Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are an essential to your home's security. When they aren't working properly, it can affect the security of your household and belongings.
Fortunately, a few simple steps can fix patio door lock problems 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. They need to be able to withstand the elements and keep burglars away. Regular wear and tear, extreme temperatures, and dust can cause frames, hinges and locking mechanisms to fail. It's best to be proactive about dealing with these issues and regularly inspect your sliding door locks for signs of damage and to make necessary repairs.
Some of the most frequent problems with patio door locks is difficulty locking or unlocking them, a stuck latch and keys that don't turn smoothly. You may have to adjust the lock mechanism or tighten screws according to the issue you're experiencing.
If your patio door lock is stuck in an open position and you're unable to get it out Try using a flat head or credit card. If none of these options work, contact a professional locksmith who will assist you in opening the lock on your patio door without damaging the frame.
Sliding uPVC patio doors usually come with a mortise lock that utilizes a handle and locking cylinder to secure the lock. The locks are relatively secure, but they could be prone to bending or breaking due to the weight of a door that is slammed. It is important to check the mortise locks and handles for signs of wear such as scratches or bends before they break and you have to replace them.
You can also take a photo of the lock to determine its size and location. You can then provide these details to a vendor when you're looking for a new lock. This will ensure that you're getting a lock that fits your door and is compatible with the current mounting setup. Otherwise, you'll have an issue trying to install a new lock that's not compatible with the existing hardware. This could cause further complications down the line.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are the most popular entrance point into the home, making them an ideal target for burglars. It is therefore essential that your patio door locks are secure and up to Police & Insurance standards.
Fortunately, there are some easy steps you can take to resolve the lock that is refusing to cooperate. Whether you need to realign the patio door or clean the lock, or even replace it, these four basic steps will ensure that your doors are functioning correctly and offering the security you expect.
The first thing you must do is give the lock a thorough clean using hot soapy water and a damp towel. You'll need to get rid of any dirt or stains that may have built up on the lock. After this then you can use a dry cloth to remove any excess water and allow the lock to air-dry completely before attempting to insert it again.
The next step is to ensure that the lock is properly lubricated. This is especially crucial for patio doors made of uPVC, as they can get extremely squeaky with age. Use WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate keyways as well as 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 have been cleaned and lubricated, then test them. Examine whether the door is sliding in and out of the frame with ease. Make sure that the hinges and locking points are properly aligned with the frame. You can see alignment marks along the edges of the door frame. You can easily fix these by re-aligning your doors with the frame.
Lastly, it's worth noting that there are a variety of uPVC patio door locks and you might need to replace the lock if it 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. The assemblies comprise three components comprised of an E2014 mortise latch, an escutcheon plates and the lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The mechanism of the lock for the majority of patio doors is concealed within the door. patio door repairs near me can buy a replacement kit at most locksmiths and home improvement stores if your key cylinder has worn out or if you're looking to upgrade your lock for greater security. These kits range from $10 to $20 and include a tool for opening the lock, as well as an extra cylinder. The instructions in the kit will tell you how to take apart and clean the old lock. Install the new lock. Depending on how securely the key cylinder fits into the hole of the lock, you may need to adjust it a bit to ensure it is operating properly.
If you're looking to lubricate your lock dry graphite powder is a popular and inexpensive alternative to liquid lubricants which can cause dust to build up and damage the mechanism. It can be purchased from hardware stores or model train shops, as well as some office supply stores. If you decide to purchase it, ensure that the graphite chunk is free of any wood particles. You can also purchase commercial graphite spray. The solvent in the spray evaporates when it is applied, leaving behind an uninspiring layer of graphite which lubricates the lock.
You can also apply lubrication to your lock by applying a few sprays of WD-40 directly into the keyway. The key should be pushed in and out repeatedly to spread the grease. After some time, try the key again and see whether it turns effortlessly. If your key is still stuck, try again a few days after the WD-40 has dried.
Changing your patio door locks is a simple project for most homeowners, but the process could be more difficult if you have a sliding door that has an invisible latch and deadbolt lock that is built-in. If your patio door is fitted with an invisible latch, it is necessary to take off the decorative interior cover by removing the screws that hold it in place. If your patio door is equipped with a deadbolt, you'll need to remove the bolt from the door's edge. Install the new lock after you have removed the deadbolt and knob.
Replace the Lock
Patio doors are an important component of the security of your home and it's normal that they malfunction at times. The debris could get caught in the lock mechanism, or it may wear out over time. A broken patio door latch can be a serious security threat to your home. Regularly inspecting your patio door locks will keep them in good shape and let you easily fix any issues that may arise.
If lubricating the lock does not solve the issue then you'll have to replace it. This is a job that most homeowners can handle themselves, however, it's important to carefully follow the instructions to ensure that the new lock will work with your current system. You can also bring your old lock to the store to help you locate the right replacement.
The first step in replacing the lock on a patio door is to remove the handle. It is done by removing the screws that hold the 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. Secure the latch lever using a graphite pen. It will fall into frame if not secured. Then, take off the door strike. This will reveal the hole the lock hook goes into when the patio door is closed. After the old door strike is removed you can install the new one into place.
When re-screwing a door strike, it is important to use screws that are longer as they'll be used to fix the frame to the strike. You should also check that the new strike is aligned properly with the opening in the door frame, and tighten the two together.
There are many different locks for patio doors. The most popular is the central rail key-operated locking system. They bolt the door into the frame in multiple points and, when the key is inserted, all points should lock. These locks provide a higher level of security than the standard locking mechanisms, and often result in lower homeowner's insurance premiums.