Five Killer Quora Answers To Patio Door Locks Repair
Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are an an integral part of your home's security. When they aren't working properly, it can affect the security of your household and belongings.
Fortunately, a few easy steps can usually fix problems with patio door locks and ensure your home is secure. This easy fix is to lubricate and cleaning the lock.
Inspect the Lock
Patio doors are an essential security feature. They should be strong enough to withstand the elements and keep burglars away. However, wear and wear, cold and hot weather dust, and other elements can cause damage to the door's frames hinges, hinges and locking mechanisms. This can eventually, they stop functioning as they ought to. It's best to be proactive in dealing with these issues and regularly check your sliding door locks for signs of damage and make the necessary repairs.
The most frequent issue that may affect your patio door locks is the difficulty in locking or unlocking, a sticky latch, and keys that don't move smoothly. Based on the specific problem you're experiencing it may be necessary to tighten screws or adjust the lock mechanism in order to get it working again.
If the problem with your patio door lock is that it's stuck in an open position, you can try using a credit card or a screwdriver with a flat head to break it out. If these methods don't work, consider calling a professional locksmith to assist you in opening the lock without causing damage to the frame of the door.
Sliding balcony door repair repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk come with a mortise lock that uses a handle and a cylindrical lock to secure the lock. The locks are relatively secure, but they could be susceptible to bend or breaking under the weight of a door that has been slammed. It is a good idea to check the mortise lock and handle for signs of wear, for instance bends or scratches, before it breaks and you need to replace it.
It's also a good idea to determine the size and position of the current lock by taking a photograph with your digital camera. This will allow you to communicate these details to a supplier when you're looking for a replacement lock. This will ensure that you get the right lock for your door and is compatible with your current mounting configuration. Otherwise, you'll have an issue installing a new lock that's not compatible with the current hardware. This could lead to more issues later on.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are a popular entrance point into homes which makes them a prime target for burglars. As such, it's crucial that your patio door locks are fully functional and up to Police & Insurance standards.
There are some simple ways to repair a lock that is refusing to cooperate. If you have to re-align the patio door and clean the lock or even replace it, these four basic steps will ensure that your doors function properly and providing the level of security you expect.
It is recommended to first clean the lock using hot soapy water using a damp cloth. You want to wipe away any stains or dirt that may have accumulated on the lock. After you've done this, you can use dry cloths to remove any excess moisture and let the lock air dry before you attempt to re-insert.
The next step is to make sure that the lock is lubricated. This is especially important for uPVC patio doors, as they can get extremely squeaky with age. Use WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate keyways and internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant on your key, clean it off to avoid redistributing any dirt that may have accumulated.
After cleaning and lubricating your uPVC patio door, you must test it. Observe whether the door is sliding in and out of the frame smoothly. Check that the hinges and locking point are aligned properly with the frame. You will notice alignment marks along the edge of the door frame. You can easily fix these by re-aligning your doors to the frame.
Lastly, it's worth noting that there are a variety of uPVC patio door locks available and you may need to replace the lock if the one you have is damaged or broken. If you have E2011 patio door locks, you'll have to replace them in order to be safe with E2469 and E2487 lock assembly. These assemblies are made up of three components, including an E2014 mortise lock, escutcheon and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
For most patio doors the lock mechanism is located inside the door, hidden from view. You can purchase an upgrade kit from most locksmiths and home improvement stores when your key cylinder is worn out or if you want to upgrade your lock to provide better security. The kits cost between $10 and $20 and include a tool to open the lock, as well as an additional cylinder. Follow the instructions included in your kit to disassemble and clean your old lock, then install the new one. You may need to adjust the cylinder of your key slightly to ensure proper operation depending on how tight it fits in the lock hole within the door frame.
If you're looking to grease your lock, dry graphite powder is a popular and inexpensive alternative to liquid lubricants that can draw dust and clog the mechanism. You can purchase it from hardware stores, model train shops and some office supply stores. If you choose to use it, make sure the graphite chunk is free of any wood particles. You can also buy the commercial graphite lubricant available in spray form. The solvent in the spray evaporates when it is applied, leaving behind an uninspiring layer of graphite which lubricates the lock.
You can also lubricate your lock by spraying WD-40 in the keyway. Inject your key out several times to spread the lubricant over the lock. After a few moments then turn the key to see if it turns smoothly. If your key remains stuck, try it again few days after the WD-40 has dried.
Most homeowners can easily change their patio door locks, but if your sliding door is equipped with an invisible latch or a deadbolt lock that is built-in, the process could be more complicated. If your patio door has an invisible latch, you'll need to remove the interior decorative cover by removing the screws holding the cover in place using a screwdriver. If your patio door is fitted with a deadbolt, you will need to remove the bolt from the edge of the door. After removing both the knob and the deadbolt assembly, you can put in the new lock.
Replace the Lock
It's not uncommon for patio doors to malfunction. They are a crucial security feature for your home. The debris can get stuck inside the mechanism of the lock or it could simply get worn out by age and use. A broken patio door latch could pose a major security risk to your home. Regularly checking your patio door locks will keep them in good working order and will allow you to correct any issues that arise.
If you can't solve the issue then you'll have to replace it. This is a job that most homeowners can complete at home, however, it's important to carefully follow the instructions to ensure that the new lock is compatible with your current system. It's also recommended to bring the old lock to the store so that a customer service representative can help you find a replacement.
To replace the handle on a patio door remove the handle. This can be done by removing screws that hold the handle in place. After the handle is removed you will be able to remove the screws that hold the lock body in place.
After the screws have been removed and the screws are removed, you can slide the latch body out of the door frame. Make sure you secure the latch lever with a graphite pencil as it will be thrown into the frame and be lost if it is not secured. The next step is to remove the door strike from the jamb. This will reveal the hole the lock hook is inserted into when the patio door is closed. Once the old door strike has been removed, you can put the new one in place.
When re-screwing the door strike, it's important to use screws that are longer as they'll be used to fix the frame to the strike. It is also important to ensure that the new strike is aligned properly with the opening in the door frame. Then tighten the two together.
There are various types of locks for patio doors, but the most common is a central rail lock that is operated by a key. They lock the door into the frame in multiple points and, once the key is inserted, all of the points should lock. These locks offer a higher level of security than the standard locking systems and can often provide discounts on your homeowner's insurance.