Breakage of a plastic door to a balcony is one of the most common situations you may encounter. The plastic door jams and it is impossible to open it without knowing some secrets. There are a large number of reasons why a plastic door to a balcony may not open. In order to avoid unpleasant situations, you should consider each possible problem in detail.
Plastic door jamming is a common problem.
The plastic door at the top is jammed. Options for “release” from a balcony blocked from the inside
If the plastic door to the balcony is jammed, where there is at least a minimum set of tools (it wouldn’t hurt to keep it there just in case), then the situation can be considered controlled. A simple screwdriver is enough to gently press out the lock latch, lightly pressing the fittings. If everything is done correctly, the door leaf will open a little and you will be able to stick your hand in for the final opening.
Instead of a screwdriver, a spatula, hacksaw or knife are suitable for these purposes. The main thing is to try, using a sharp object, to lift the bead that secures the double-glazed windows on each side of the door, disconnecting it from the central part to the edges. The same manipulations need to be done from above and below, and then try to remove the glazing bead by pulling it in your direction, thus freeing the glass unit.
An important point: the weight of a double-glazed window in a balcony door design can exceed 30 kg, so you should be extremely careful when holding it after all the manipulations.
After the glass unit is removed, unhindered access to the door handle from the inside will open. Even if the lock does not work and the door cannot be opened, you can get inside through the window opening by continuing to repair the door in a warm room.
Attention! Do not try to knock out the glass unit. The outer glass is quite thick and will most likely withstand the onslaught. Only a heavy metal object can cope with glass with a thickness of 4 mm or more. Glass shards can cause injury, and replacing double-glazed windows will require investment.
Why doors jam: main reasons
First, let's figure out why the balcony door of a balcony or loggia, which was working properly before, does not open. There may be several reasons. One of them is careless handling. Sudden movements on a plastic balcony door can lead to the opposite effect - the latch mechanism will not work correctly and the exit will be blocked.
Malfunctions of the components can also affect the door malfunction. So, for example, the reason is:
- in malfunctions of the lock mechanism when opening the door in the “ventilation” mode;
- the handle is broken;
- in a distorted structure;
- in freezing of the system due to condensate formed between the box and the seal.
The listed faults are not critical. As soon as you can determine the reason for the jamming of the blade, you should try to gently return it to the “open” position. It is important at such moments to remain patient and not panic, trying to break the product. A broken balcony door will add hassle and cost to repair and replacement.
The plastic door is jammed from below. The balcony door stopped opening...
- Help, what to do The balcony door has stopped opening, while the handle is down - everything is closed, I turn the handle 90 degrees, in theory the lock should open and the door should open from the side of the handle, but when turning the lock does not open, and on the opposite side a gap of about 5mm is formed , if I turn the handle further - 180 degrees from the original position (for ventilation), then the gap on the side of the hinges only increases and everything is fixed. When creating new topics, be sure to indicate the essence of the matter in the title.
Beyond associations, beyond competition...
Corrected by Shimbun (01.12.12 04:41)
Take a pencil to mark on the closed door the overlap of the sash on the frame, then move the handle to the open position and lift the lower corner from the side of the handle, the door should open if there are no breaks in the fittings. When open, look at the overlap (most likely there will be more than a centimeter at the bottom, a few millimeters at the top) and adjust the door. If the door does not open when lifted, then the transmission on the fittings may have broken, then you need to open the upper hinge by knocking the pin down and tilting and lifting the door to remove it from the lower tilt and turn clamp, then see what happened, repair or change the fittings, something like this.
broken transmission of accessories. TS's advice: don't bother worrying about it yourself - call a repairman.
In much wisdom there is much sorrow; and whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow (Eccl. 1:18)
not a fact, if the top hinge comes off, then the corner drive and the scissors are working, then it should tilt back
signature-inscription
if the lower latch breaks, the upper hinge will come off, but if there is a break in the angular gear, then the scissors will not move, but the door will open, but if the lower swing-out latch falls, then it will even get up on the hinge, but it will open fig.
