Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are essential to your home's security. If they're not functioning correctly, you could put your family and possessions at risk.
Fortunately, a few easy steps can fix issues with your patio door lock and help keep your home safe. This easy fix is cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Check the Lock
Patio doors are a vital security feature and they must function effectively to keep burglars and elements at the door. However, wear and tear, cold and hot weather dust, and other elements can take their toll on the door's frames hinges, hinges, and locking mechanisms, and eventually cause them to stop functioning as they ought to. It is crucial to be proactive and regularly check your sliding doors for damage and then make any repairs needed.
Among the most common problems that can cause problems for your patio door locks is the difficulty locking or unlocking, a stuck latch, and keys that don't rotate smoothly. It is possible to adjust the mechanism of your lock or tighten screws depending on the issue you are experiencing.
If the issue with the lock on your patio door is that it's stuck in the open position You can try using credit card or a flat-head screwdriver to pry it open. If neither of these solutions work, contact a professional locksmith who can help you open the patio door lock without damaging the frame.
Sliding uPVC patio doors are usually fitted with a mortise lock which utilizes a handle and cylindrical lock to secure the lock. These locks are secure but they may break or bend under the weight of an open patio door that is slammed. You should inspect the mortise locks and handles for signs of wear, such as bends or scratches before they break and you have to replace them.
You could also take a photograph of the lock to determine its dimensions and location. This will allow you to communicate these details to the supplier when you're searching for a new lock. This will ensure that you're getting a lock that fits your door and is compatible with your current mounting setup. It will be difficult to install locks that aren't compatible with the hardware you have already. This could lead to further problems in the future.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are the most frequent point of entry into the home and therefore a prime target for burglars. Therefore, it is essential that the lock on your patio door is fully functional and conforms to Police & Insurance Standards.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to handle the lock that is refusing to cooperate. Whether you need to realign the patio door and clean the lock or even replace it, these four simple steps will ensure that your doors function properly and providing the level of security you'd like to have.
It is recommended to first clean the lock using hot soapy water and a damp cloth. You will want to remove any dirt or stains which have accumulated on the lock. After this then you can use a dry, clean cloth to remove any excess water and allow the lock to dry completely before trying to insert it again.
Then, you must lubricate your lock. This is particularly important for doors made of uPVC, which can become extremely squeaky as time passes. You can apply a spray oil lubricant, such as WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate keyways and internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant on your key, wipe it off to prevent spreading any dirt that has accumulated.
After cleaning and lubricating your uPVC patio door, you should test it. Check if the door slides smoothly inside and out of its frame. Also, make sure that the hinges and locking points are aligned properly with the frame of the door. click the following page will notice alignment marks along the edges of the door frame. You can easily fix these by re-aligning your doors to the frame.
It's also worth noting that there are different types of uPVC patio door locks and you may need to replace the lock if the one you have is damaged or broken. If you own E2011 patio doors locks, you will need to replace them in order to be safe by using the E2469 and E2487 lock assembly. These assemblies consist of three parts, including an E2014 mortise lock, an escutcheon and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The mechanism that locks most patio doors is hidden inside the door. If your key cylinder is wearing out or you wish to upgrade the lock to increase security, you can purchase a replacement kit from most locksmiths or home improvement stores. The kits range from $10 to $20 and include an opening tool for the lock and a spare key cylinder. The instructions in the kit will explain how to take apart and clean the old lock. Install the new lock. Depending on how tight the key cylinder fits into the hole in the lock it may be necessary to adjust it slightly to ensure it is operating properly.
If you are looking to lubricate your lock dry graphite powder is a popular and cheap alternative to liquid lubricants which can cause dust to build up and damage the mechanism. You can purchase it from hardware stores or model train shops as well as some office supply stores. If you choose to use it, ensure that the graphite chunk is devoid of any wood particles. You can also buy an industrial graphite lubricant that is available in spray form. When the spray is applied to the lock, the solvent in the spray evaporates, leaving a layer of dry graphite which locks without attracting dust or accumulating moisture.
You can also lubricate your lock by spraying WD-40 onto the keyway. Then, push your key in and out several times to spread the lubricant over the lock. After a few seconds, turn the key to see if it moves smoothly. If your key remains stuck, try it again few days after the WD-40 has dried.
Most homeowners can change their patio door locks, but if your sliding door is equipped with an invisible latch or a deadbolt lock built in the door, the process might be more complicated. If your patio door comes with an invisible latch, it is necessary to take off the decorative interior cover by unscrewing screws that hold it in place. If your patio door is fitted with a deadbolt, it is necessary to remove the bolt from the door's edge. After removing both the deadbolt and knob assembly, you are able to install the new lock.
Replace the Lock
Patio doors are an important element of your home's security and it's common that they malfunction at times. There are times when debris can get caught in the lock mechanism, or it may just get worn out by the use and age. In either case, a broken patio door latch poses an immediate security risk to your property. Regularly inspecting your patio door locks will help to keep them in good condition and allow you to easily correct any issues that arise.
If lubricating the lock does not fix the problem, you'll need to replace it. The majority of homeowners can complete this task on their own. However, it's important to carefully read the directions to ensure that the new lock is compatible with the old lock. You can also bring your old lock to the store to assist you locate the right replacement.
To replace the handle on a patio door remove the handle. You can do this by removing the screws that hold the handle in place. Once the handle has been removed it will be possible to remove the screws that hold the lock body in place.
After removing the screws, you can remove the latch body from the door frame. Be sure to fix the lever using the help of a graphite pencil because it will slide into the frame and become lost if not secured. The next step is to remove the door strike. This will reveal the hole that the lock hook fits into when the patio door is closed. Once the door strike is removed, you can put the new one in place.
When re-screwing a door strike, it is important to use longer screws as these will be used to attach the strike to the frame. It is also important to ensure that the new strike is aligned correctly with the opening in the door frame. Then ensure that the two are secured.
There are different types of locks for patio doors The most popular is the central rail key-operated lock. They bolt the door into the frame at multiple points and, when the key is inserted, all the points will be locked. These locks provide a higher level of security than standard locking mechanisms, and often result in discounts on homeowner's insurance.