Multipoint Lock Repair
Andy, your local Dorset locksmith
Handle won't lift, key won't turn or the door is stuck shut? That's usually the multipoint lock or its gearbox, and I can usually repair it without replacing the door.
What fails on a multipoint lock
- The gearbox is the centre case that the handle and the key drive. It's the part that fails most, and on most locks I can change it on its own.
- If the hooks, bolts or rollers along the door edge are worn, I fit a matching replacement mechanism.
- Door stuck shut? Leave the handle alone. I open the door first, then repair the lock.
- Tell me what the handle and the key are doing when you call, so I bring the right parts.
How the price works
I’ll tell you the price before I touch anything, and you pay when the job’s done. It doesn’t change once we’ve agreed it. Labour starts from £70 and there is no VAT to add. See my prices
Call 01202 144 473Don’t just take my word for it
reviews
9.94/10(124 reviews)
Recent reviews from Checkatrade, newest first.
Hi, I’m Andy
I’ve been running my own businesses for over 12 years now.
I started NOPAS here in Poole as a locksmith business helping with lockouts, lock changes, uPVC and burglary repairs and smart locks, for homes and landlords.
I’m a qualified locksmith, I hold the NCFE Advanced Certificate in Locksmithing (Level 4). When you call, you get me or one of my own engineers, never an agency stranger turning up unsure of the price. Between my team we’ve four decades in the trade, every one of us is DBS checked, and I’m rated 9.94/10 on Checkatrade. Go and read the reviews before you ring me.
Common questions
Can a multipoint lock be repaired without replacing the door?+
Yes, nearly always. The lock is a separate part from the door, so I change the gearbox or the mechanism and the door stays.
My door is stuck shut and the handle won't move, can you open it?+
Yes. That's usually a gearbox that has failed in the locked position. I open the door, doing as little damage as I can, then fit the new part so it locks again.
Is it the multipoint lock or the cylinder?+
If the key won't go in or won't turn at all, it's often the cylinder. If the handle is floppy, stiff or won't lift, or the hooks don't come out, it's the mechanism. Tell me what it's doing when you call and I can usually say which.
Will you have the gearbox for my door with you?+
I carry the common gearboxes in the van. If yours is an unusual one, I'll tell you what it needs before I start.
Need me now?
Give me a ring and tell me what’s happened, it’s the quickest way to get me to you. Can’t talk? Leave your number and I’ll call you straight back.
Call 01202 144 473Or email andrew@nopas.co.uk
Ask Andy to call you back
What a multipoint lock is
A multipoint lock is one long mechanism set into the edge of the door. Lift the handle and it locks the door at several points at once, with hooks, bolts or rollers that go into keeps in the frame. Nearly every uPVC and composite door has one, and so do a lot of newer timber and aluminium doors.
The cylinder you put the key in is a separate part. It only tells the mechanism to lock or unlock. That matters, because when the door stops locking, the fault is usually in the mechanism and not in the cylinder.
The signs it's failing
These are the faults people ring me about:
- The handle lifts, but the key won't turn to lock the door.
- The handle has gone floppy, or spins without doing anything.
- You have to lift the handle hard, or lean on the door, to get it to lock.
- The door is locked shut and the handle won't go down.
- The key turns, but the door stays locked.
Gearbox or the whole lock
The gearbox is the centre case behind the handle, and it does most of the work, so it's the part that wears out first. On most locks it comes out on its own and a new one goes in, and the rest of the mechanism stays where it is.
Sometimes the whole strip has to be changed: the hooks or bolts are worn or bent, or the gearbox for that lock can't be had on its own. I measure what's in the door and fit a mechanism that matches, so the handles and the keeps in the frame still line up.
Don't wait for it to jam
A multipoint lock nearly always gives a warning: the handle gets stiffer, or the key needs a wiggle. If you catch it then, the door still opens and the repair is simple. Left alone, it tends to fail completely, often with the door locked shut, and then the door has to be opened before the lock can be repaired.
Need a hand with this?
Call 01202 144 473