Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are crucial to your home's security. If they're not working correctly, it could compromise the safety of your household and belongings.
A few simple steps can usually fix patio door lock problems and help keep your home safe. This quick fix involves cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Check the lock
Patio doors are an essential security feature. They need to be capable of surviving the elements and keep burglars at bay. Wear and tear, extreme temperatures and dust can cause the door frames, hinges and locking mechanisms to fail. It is essential to be proactive and regularly check your sliding doors for damage and then make any repairs that are required.
Some of the most common problems with patio door locks is difficulties locking or unlocking them, a stuck latch and keys that don't turn smoothly. It is possible to adjust the lock mechanism or tighten screws according to the problem you are experiencing.
If your patio door lock is stuck in an open position and you cannot get it out Try using a flat head or credit card. If none of these methods work, contact a professional locksmith who can help you open the lock on your patio door without damaging the frame.
The mortise lock on sliding uPVC patio doors usually has an cylinder and handle that secures the lock. The locks are safe, but can bend or break when a open patio door that is slammed. You should check the mortise locks and handles for signs of wear such as scratches or bends before they break, and you'll need to replace them.
You can also snap a picture of the lock to determine its size and location. You can then provide these details to a vendor in the event that you're looking to purchase a new lock. This will ensure that you receive a lock that fits the door and is compatible with the current mounting setup. In the event that it isn't, you'll have difficulties installing a new lock that isn't compatible with the current hardware. That could lead to further issues later on.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are the most popular entrance point into the home, making them the most frequent target for burglars. As such, it's crucial that the locks on your patio doors are functional and conform to Police & Insurance standards.
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can follow to deal with a lock that is refusing to cooperate. These four steps will help you to ensure that your patio doors are operating properly and are providing the security you require.
The first thing that you must do is give the lock a thorough clean using hot soapy water and a damp cloth. You want to wipe away any stains or dirt that might have built up on the lock. Once you've done this then you can use a dry cloth to remove any excess water and allow the lock to dry completely before attempting to insert it again.
Next, you should be sure to lubricate your lock. This is especially important for patio doors made of uPVC, as they can get extremely noisy with the passage of time. Spray oil lubricant, such as WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate keyways and internal mechanisms. When applying the lubricant, ensure that you clean your keys afterward to avoid redistributing any grime that may have gathered on it.
After cleaning and lubricating your uPVC patio door, make sure you test it. Examine if the door moves smoothly into and out of its frame. Also, ensure that the hinges and locking points are properly aligned with the frame of the door. You should be able see the alignment marks on the edges of the door frame and you can fix them by re-aligning your doors to the frame.
It's also worth noting that various types of uPVC door locks are available. You may need to replace your 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 consist of three components, including an E2014 mortise lock, 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. If the key cylinder wears out or you simply want to upgrade your lock for greater security, you can buy an upgrade kit from many home improvement stores or locksmiths. The kits cost from $10 to $20 and include a tool to open the lock as well as an extra cylinder. The instructions in the kit will tell you how to disassemble and clean the old lock. Install the new lock. You may need to adjust the cylinder slightly to ensure it is operating properly depending on how tight it fits in the lock hole of the door frame.
Dry graphite powder is used to lubricate locks. www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk is a low-cost and widely used alternative to liquid lubricants, which attract dust and clog the mechanism. It is available at hardware stores, model train shops and some office supply stores. If you decide to use it, ensure that the chunk of dry graphite is free of tiny pieces of wood sticking to it. You can also purchase the commercial graphite lubricant available in spray form. When applied to the lock, the solvent present in the spray evaporates, leaving a layer of dry graphite that helps to lubricate the lock without drawing dust or accumulating moisture.
You can also lubricate your lock by spraying WD-40 in the keyway. Then, push your key in and out several times to spread the lubricant across the lock. After a few minutes, test the key once more and see if it turns effortlessly. If the key is stuck, try again a few days after the WD-40 has dried.
The replacement of your patio door locks is a simple project for the majority of homeowners, however the process may be more complicated if have a sliding door with an invisible latch and a deadbolt lock that is built-in. If your patio door comes 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, it is necessary to remove the bolt from the door's edge. After you have removed the deadbolt and the knob assembly, you are able to install the new lock.
Replace the Lock
It's not uncommon for patio doors to malfunction. They are a crucial security element for your home. There are times when debris can get stuck in the lock mechanism, or it could simply get worn out over time. In either scenario, a damaged patio door latch presents an extremely risk to the security of your property. Conducting regular inspections of your patio door locks can help keep them in good condition and allow you to easily correct any issues that arise.
If you can't solve the issue it's time to replace it. This is a task that most homeowners can handle themselves, however, it's important to carefully follow the directions to ensure that the new lock will work with your existing lock. It's also recommended to bring the old lock with you to the store to ensure that a customer support representative can assist you in locating an alternative.
To replace the handle on a patio door take off the handle. This can be accomplished by unscrewing the screws that hold the handle in place. After the handle is removed, you will be able to gain access to 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. Make sure you secure the latch lever with a graphite pencil since it will be thrown into the frame and become lost if not secured. The next step is to take the door strike from the jamb. This will reveal the hole the lock hook fits into when the patio door is closed. Once the door strike is removed you can install the new one in place.
It is crucial to use longer screws when re-screwing a door strike. These will be used to fix it to the frame. Also, make sure that the new strike is properly aligned with the opening in the door frame. Then tighten the two together.
There are many different locks for patio doors. The most popular is the central rail lock that is operated by a key. These bolt the doors into the frame at multiple points, and when a key is inserted all points should lock simultaneously. These locks provide a higher level of security than the standard locking mechanisms and can often result in lower homeowner's insurance premiums.