A draughty uPVC door is one of those problems that often gets blamed on the weather, the age of the property, or even the quality of the door itself. But in many cases, the culprit is much simpler: the door has dropped slightly or needs adjusting.

In a recent SkillBuilder video, Roger looks at a viewer’s troublesome uPVC door that wasn’t pulling in tightly at the top or bottom, leaving noticeable gaps and allowing cold air to creep inside. At first glance, it looked like a faulty frame, but as with many building problems, the answer isn’t always where you first expect to find it.

The first step is to stand back and look at the whole door rather than focusing on the obvious gap. A common mistake is sending close-up photos of the draught without showing the rest of the door. To diagnose the problem properly, you need to see the complete door set, particularly the hinge side.

The hinge side tells a story. If the gaps around the door aren’t even, or one hinge appears to be pulling tighter than another, there’s a good chance the door simply needs adjusting rather than replacing. Over time, uPVC doors naturally move through constant use, changes in temperature and the weight of the glazed unit. Even a well-installed door can gradually fall out of alignment.

How to Adjust a uPVC Door Before Calling a Repair Specialist

The good news is that many modern uPVC doors are designed with adjustment in mind. Most hinges include adjustment points that can be altered using nothing more complicated than an Allen key. Small adjustments can pull the door closer to the frame, improve the seal, remove draughts and make the locking mechanism work smoothly again.

Of course, it’s worth approaching any adjustments carefully. Small movements can make a big difference, and making several changes at once can leave you unsure which adjustment has solved—or created—the problem. If you’re comfortable with basic DIY, it’s a job that’s well within reach. If not, it’s often money well spent to call in a specialist.

This is where a double-glazing repair specialist, often known as a “window doctor”, comes into their own. These professionals spend their days dealing with dropped doors, worn hinges, locks that won’t engage, misted double-glazed units, draughts and windows that refuse to shut properly. What can seem like a major issue to a homeowner is often a straightforward adjustment for someone with the right experience.

In some cases, however, the problem goes beyond the hinges. If the door frame itself has twisted or moved, simple adjustments won’t be enough. The frame may need to be loosened, repositioned, packed correctly, fixed back into place and resealed. It’s a bigger job, but still far less disruptive than replacing the entire door.

It’s also worth remembering that a properly installed uPVC door should have been checked before the installer left the property. The door should close evenly, lock smoothly and compress the seals consistently all the way around. If it doesn’t, something hasn’t been set up correctly or has moved since installation.

The biggest lesson is not to assume the worst. A door that’s letting in cold air doesn’t necessarily need replacing. Often, the solution is a careful inspection, a few simple adjustments and an understanding of how the door is designed to work.

Before spending hundreds on a new door, take a closer look. Sometimes, all it takes is an Allen key—and knowing where to use it.