Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are an essential to your home's security. If they're not functioning properly, it can affect the safety of your family and belongings.
A few simple steps can fix issues with your patio door lock and keep your home secure. This simple fix involves cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Inspect the Lock
Patio doors are an important security element and must function effectively to keep burglars and elements at the door. However, the wear and tear, cold and hot weather dust, and other elements can take their toll on the door frames hinges, hinges, and locking mechanisms. This can eventually, they stop functioning as they ought to. It is crucial to be proactive and regularly inspect your sliding doors for damage and then make any repairs needed.
One of the most frequent issues that may cause problems for your patio door locks is difficulty locking or unlocking, a stuck latch, and a key that doesn't turn smoothly. Depending on the specific problem you're experiencing, you may need to tighten screws or adjust the mechanism of the lock in order to get it working again.
If your patio door lock is stuck in an open position and you're unable to open it try using a flat-head or credit card. If none of these methods work, contact a professional locksmith who will help you open the door lock without causing damage to the frame.
The mortise lock that is used on sliding uPVC patio doors usually has an cylinder and handle that secures the lock. They are quite secure, but they can be susceptible to breaking or breaking under the pressure of a door that has been slammed. You should check the mortise locks and handles for signs of wear such as bends or scratches before they break and you need to replace them.
It's also a good idea to determine the size and positioning of the existing lock by taking a photo with your digital camera. This will allow you to communicate these details to a vendor when you're seeking a replacement lock. This will ensure that you get an appropriate lock that is compatible with the door and is compatible to the existing mounting setup. In the event that it isn't, you'll have an issue installing a new lock that isn't compatible with the existing hardware. This could cause further complications down the line.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are the most popular point of entry into the home and therefore an ideal target for burglars. As such, it's crucial that the locks on your patio doors are secure and up to Police & Insurance standards.
There are a few easy ways to repair a lock that is refusing to cooperate. These four steps will help you make sure that your patio doors are functioning correctly and providing the security you need.
The first thing that you must do is give the lock a good clean using hot soapy water and a damp, clean cloth. You want to wipe away any dirt or stains that might have built up on the lock. After you've done this you can use dry, clean cloths to eliminate any excess moisture and let the lock air dry before you attempt to re-insert.
Then, you must be sure to lubricate your lock. This is particularly important for uPVC doors that can become extremely squeaky as time passes. Use WD40 or petroleum jelly to grease keyways and internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant make sure to wipe off your key afterwards to avoid redistributing any grime that may have gathered on it.
Once your uPVC patio doors are cleaned and lubricated, then test them. Examine whether the door is sliding into and out of the frame smoothly. Also, make sure that the hinges and locking points are properly aligned with the frame of the door. You will notice alignment marks along the edge of the door frame. It is easy to fix these by re-aligning your doors to the frame.
It's also important to note that different types of uPVC door locks are available. It is possible to replace your lock if it is damaged or broken. If you own E2011 patio door locks, you'll have to replace them in order to be safe with E2469 and E2487 lock assemblies. These assemblies consist of three parts, including an E2014 mortise lock, an escutcheon, and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The mechanism that locks the majority of patio doors is concealed inside the door. If your key cylinder is worn out or you simply want to upgrade your lock to ensure greater security, you can buy the replacement kit at most locksmiths or home improvement stores. These kits cost $10 to $20 and include an opening tool for the lock as well as a spare key cylinder. The instructions in the kit will explain how to remove and clean the old lock. Install the new lock. You may have to adjust the key cylinder slightly to ensure it is operating properly depending on how tight it fits into the lock hole in the door frame.
Dry graphite powder can be used to lubricate locks. It is an inexpensive and widely used alternative to liquid lubricants, which draw dust and clog the mechanism. It is available at hardware stores or model train shops as well as some office supply stores. If you choose to use it, ensure that the graphite chunks are free of wood particles. You can also buy the commercial graphite lubricant available in spray form. When the spray is applied to the lock, the solvent present in the spray evaporates, leaving behind a layer of dry graphite which helps to lubricate the lock without drawing dust or accumulating moisture.
You can also lubricate your lock by spraying WD-40 into the keyway. The key should be pushed in and out several times to spread the fluid. After some time, try the key again and see if it turns effortlessly. If your key still sticks you can try it again within a few days after the WD-40 has been allowed to dry.
The replacement of your patio door locks is a simple task for most homeowners, but the process can be more complicated if you have a sliding door that has an invisible latch and built-in deadbolt lock. If navigate to this site comes with an invisible latch, it will be necessary to remove the decorative interior cover by unscrewing screws that secure it. If your patio door is fitted with deadbolts it will be necessary to remove the bolt. After you have removed the knob and the deadbolt assembly, you can install the new lock.
Replace the Lock
Patio doors are an essential element of your home's security and it's common that they malfunction at times. The debris can get stuck inside the lock mechanism, or it can simply wear out due to age and use. In either scenario, a damaged patio door latch poses a serious security risk to your property. Conducting regular inspections of your patio door locks will help to keep them in good condition and will allow you to correct any issues that arise.
If lubricating the lock does not solve the issue, you'll need to replace it. This is an easy task that most homeowners can do by themselves, but it's crucial to follow the instructions to ensure that the new lock will work with your existing lock. It's also an excellent idea to bring the lock you have previously used to the store to ensure that a customer support representative can help you find a replacement.
To replace a patio door handle remove the handle. This can be accomplished by unscrewing the screws that hold the interior handle in place. Once the handle is removed, you can then access the screws that hold the lock body to the jamb of the door.
After removing the screws, you can remove the latch body from the door frame. Be sure to secure the latch lever with a graphite pencil as it could fall into the frame and become lost if it is not secured. The next step is to remove the door strike from the jamb. This will reveal the hole the lock hook is inserted into when the patio door is closed. Once the door strike has been removed, you can screw the new one into place.
When re-screwing the door strike, you must be sure to use longer screws as they will be used to fix the strike to the frame. Verify that the new strike is aligned with the opening of the door frame and then tighten them both.
There are various types of patio door locks, but the most common is the central rail key-operated lock. These locks bolt the doors into the frame at various points, and once keys are inserted all of the points should lock at once. These locks offer a greater level of security than standard locking mechanisms, and often result in lower homeowner's insurance premiums.