Thanks to everyone who posted. As soon as it gets a little warmer, I’ll think about what to do.
Beyond associations, beyond competition...
It should recline like that, it looks like a latch.
Results
If you find yourself in a difficult situation when a plastic door is jammed, the services of professionals are not always required. Having sensibly assessed the situation and found out the cause, you can cope with the problem on your own. But in order not to urgently solve difficult problems, it is best to avoid malfunctions.
There are very simple preventive actions for this:
When these simple rules are constantly followed, the plastic door will no longer cause trouble. With proper care and respect, this structure can last for many years without requiring any repairs.
Source
The balcony door does not open for ventilation. Common faults
Most often, attention is paid to any deviations in the normal operation of the door when the defects become very noticeable and make operation difficult. In order not to take matters to extreme cases, it is recommended to pay attention to the condition of the seal - the strips around the perimeter of the sash. In a balcony door, a displacement relative to the vertical or horizontal immediately affects the seal - it is deformed and pressed in places where the sash sags. The photo shows the deformation of the material.
- When opening, the balcony door touches the threshold - a consequence of the sagging of the canvas under its own weight. If you ignore the problem, the sash may sag until gaps form between the frame and the leaf. Eliminated by adjusting the door hinges.
- The canvas touches the middle part of the frame - a sign of lateral displacement. As a rule, it is accompanied by poor performance of the fittings.
- Difficult or too free turning of the handle is the simplest problem associated with installing a lock.
- Loose fit - as a result, cold air enters the room. In this case, you should adjust the pressure density of the balcony door.
Adjusting the balcony door when sagging.
To troubleshoot the door structure, you will need a set of hex keys, pliers and screwdrivers. The task is to restore the normal position of the sash, that is, it is necessary to move the leaf to the upper hinge.
- The plastic door opens (not for ventilation).
- There is an upper hinge at the end of the balcony sash. To adjust the vertical position, tighten the top screw. The photo shows the top door hinge.
- Using a 4 mm wrench, turn the screw clockwise 2-3 times. Some models may require a special key - an asterisk.
- The lower loop is covered with a plastic cap. The latter is removed, and the upper screw is turned clockwise with a 4 mm wrench in order to lift the blade.
- If the balcony sash is still sagging, the operation should be repeated.
On
In some cases, the measures taken may not be enough. Then it is recommended to “pull” the door leaf.
- Beads are removed from the top edge of the glass units.
- Plastic spacers are placed between the glass and the profile, only on the upper edge of the product.
The method requires great care. It is not recommended to use it if the product is under warranty.
If all else fails
In cases where the door leaf does not open and all possible options have been tried, it is necessary to remove the door from its hinges. To do this, you need to open the protective PVC lining and carefully remove the structure. Inspect all fasteners and lock to determine the problem.
It should be noted that this procedure is not recommended during the winter period. Also, you should not remove the door if there is a small child in the house and the balcony is open. It is better to invite a specialist for repair work.
If the balcony glass unit jams very often and the handle turns, it is necessary to replace it. Because sooner or later the door will be impossible to open.
Prevention is an important element for long-term operation of the structure.
How to open a plastic entrance door. How to open a door if the lock is jammed?
Since ancient times, humanity has invented many different devices to protect its own property. The most acceptable option was mortise locks for doors. Over time, the design of locking mechanisms has gone through a long stage of modernization, due to which modern locks are characterized by increased strength and a guarantee of security against burglary.
Features of mortise locking devices
The main purpose of using a door lock is to protect any property. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about a car, the gate of a private house or the front door of an apartment. In the event of an unauthorized break-in, a modern locking device must withstand the onslaught of a criminal, thereby preventing illegal entry into someone else's territory.
But there are times when the owners themselves, completely by accident, find themselves in absurd situations while trying to get to their home. The lock may simply jam, which is why you will have to use the help of special services. To understand whether it will be possible to open a broken locking device, it is necessary to determine its type and features.
