A customer in Walton-on-Thames got in touch because a window would no longer lock and the handle made a grinding noise whenever it was operated.
That symptom strongly suggested a failed locking mechanism, so I quoted for replacement before attending.
Once on site, I removed the faulty mechanism and it virtually fell apart in my hands.
The failure seemed premature for a relatively new part, so I checked the window rather than simply fitting another mechanism and leaving the underlying cause untouched.
The sash was not sitting plumb and the locking mechanism had been rubbing against the keeps. That extra resistance had been loading the mechanism every time the handle was used and was the likely reason it had failed early.
The hinges themselves were still serviceable, so they did not need replacing.
I fitted a new locking mechanism and made the necessary adjustments so the locking points engaged cleanly with the keeps.
After testing, the handle and mechanism were operating smoothly again without the resistance that had damaged the previous part.
