Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are an essential to your home's security. If they're not functioning correctly, it could compromise the security of your family and belongings.
A few simple steps can fix patio door lock problems and ensure your home is secure. This quick fix is lubricating and cleaning the lock.
Inspect the Lock
Patio doors are a crucial security feature and must function effectively to keep burglars and the elements at bay. Regular wear and wear, extreme temperatures and dust can cause door frames, hinges and locking mechanisms to fail. It is best to take a proactive approach in addressing these issues and to regularly inspect your sliding door locks for signs of damage and to make necessary repairs.
The most frequent issue that may cause problems for your patio door locks is difficulty locking or unlocking, a sticky latch, or a key that doesn't turn smoothly. You may need to adjust the lock mechanism or tighten screws based on the issue you're experiencing.
If your patio door lock is stuck in an open position and you cannot pry it out try using a flat-head or credit card. If neither of these solutions are working, you should contact an expert locksmith who will help you open the lock on your patio door without causing damage to the frame.
The mortise lock on sliding uPVC patio door is usually comprised of a handle and a cylinder which secures the lock. These locks are fairly safe, but they may be prone to bending or breaking under the pressure of a door that has been slammed. You should inspect the mortise locks and handles for signs of wear, such as scratches or bends before they break and you have to replace them.
You could also take a photograph of the lock to determine its size and location. This will allow you to communicate these details to the supplier when you're looking for a replacement lock. This will ensure that you're getting an appropriate lock that will fit your door and is compatible with your current mounting setup. You'll have trouble installing the lock that's not compatible with the hardware you have already. That could lead to further issues later on.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are the most popular point of entry into the home, and are therefore the most frequent target for burglars. It is therefore vital that your patio door lock is fully functional and meets Police & Insurance Standards.
Fortunately, there are some easy steps you can take to resolve locks that are refusing to cooperate. These four steps will allow you ensure that your patio doors are operating properly and are providing the security you need.
You should first clean the lock using hot soapy water using a damp cloth. You'll want to clean away any stains or dirt that might have built up on the lock. After you've done this you can use dry cloths to get rid of any moisture and let the lock air dry before you attempt to re-insert.
The next step is to make sure that your lock is lubricated. This is particularly important for doors made of uPVC, which tend to become very squeaky in time. You can use a spray lubricant such as WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate the keyways and internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant to your key, clean it off to prevent spreading any dirt that has accumulated.
After your uPVC patio doors have been cleaned and lubricated, then test them. Check to see if the door is sliding in and out of the frame without a hitch. Check that the hinges and locking point are aligned properly with the frame. You should be able see the alignment marks on the edge of the door frame and you can easily correct them by re-aligning your doors to the frame.
It's also worth noting that there are various types of uPVC patio door locks, and you may have to replace the lock if it is damaged or broken. For instance, if you have E2011 patio door locks, you'll need to replace them with E2469 or E2487 lock assemblies to be safe. These assemblies are made up of three components, including an E2014 mortise lock, escutcheon and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The mechanism of the lock for most patio doors is hidden within the door. If your key cylinder is worn out or you want to upgrade your lock to ensure greater security, you can buy an upgrade kit from many locksmiths or home improvement stores. These kits range between $10 and $20 and include a tool for opening the lock, as well as a spare cylinder. The instructions included in the kit will tell you how to disassemble and clean your old lock. Install the new lock. Depending on how tightly the key cylinder fits in the hole of the lock it is possible to adjust it a bit to ensure it is operating properly.
Dry graphite powder can be used to lubricate locks. It is a low-cost and popular alternative to liquid lubricants, which attract dust and gum the mechanism. It can be purchased from hardware stores or model train shops as well as some office supply stores. If you decide to use it, make sure the chunk of dry graphite is free of tiny pieces of wood stuck to it. You can also purchase commercial graphite spray. After application, the solvent in the spray evaporates, leaving behind a layer of dry graphite that helps to lubricate the lock without drawing dust or collecting moisture.
You can also lubricate your lock by applying some WD-40 sprays directly into the keyway. Then, push your key in and out several times to spread the lubricant throughout the lock. After a few minutes, try the key once more and see if it turns easily. If sliding patio door repair near me is stuck, try again a few days after the WD-40 has dried.
Change the locks on your patio door is a straightforward task for most homeowners, however the process could be more difficult if you have a sliding door with an invisible latch and a deadbolt lock built-in. If your patio door is fitted with an invisible latch, it will be required to remove the decorative interior cover by unscrewing screws that hold it in place. If your patio door is fitted with deadbolts it will be required to remove the bolt. Install the new lock after taking out the deadbolt assembly as well as the knob.
Replace the Lock
Patio doors are an important component of the security of your home and it's not uncommon for them to occasionally malfunction. There are times when debris can get stuck in the mechanism of the lock, or it may wear out over the course of time. In either scenario, a damaged patio door latch can pose a serious security risk to your property. Regularly checking the locks on your patio doors can help keep them in good condition and help you quickly solve any issues.
If you find that lubricating the lock doesn't fix the problem then you'll have to replace it. This is an easy task that most homeowners can handle by themselves, but it is important to follow the instructions to ensure that the new lock will work with your existing lock. You can also bring your old lock to the store to help locate the right replacement.
To replace a patio door handle remove the handle. This can be accomplished by removing screws that secure the handle. Once the handle has been removed you will be able to remove the screws that hold the lock body in place.
After the screws have been removed, you can remove the latch body of the door frame. Be sure to secure the lever using a graphite pencil since it could fall into the frame and get lost if not secured. The next step is to remove the door strike. This will reveal the hole that the lock hook is inserted into when the patio door is closed. After removing the old door strike, you are able to put the new one in.
It is essential to use longer screws when replacing the door strike. These will be used to attach it to the frame. Check that the new strike is in alignment with the opening of the door frame, and then tighten both of them.
There are a variety of locks for patio doors. The most popular is the central rail key-operated locking system. These bolt the doors into the frame at multiple points and when the key is inserted, all of the points should lock at once. These locks provide a higher level of security than the standard locking systems and can often earn you discounts on your homeowner's insurance.