How to change a pvc door cylinder – a simple guide

There are many reasons that you might want to change a pvc door cylinder, these include; Lost or stolen keys, Moved into a new property or simply because the the cylinder has broken or worn out. One of the main causes of cylinder failure is when a key is left in the cylinder on the inside of the door and someone attempts to unlock the door from the outside, this causes the cam on the cylinder to turn, making it impossible to remove the key.

How to change a pvc door cylinder:

pvc door cylinders are called Euro Cylinders, they come in various sizes and are either oval or standard key hole shaped. It is very important to measure the cylinder accurately. A cylinder that protrudes more than 5mm from the handles is a real security risk as they can be snapped off with comparative ease, allowing a burglar to enter your property within a matter of seconds.

Retaining Screw

Removing the Cylinder:

Locate and remove the cylinder retaining screw or allen key bolt. Insert your key into the cylinder and turn the key until the cylinder slides out.

Tip: Apply light pressure to the other side of the cylinder when turning the key.

Tip: Loosening the handles may make it easier to remove the cylinder.

Install the new cylinder:

Insert the key into the cylinder and align the cam in the centre of the cylinder so that it is not protruding from the body. Insert the cylinder through the handles and secure with the retaining screw.

Tip: After inserting the cylinder, lift the handles to engage the locks then turn the key so that he bolt throws out about half way, by doing this you are certain to be aligned in the correct position for the retaining screw to be inserted.

Measuring the Cylinder:

Measure from the centre of the retaining hole to the end of the cylinder. Both sides of the cylinder should be measured as some cylinders are not evenly spaced. The cylinder lengths increase in size by 5mm increments i.e. 30mm, 35mm 40mm, 45mm, 50mm etc.

Tip: If the existing cylinder protrudes more than 5mm from the handles, mark the cylinder against the flat of the handles with a pencil and measure from the mark to the centre location hole.

Cylinders can be purchased from your local DIY store or Locksmiths. The cylinders vary in price according to the level of security required. If you need to improve your security you could buy a cylinder with Anti Snap, Bump, Pick and restricted key features.

It all depends on the level of security required and how much you are willing to pay to achieve it.

Tip: If you have extra keys cut when you purchase the cylinder, check that they work correctly before relying on them to unlock the door.

How to change a pvc door cylinder

Before rushing out to buy a new door it is advisable to examine the cause of the locking or closing problem. The most common cause of Upvc Door Closing and Locking Problems is misalignment of the door and frame. Misalignment can be caused by a variety of factors, but the two main causes are worn hinges and incorrectly packed door panels or glass.

How to check if your Upvc Door is out of alignment:

Take a look at the mitres on the door and frame, do they line up with each other?

Place a Spirit Level on the top of the door, is the door level?

Measure diagonally from corner to corner and note the difference in the measurements.

Open the door slightly and take a look down the edge of the door on the lock side, is the gap between the frame and the door consistent all the way down or is it smaller at the top than the bottom?

These are all simple ways to check if the door is out of alignment with the frame.

Adjusting the Door on the Hinges:

Most modern doors have “Flag Hinges” that have “up and down” and “in and out” adjustment options. Older doors may have “Butt Hinges” fitted that offer very limited adjustment options.

Adjusting the Flag Hinge:

1. Lateral Adjustment

2. – 3. Height Adjustment or Compression Adjustment

Height adjustment can either be No 2 or No3 depending on the make and model of the hinge.

Remove the plastic plug No1 and insert an Allen Key into the hole, turn the Allen Key until the door starts to pull back towards the hinge side of the frame. Note how many turns you have completed and adjust the middle hinge (if fitted) by the same amount until the door is level with the frame. Keep checking after every adjustment to see if  the door is closing and locking correctly.

If the door still catches on the bottom of the frame or is difficult to lock then you may need to raise the door by removing the plastic cover No 2 or No 3 and adjusting all of the hinges up by the same amount until the door closes and locks correctly. Please ensure that you mark the position of the adjuster until you have determined which one is the height adjustment. This can easily be determined by closing the door and turning adjuster No1 or No2, if the door moves towards you or away from you the adjustment is Compression, If the door moves up or down the adjuster is the height.

Upvc Door Closing and Locking Problems

If the door has been fully adjusted and still does not close or lock correctly there are a couple of things that you may want to try. The first is to adjust the bottom hinge away from the door. This will lift the door on the lock side, but be aware that sending the door out at he bottom will also narrow the gap between the lock and the bottom keepers and any over adjustment may make the lock or door hit the frame or keepers. The second thing you can try is to move the keepers down until they are in line with the Latch, locking Bolts, Hooks and or rollers.

Butt Hinges:

Butt hinges have very little adjustment options. The old type of Butt Hinges have an Allen Key grub screw that holds the hinge pin(s) in position. To adjust these type of hinges, remove the grub screw(s) and turn the hinge pin(s) with an Allen Key to pull the door towards the hinge side of the frame. The hinge may have just one grub screw and pin or may have two.

The newer type of Butt Hinges have cross head adjusters and can be easily adjusted with a screwdriver.

If the door will not line up with the frame after adjustment then it may need to be toe and heeled. I will cover this procedure in my next post; Upvc Door Closing and Locking Problems How to Toe and Heel a Door.

 Upvc Door Closing and Locking Problems?

Contact Glass and Lock Co

There are many reasons that condensation, fog or steam appears within a double glazed unit, these include, incorrect fitting, bad manufacture or simply that the elements such as hot and cold weather have taken their toll on the Double Glazed Unit. Windows that have a lot of sun expose throughout the day are more likely to break down than those that are in a shaded environment.

How Does the Moisture Get in to cause Misted Double Glazing?

When a Double Glazed Unit has “broken down”, “blown”, or “misted” the perimeter seal has failed and allowed air to be sucked into the unit. In sunlight or hot conditions the glass will expand, drawing air into the Double Glazed Unit, when the temperature cools, the glass will contract, expelling the air and leaving some of the moisture inside. Over a period of time the anti-moisture granules (Desicant) within the Units framework will become saturated and stop working, allowing moisture to build up until a misting or fog is apparent.

Can The Misted Double Glazing Unit be Repaired?

There are some companies that claim that they can repair Double Glazed Units by drilling holes into the unit and injecting chemicals through the holes to remove the fog / condensation, the holes are then sealed with plastic valves.

How can this be a permanent solution to the problem? The seal on the double glazed unit is still broken, allowing air to be sucked into the Double Glazed Unit. The Anti-moisture granules within the frame of the Unit have been saturated and destroyed. Any water stains on the inside of the Double Glazed Unit will still be visible. Toughened glass in doors or low level glazing cannot be drilled. The underlying problems are still there!

The only real solution is to replace the Misted Double Glazing Unit.

Here are a few Quotes about Misted Double Glazing From The Martin Lewis Moneysavingexpert Website.

For a Free Quotation to Replace Your Misted Double Glazed Units Contact Glass and Lock Co – Leicester Glaziers

Misted Double Glazing