Cylindrical
The main feature of a cylindrical lock is a small cylinder made in the shape of a cylinder. In order to open this type of locking device, you will have to completely break this very larva. The necessary tools will require a drill or pliers, a screwdriver, and a hammer. Using a drill, the outer part of the lock is drilled out, the remains of the structure are knocked out with a hammer and screwdrivers.
It is worth noting that cross-shaped locks are much easier to open. You need to place softened chewing gum in the keyhole, and use a screwdriver to turn the mechanism, like a key. Several such turns will allow the soft substance to take the shape of a lock, and the door will open.
Suvaldny
Lever-type locking devices are characterized by increased strength and reliability. But, despite these qualities, they can fail in standard work. If this happens, you need to shine a flashlight inside the keyhole. Perhaps one of several plates is jammed in the structure.
To solve this problem you will need something thin, such as a hairpin or knitting needle. The failed plate must be carefully put back in place. Unfortunately, not every person is able to cope with such work, so if necessary, it is best to call a professional master.
Causes and types of problems
In fact, there are many reasons why locking devices can fail. In some cases, the breakdown can be extremely serious, causing the lock to stop working completely.
- Mechanical problems. And not only the locking system, but also the door itself. If a strong load was applied to the door, the lock structure was subject to bending accordingly. It is not always possible to see such changes, but a crooked lock will no longer function correctly.
In addition, the locking system itself may be affected by extraneous factors. For example, if they tried to open the lock.
- Quite rarely, but still there are cases when the door and door frame are installed incorrectly. In this case, the lock may work the first two or three times with a high tension, but after that it will stop opening and closing. The fault lies entirely with the door installers.
- It is extremely rare that locking devices are purchased with a manufacturing defect. Upon visual inspection, the mechanism works, but after installation the key does not turn.
- A lot of families with children live in apartment buildings. Their young age pushes them into petty pranks and hooliganism. Therefore, one day, when you come home, you may find foreign objects in the keyhole.
- When installing a new lock, it is very important not to lose all the original keys. Otherwise, you will have to make duplicates using low-quality material. With constant use, sawdust from grinding the key settles in the locking mechanism, creating debris. If the lock is jammed, then this is the very first cause of the malfunction.
Skew or deformation
When a structure jams, its misalignment is sometimes to blame. A plastic balcony door will not open overnight. The curvature process occurs slowly and can be noticed long before global seizing. The distortion itself occurs due to the weakness of the canopies when they cannot withstand the weight of the door leaf.)
It all starts with deformation of the seal. The door and handle move with a creak. After all, it takes a lot of effort to close the door. An attentive owner notices all this long before a critical incident.
Dealing with the problem is not difficult, you just need to determine in which direction the shift occurred. To do this, outline the closed door with a pencil. Then, with an open structure, the direction of the distortion is determined by the deviation of the lines from the vertical and horizontal.
To eliminate vertical distortion, you need to tighten a special bolt, which is located on the canopy. You can find it at the bottom of the loop. The bolt can be located either on the upper canopy or on the lower (depending on the model). You will need a hex wrench to rotate it. If you turn it clockwise, the sash will lower. When they turn the other way, it rises.
To align on a horizontal plane, you will have to remove the plugs to expose the hinge screw. The same hex key is used to regulate and adjust the door leaf.
When the above actions fail to eliminate the problem, the sash becomes deformed. It can occur due to temperature changes, but only if low-quality raw materials were used to produce the door. Distortion also occurs when the material of the product is damaged. Another culprit in some cases is unscrupulous installation.
Self-repair during deformation is extremely difficult. It's better to contact specialists. They dismantle the door and take it to the workshop. Most likely, partial replacement of parts will be required, and this is easier to do with the help of special machines.
We use improvised means
When opening the sash from the outside, you can use whatever is at hand: a ruler, a metal strip or even a knife. It is important here that the element is sharp and durable. In any case, it is important to prepare for the fact that, despite the reliability of plastic doors, they do not guarantee protection against penetration from the outside, although they provide excellent protection from cold and bad weather.
