Coded door lock

J_B

We run a holiday rental business on the Welsh coast.

The front entrance has a communal hallway with coded wall mounted door locking system. From the hallway you enter the lift, also with coded access.

The back door is a simple (?) half glazed UPVC one with a coded lock.

It has worked wonderfully well for two years but sadly, last year two of the locks failed - type in the number, but either it wouldn't open or worse still, it would open without the code. Both locks were replaced under warranty.

Now, this year, one of the locks has failed again and won't open.

The supplier is at a loss as to what to do as he thinks that the sea air is messing with the mechanisms somehow.

He has commented thus:-

Unfortunately Borg don't make a marine grade handle that will fit the upvc system,

an internal surface mounted lock would be ideal but i don't know if they exist?

There are electronic key cylinders now but i don't think they will last in that environment.

I may have to refund the door cost to your developer so he can pursue other options.

Any suggestions?

Rosa_Damascena

J_B said:

We run a holiday rental business on the Welsh coast.

The front entrance has a communal hallway with coded wall mounted door locking system. From the hallway you enter the lift, also with coded access.

The back door is a simple (?) half glazed UPVC one with a coded lock.

It has worked wonderfully well for two years but sadly, last year two of the locks failed - type in the number, but either it wouldn't open or worse still, it would open without the code. Both locks were replaced under warranty.

Now, this year, one of the locks has failed again and won't open.

The supplier is at a loss as to what to do as he thinks that the sea air is messing with the mechanisms somehow.

He has commented thus:-

Unfortunately Borg don't make a marine grade handle that will fit the upvc system,

an internal surface mounted lock would be ideal but i don't know if they exist?

There are electronic key cylinders now but i don't think they will last in that environment.

I may have to refund the door cost to your developer so he can pursue other options.

Any suggestions?

Did the company have a clear warning on the merchandise before they sold it to you? I think you might be better of sourcing a new door and taking the offer of a refund.

I was looking at the Timpson sign brochure just this lunchtime and it is stated that the brass and aluminium fittings that are not suitable for coastal areas as the sea air will tarnish them faster than normal. (I then debated with myself whether I was close enough to the sea to be affected  ).

Eta: seems it is a well-known enough phenomenon to have a map dedicated to it!

daivid

Is the property very close to the sea? Are the locks being coated in sea spray or is it just wet salty air around? If the former some kind of physical barrier to block th eworst of the spray would be my suggestion, for the latter I'm not convinced a coded entry is inherently doomed, I grew up on the coast and plenty of places (even some on the seafront) had keypad entry systems. I've know keypad systems to fail too, but at over 50 miles from the sea and on an internal doors. If you put photos or links to the specific locks someone may be able to give more relevant advice.

J_B

Rosa_Damascena said:

Did the company have a clear warning on the merchandise before they sold it to you? I think you might be better of sourcing a new door and taking the offer of a refund.

A difficult first question - we decided what we needed and the developer and the window contractor supplied it.

Sourcing a new door from who/where?

daivid said:

Is the property very close to the sea? Are the locks being coated in sea spray or is it just wet salty air around? If the former some kind of physical barrier to block the worst of the spray would be my suggestion, for the latter I'm not convinced a coded entry is inherently doomed, I grew up on the coast and plenty of places (even some on the seafront) had keypad entry systems. I've know keypad systems to fail too, but at over 50 miles from the sea and on an internal doors. If you put photos or links to the specific locks someone may be able to give more relevant advice.

Property is 100m from the sea. It's the back door, so not directly coated, just salty air methinks.

I *think* what we have is this

https://www.locksonline.co.uk/UPVC-Mechanical-Combination-Lock/Borg-6100-Mechanical-Keyless-UPVC-Lock.html

daivid

If you can take it appart to view the mechanism you may get some clues. If the failure is due to salty air I would expect to see salt deposits and/or corrosion. If this is the problem then greasing with a suitable product would protect the workings or if possible switch to a cheaper option (if they are available) and accept you may need to replace annually.

J_B

BUMP

Just clutching at straws, sorry

Anyone else have any bright ideas??? 😁