Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are essential to your home's security. If they're not functioning properly, you can put your family's and possessions at risk.
A few simple steps can fix patio door lock problems and help keep your home safe. This simple fix involves cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Check the lock
Patio doors are an important security element and need to work efficiently to keep burglars and elements at the door. Regular wear and wear, extreme temperatures and dust can cause frames, hinges and locking mechanisms to fail. It's best to take a proactive approach in addressing these issues and to regularly check your sliding door locks for indications of damage and repair the damage if needed.
Some of the most common problems with patio door locks include difficulties locking or unlocking them, a stuck latch and keys that don't turn smoothly. Depending on the specific issue you may have to tighten screws or adjust the mechanism of the lock in order to get it working properly again.
If your patio door lock is stuck in the open position and you cannot get it out Try using a flat head or credit card. If neither of these solutions work, call a professional locksmith who can assist you in opening the lock on your patio door without damaging the frame.
Sliding uPVC patio doors typically come with a mortise lock which includes a handle as well as a cylindrical lock to secure the lock. They are quite secure, but they could be susceptible to breaking or breaking under the weight of a door that is slammed. You should inspect the mortise locks and handles for signs of wear such as bends or scratches prior to when they break, and you'll need to replace them.
It's an excellent idea to determine the size and positioning of the existing lock by taking a picture with your digital camera. You can then give these details to a vendor if you are looking for the right lock. This will ensure that you're getting an appropriate lock that will fit your door and is compatible with your current mounting setup. It will be difficult to install a lock that isn'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 your patio door lock is functional and complies with Police & Insurance Standards.
There are a few easy things you can do to repair a lock that is refusing to cooperate. If you have to re-align the patio door or clean the lock, or even replace the lock, these four steps will ensure that your doors are operating properly and providing the level of security you expect.
First, you should clean the lock with hot soapy water using a damp cloth. You'll want to get rid of any dirt or stains that may have accumulated on the lock. After you've done this you can use dry, clean cloths to get rid of any moisture and let the lock air dry before attempting to re-insert it.
The next step is to make sure that the lock is lubricated. This is particularly important for patio doors made of uPVC as they can become extremely noisy with the passage of time. Use WD40 or petroleum jelly to grease keyways and internal mechanisms. When applying the lubricant, make sure you wipe your key afterward to avoid spreading any grime that may have gathered on it.
After your uPVC patio doors are cleaned and lubricated, then test them. Observe whether the door is sliding into and out of the frame with ease. Check that the hinges and locking points are properly aligned with the frame. You will notice alignment marks along the edge of the door frame. glass doors repair repairmywindowsanddoors can easily correct the problem by re-aligning the doors to the frame.
It's also worth noting that there are different types of uPVC patio door locks that are available, and you may have to replace the lock if the one you have is damaged or broken. For example, if you have E2011 patio door locks, you'll have to replace them with E2469 or E2487 lock assemblies to ensure that they are safe. The assemblies consist of three parts, including an E2014 mortise lock, an escutcheon and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
For the majority of patio doors, the lock mechanism is situated inside the door, hidden from the view. You can purchase an upgrade kit from most locksmiths and home improvement stores in the event that your key cylinder has been damaged or you're looking to upgrade your lock for greater security. The kits range from $10 to $20, and come with a tool for opening the lock and a spare cylinder. Follow the instructions in your kit for disassembling and cleaning the old lock, and then put in the new one. You may need to adjust the cylinder slightly to ensure it is operating properly, depending on how tightly it fits into the lock hole of the door frame.
If you're looking to lubricate your lock dry graphite powder is a common and affordable alternative to liquid-based lubricants that can draw dust and clog the mechanism. You can purchase it at hardware stores, model trains shops, and even some offices supply stores. If you decide to use it, make sure the chunk of dry graphite is free of tiny bits of wood stuck to it. You can also purchase an industrial graphite lubricant that is available in spray form. When applied to the lock, the solvent in the spray evaporates, leaving a layer of dry graphite which lubricates the lock without attracting dust or accumulating moisture.
You can also lubricate your lock by spraying WD-40 in the keyway. The key should be pushed in and out repeatedly to spread the lubricant. After a few seconds, turn the key to see if it moves smoothly. If the key does not turn you can try it again within a few days after the WD-40 has dried.
The replacement of your patio door locks is a straightforward task for most homeowners, but the process can be more complicated if you have a sliding door that has an invisible latch as well as a built-in deadbolt lock. If your patio door is equipped with an invisible latch, it is required to remove the decorative interior cover by taking off the screws that secure it. If your patio door is fitted with a deadbolt, it will be required to remove the bolt. Install the new lock after taking out the deadbolt and knob.
Replace the Lock
Patio doors are an important component of the security of your home and it's common for them to malfunction from time to time. The debris can get stuck inside the lock mechanism, or it can simply wear out with the passage of time and use. A broken patio door latch can pose an extremely dangerous security risk to your home. Regularly checking your patio door locks will keep them in good condition and allow you to easily correct any issues that arise.
If lubricating your lock does not solve the issue, it's time to replace it. This is a job that most homeowners can handle at home, however, it is important to follow the directions to ensure that the new lock is compatible with your current system. You can also bring your old lock to the store to help you locate a replacement.
To replace the handle on a patio door remove the handle. This can be accomplished by unscrewing 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 the screws have been removed and the screws are removed, you can lift the latch lever out of the door frame. Be sure to secure the lever using a graphite pencil since it will slide into the frame and get lost if not secured. Next, remove the door strike. The hole in which the lock hook is when the patio door is closed will be exposed. After the old door strike is removed you can screw the new one into place.
When re-screwing a door strike, it is important to use screws that are longer as these will be used to secure the strike to the frame. Verify that the new strike is aligned with opening of the door frame, and then tighten both of them.
There are various types of patio door locks however the most commonly used is a central rail lock that is operated by a key. They lock the door into the frame in multiple places, and when the key is inserted, all of the points will be locked. These locks provide a greater level of security than the standard locking systems and can often provide discounts on homeowner's insurance.