It is easy to disable the balcony door fittings by using a thin and durable object. If you do not want to damage the structure, it is recommended to additionally use some available means. It is placed between the frame and the glass unit, eliminating any damage to the appearance of the frame
The opening principle is based on the following:
- A ruler or metal strip is placed inside the balcony door so as to engage the latch.
- After this, gently press on it to open the latch.
Even beginners can do this without special training. At the same time, the chances of damaging the door opening mechanism are minimized. However, small scratches may appear at the junction of the door and the door frame. But when you get home, they will seem insignificant to you.
Please note that if there is a lock on the balcony door, which is common, especially on the lower floors, the above methods will not work. There is a method that will help in any case - using a drill. It is used to drill out the locking mechanism. However, in this case, the plastic balcony door will require replacement, which will be expensive.
It is important to understand that the tool you use to try to open the door will damage its expensive profile. If this is important to you, wait for help or look for other methods to solve the problem. However, there is almost always a way to open balcony doors from the outside. Therefore, the answer to the question of what to do if the door slams shut will be a recommendation for finding a suitable tool to help open it.
A few recommendations
In order not to rack your brains about how to open a plastic door without a key if it is jammed, you need to prevent this from happening.
Since the main culprits are the apartment owners themselves, you should follow these simple tips:
- You need to close the doors calmly, without slamming or jerking. The movement of the sash should be smooth. It is also worth protecting the balcony door from possible slams due to a draft. Do not leave it open during strong winds.
- Do not pull the door handle too hard or apply significant force if the door does not open immediately. Children need to be taught that the handle on the door is not a toy; they can’t just twist it in different directions for fun.
- Make sure all elements are clean and don’t forget to lubricate them. Twice a year you need to remove accumulated dirt, lubricate hinges, moving mechanisms of handles and locks. You also need to regularly adjust the operation of the awnings.
To protect the door from ice, condensation and strong temperature fluctuations, it is best to glaze the balcony. It would also be a good idea to install a small box with simple tools on it. You may always need them, because the door jams at the most unexpected moment. Another necessary recommendation is to trust the installation of doors only to companies with a good reputation, experience, on the advice of friends who have already been able to evaluate the quality of services. You should not save too much when choosing accessories. After all, it is the first thing that fails: handles, locks, awnings.
If a plastic door does not work: it is skewed, jammed, the fittings are out of order, any malfunction must be corrected carefully. Otherwise, you can only make the situation worse
Most problems can be solved on your own; you just need to have a set of the simplest construction tools on hand and take your time and act without significant effort.
Opening plastic windows: methods and techniques
Let's say the window is closed, you're outside, and you only have a flathead screwdriver. First you need to find where the latch is. You will need to carefully press out the window sash by pressing on the fittings. If you manage to do everything correctly, the sash will open slightly, you can stick your hand in and turn the handle, opening the window completely.
How to open a plastic window from the street using a ruler?
If you don’t have a screwdriver at hand, but you find a metal ruler, you can use the following scheme: the ruler is placed between the window frame and the glass unit. Then you need to find the latch, try to hook it and pull it down
You need to act carefully so as not to damage the plastic of the window. This material is quite flexible and will allow you to squeeze a ruler where it is required without any problems.
If you do everything correctly, the window will open.
However, it is worth considering that modern windows have a variety of designs, and you need to act in accordance with what design you have installed. The above methods illustrate how to open a plastic window with standard handles. If you have a different design in front of you, these methods may not work.
Is your plastic window jammed? Read our article on what to do if a plastic window does not open.
In order not to worry about your child, place a child lock on a plastic or wooden window.
How to open a plastic window without a handle?
Opening such a structure from the street side on your own is extremely difficult. You can try to use any narrow object if the window is not locked. This method will help protect the structure from damage, and it will continue to function. Opening it may damage the plastic. Almost always mechanical scratches remain on it, less often chips.
