not lock.

[The Builder]

Once the door is all squared up in the frame, have a look at the keep (the bit that the latch hooks up with when closed.) They are usually moveable to receive the latch snib properly.

[alavahalf]

Quite a common problem .. more common in the summer.
UPVC expands in the summer due to the heat. When it expands the bolt or latch may drop out of alignment, only by a millimetre, but this could be enough to stop the lock from engaging.
To check this fault my first thought would be ..
Open the door and insert the key in the lock ..
If you normally raise the lever to lock the door .. do that now.
If the mushrooms, hooks and bolts on the edge of the door all rise easily, then your locking mechanism is okay.
That means that the fault lies in the alignment of the door with the frame.
As a rule this is altered by the hinges.
Without seeing your door my guess is you would adjust the top hinge initially by un-screwing (yes anti -clockwise) the 5mm hexagon screw.
It's difficult to explain but the top of the door needs to be drawn back towards the top of the frame .. ( unscrewing draws it back)
If this eases the door and the lock engages do the same with the middle hinge, only not as much.
Keep checking the lock to see if it becomes easier as you unscrew the adjusting bolt.

One more tip is get some Vaseline on your finger and wipe it around all the locking points on the edge of the door (bolt ,hooks and mushrooms), this will ease their engagement with their counterparts on the door frame.
They too will benefit from a smear.

[-Talbot-]

If the door has dropped it needs re- toe & heeling.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJQZXylJNRs

[keenonhist]

Very many thanks who answerd my query.
There are some good tips amongst them. I shall be away and try them out.
Again many thanks.
Keenonhist.