Do uPVC doors expand in the heat?

“Summer in the city where the air is still”, sang Aztec Camera on my radio the other day and I think we can learn a lot from those words, taken from the opening lines of Somewhere in My Heart. They really resonate with me on this May evening as I rush through the streets, being battered by the wind-driven rain, arrive home, turn the heating up and then realise I don’t live in an actual city. But apart from that, yes, those lyrics really resonate.

uPVC doors can swell in heat

But cynicism aside, Summer is on its way. We had a taste of it over Easter, and even if it’s gone awfully February-esque since then, the hot temperatures will soon return in the upcoming months. Whilst this may be excellent news for sun worshippers and those of us who keep a cautious eye on our gas meters whenever we hear the heating fire up, it is not always the best news for our doors. You didn’t read that wrong – when temperatures get too high on the scale, our uPVC or wooden doors can actually swell or shrink due to the variations in temperature.

Swelling and shrinkage can sound exciting or unpleasant in equal measure in relation to a lot of things, but when it comes to doors, we’re definitely talking unpleasant. The changes can lead to you being unable to lock or unlock said door, causing quite the issue when it comes to keeping your property secure in the former case, and quite the issue when it comes to being able to get into your house in the latter scenario.

We can help with uPVC door problems

However, all is not lost. Just a simple phone call and the problem can be sorted, leaving you to enjoy the rest of the summer. As a professional locksmith, I’m on hand to sort out the problem, get you into the house, and leave you with a door that can once again be easily locked, keeping your home secure, and helping you to focus on much more important matters such as where to host the BBQ party if the thunderstorm begins.

As well as the variations caused by heat, the summer can also cause extra wear and tear on your doors. In the summer we’re often in and out of the garden, popping out of the house more often, and using entrances and exits far more regularly than in the winter months when we just want to shut ourselves inside for the duration. Continued use of the hinges and the locks means a greater likelihood of something breaking down. Yet again, a call to me will sort out these problems. I can fix or replace a broken lock or mechanism, more often than not in a single visit, even at the height of summer. Just please warn me beforehand if you’re one of these naturist sunbathers – I get embarrassed easily!

Home security can be compromised during Summer

Let’s not forget the other big danger in summer. No, not the topless men sweating over the fruit and veg aisle in ASDA (although that is very much a risk), but the fact that with all this popping in and out of the house to the garden in the summer, there is a greater risk to your home security. Depending on the layout of your property, you may be lying out in your garden topping up the tan, and be totally unaware of anyone breaking in to the front of your property. Three quarters of all burglaries take place using a main door as a point of entry, and summer is the ideal time for burglars to get in unnoticed.

Home security tips for Summer months

My advice here remains as it has always been – if you’re round the back of the house, treat the front of the house just as you would were you leaving the house unoccupied. That means keeping unattended windows shut, and making sure the front door is locked. You wouldn’t go out for the day and leave your house unlocked (I hope), and the same should apply even if you’re spending the day in the back garden. Add in a bit of music, perhaps a glass of something cold, and it could be several hours before you return inside to discover someone’s been in your house. And that would be enough to immediately turn your nicely wamed blood cold. Don’t make it easy for the burglars!

Should the worst happen and you be subject to a summer-time break-in, you should always make a locksmith your second port of call after the police. They will be able to make the property secure in the short term, and give you tips on how to strengthen your home security in the long run, leaving you to enjoy future summers safe in the knowledge you’ve taken the best precautions you can.

Right, am off to top up my tan now. Well, as soon as this hailstorm ends!