Another way to open the structure is drilling. It will damage the frame, since a through hole will appear in it, through which you can insert a narrow object, for example, a wire or a handle, and open the doors with its help.
How to open a double-glazed window without harming it is an important question for the window owner. Not everyone will want to change or repair a Euro-window after they need to enter the room. These methods are the safest for the structure and allow you to maintain its functionality.
The handle on the plastic window is blocked
First you need to determine the reason for its operation and the brand of fittings. The name of the fittings is usually written on the metal elements.
Handle repair will vary depending on the company
If you have AUBI or MACO fittings , then look in the area of the handle for a thin metal locking plate (possibly with a spring) or a key on the end side of the sash. Press this plate tightly against the seal with your finger and turn the handle. In this case, it is necessary that the sash is strictly in a vertical position, since if the sash hangs at an angle (tilted), then the upper tilt-and-turn position lock will also block the rotation of the handle. Just by aligning the window and pressing the plate against the seal, you can easily turn the handle and return it to the open position and close the window (balcony door).
If you have fittings “Roto”, “GU”, “Winkhaus” or something else , then instead of a thin metal plate you will see a metal tongue (thrower) located at an angle relative to the frame.
The handle began to jam or become difficult to turn. The reason for this may be surface contamination and drying out of the lubricant. In this case, you need to lubricate all moving elements, especially the upper corner gears, after first cleaning them from visible dirt and dust.
Now it’s easy to solve any problem!
In the mobile application, we have compiled step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting the most common problems with windows from any manufacturer.
Source
Useful video on the topic
Detailed video guide for troubleshooting balcony doors:
- Adjusting the tilt and turn sash “up and down” will help if the scissors rub against the frame when opening or closing the door.
- Wedging the sash - will help if the sash is sagging and adjusting with screws does not give the desired result;
- What to do if the balcony latch does not hold;
- How to remove scratches on white or laminated PVC profile;
- What to do if the sash does not fit the frame.
How to independently adjust the door to the balcony:
Most problems with a balcony block can be fixed with your own hands, saving on calling a technician. If it was not possible to repair a plastic or other door on the balcony using the methods described, contact a professional. Otherwise, you can only aggravate the breakdown, which will lead to higher repair costs.
Prevention measures
It is much easier to prevent a malfunction than to get into a difficult situation and urgently try to fix it. Preventative measures do not take much time:
- All moving structural elements must be lubricated twice a year.
- Clean the fittings from dust and dirt to prevent foreign objects from getting into the mechanism.
- Turn the door handle smoothly, without jerking.
- Do not open the sash until the handle has been completely turned to the desired position.
- Do not hang bags on the door handle, do not lean your elbows.
- Check the position of the door from time to time and make adjustments if necessary.
If the operating rules are followed and proper care is taken, the plastic balcony door will serve without causing problems.
Preventive actions
As a rule, it is better to avoid faulty door units than to not think about how to fix them later. Therefore, it is recommended to monitor the correct operation of the door throughout its entire service life. This does not require a lot of time or any professional skills.
Basic measures for caring for PVC doors:
If you comply with all the listed operating requirements for metal-plastic blocks, the structure will last long enough without the need for repairs.
Source
We use a screwdriver
It happens that a person goes out onto the balcony, and the door slams shut. There is no one at home, or members of the household do not hear the call for help. In this case, you will have to think about what to do. Try using a screwdriver or other similar tool that can be found on the balcony. This is the so-called folk hacking method. Without using tools, you will not be able to open a door or window.
Finding a screwdriver is easy. It can be stored on the balcony. If it is located on the ground floor, you can go to the store or ask your neighbors for the required tool.
The principle of opening with a screwdriver is simple. Place the sharp end into the slot where the latch mechanism that holds the sash in place is approximately located. Gently press on the free end until a gap appears. This simple method will help you open the latch and get inside. However, it is recommended to act carefully if you do not want to break the mechanism.