What I do on a UPVC multipoint failure
A UPVC lockout is usually not a lock problem, it’s a gearbox problem. The difference matters because opening the door is the easy part; getting the door to lock again afterwards is where the real work is.
On arrival, the first thing I’ll do is diagnose the symptom:
- Handle lifts but door won’t lock, then won’t open: the gearbox’s locking cam has sheared. I’ll gain entry by releasing the hooks and bolts from inside, then replace the gearbox.
- Key turns but door won’t open: often a snapped spring inside the gearbox, stopping the rotary bolt from retracting. Same approach, release the mechanism, swap the gearbox.
- Door won’t lock at all, handle flops: the drive pin in the gearbox has snapped. Door still opens, but it’s not secure. Replacement gearbox.
- Snapped key in the cylinder of a UPVC door: different fix, that’s a cylinder issue, not a gearbox one. I extract the key and, if the cylinder’s damaged, replace it.
I carry the common multipoint gearboxes in the van: Yale YS170, ERA Saracen, Fuhr, Lockmaster, GU. If yours is an unusual model (some Winkhaus or Avantis variants), I can identify it on-site and order for a same-day or next-day fit. Either way, the diagnostic is free and the quote happens before any work starts.