Why do you need a Locksmith Lincoln?

Are you locked out of your property? Do you need a lock repair or even a lock change? Whatever the reason is for searching for a Locksmith Lincoln, McCallum Locksmiths Ltd is the locksmith company you need to ring on 07789997214.

There are plenty of locksmiths operating in the Lincoln area; some are small, independent companies that do not charge VAT. Then other larger companies operate on a national scale and cost significantly more. The picture below is a great example.

However, McCallum locksmiths are the only locksmith company where the owner is Ministry of Defence vetted to Top Secret — thus making the owner Robin, the most trusted tradesperson in Lincolnshire.

So, back to my first question, why do you need a Locksmith Lincoln? To help answer this, I will list the Locksmith Service that I offer. One of these services will answer the question for your particular need.

Locksmith Services:

Have you currently locked yourself out of your house/flat or commercial building?

Being locked out is a common issue.  I will always use some non-destructive method of entries first as this minimises the cost. There are the odd occasions where the lock (but not the door) needs to be tampered or manipulated with to get the lock to open.

Sometimes, people get locked out of their homes or flats because they have left the keys indoors and then shut the door. Then there are others where the lock has failed or broken. Most locks are designed to fail safe, keeping your property secure. Which sounds great until it breaks at 2 am.

Your door will not lock or open even if you have the key.

So, you might need a door lock repair. However, there are very few locks that are worth repairing. The exception to this is vintage or antique locks that you may find on churches or listed buildings.

uPVC Doors

There are two common problems with uPVC doors, where they will not lock.

Alignment

The first problem is where you can not fully lift the handle to turn the key.  You can not raise the handle because the door has moved and is out of alignment. This is rectified by adjusting the hinges.

Gearbox Failure

The second problem could be with the uPVC gearbox/centre case. The gearbox sits inside the door, and the handles and euro cylinder run through it. Sometimes you can not lift the handle to engage the locking mechanism. The reason for this is because the spindle is slipping in the spindle drive. This due to a crack in the spindle drive.

Another issue with gearbox failure is when the gearbox seizes. It usually seizes because something mechanical has broken. Gearboxes are designed to fail safe. So when they do break, they will remain locked.

The picture below shows a gearbox that has split at the rear because it had to be forced open.

Wobbly uPVC Handles

Loose uPVC handles are sometimes the start of an issue. That is why you need to change them as soon as possible. If you do not, it will lead to further problems down the road.

Wooden Doors.

With wooden doors, sadly sometimes parts fail like in this British Standard night latch pictured below.

Lock Repairs – Replacement.

Most lock repairs are not financially worth it. So, replacing it would often be the cheaper option.  However, if a lock has seized then sometimes certain parts will need oiling, like this bolt, from the top of a multi-locking point system.

Lock Change.

There are many reasons why you should change your locks.

For wooden doors,

If your locks are more than 11 years old, then they do the meet current the British Standard dated 2007. If they do not meet this standard, then you are not complying with your Home Contents Insurance requirements. By not adhering to your insurance requirements could lead to a reduced payment if a burglar breaks into your property.

So, if you have a wooden door then you must have a British Standard 5 Lever mortice deadlock. In some areas in the UK, insurance companies will insist on a British Standard night latch. Both are pictured below.

For uPVC doors.

Your Home Content Insurance policy will only insist on a multi-locking point system. When you lift the handle, it will engage 3 or more hooks or deadbolts from the side of the door. Sadly, this is a false sense of security as the multi-locking point system is only as strong as the weakest part.

The weakest part is the euro cylinder (this is the part you put the key into). If you do not have a British Standard kite mark with three stars stamped on it, then you are not as secure as you should be. Why? Cheap euro cylinders are vulnerable to a form of attack called Euro Cylinder Snapping. Please see the picture below.

To prevent this from happening to your property, you need to have a high-security lock. A high-security lock must have the British Kitemark and three stars stamped on it, like the one pictured below.

Security Advice.

Please feel free to get in contact if you require any security/lock advice. If you fancy a good read, then my 10 Top Security Tips for Your Home is an excellent resource tool.

McCallum Locksmiths Contact Information

So whatever the reason is for needing a locksmith Lincoln, McCallum Locksmiths is the company for you. You can contact me on 07789997214, and the phone is monitored by me 24/7. Or you can email me on info@mccallumlocksmiths.co.uk. If you are unsure about your security for your property, then please just ring and I will very happily spend time discussing various options with you.