What Freud Can Teach Us About Patio Door Locks Repair
Patio Door Locks Repair
Your home's security depends on the locks on your patio door. If they're not working properly, you can put your family's and possessions at risk.
Fortunately, a few simple steps can fix issues with your patio door lock and keep your home secure. This simple fix involves cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Check the Lock
Patio doors are a crucial security element and require a lot of effort to keep burglars and the elements at bay. Regular wear and tear, extreme temperatures and dust can cause frame, hinges, and locking mechanisms to fail. It's important to be proactive and regularly inspect your sliding doors for damage, and make any repairs that are required.
Some of the most common problems with patio door locks include difficulty locking or unlocking them, a stuck latch and keys that do not turn smoothly. Based on the specific issue it may be necessary to tighten screws or adjust the lock mechanism in order to get it working again.
If your patio door lock is stuck in an open position and you cannot open it, try using a flat-head or credit card. If neither of these solutions are working, you should contact a professional locksmith who can assist you in opening the patio door lock without causing damage to the frame.
Sliding uPVC patio doors usually come with a mortise lock that includes a handle as well as a cylindrical lock to secure the lock. These locks are fairly safe, but they may be susceptible to breaking or breaking due to the weight of a slammed door. It is important to check 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.
You can also snap a picture of the lock to determine its size and position. 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 your current mounting setup. In the event that it isn't, you'll have a difficult time installing a new lock that's not compatible with the hardware you have. That could lead to further complications down the line.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are the most popular entrance point into the home and therefore a prime target for burglars. As such, it's crucial that the locks on your patio doors are fully functional and up to Police & Insurance standards.
There are a few simple steps you can take to solve a lock that doesn't cooperate. Whether you need to realign the patio door or clean the lock, or even replace the lock, these four steps will ensure that your doors function correctly and offering the level of security you expect.
First, you should clean the lock with hot soapy water using a damp cloth. You'll want to clean away any stains or dirt that might have built up on the lock. Once you've done this, you can use a dry, clean cloth to remove any excess water and allow the lock to dry completely before attempting to insert it again.
The next step is to ensure that the lock is properly lubricated. This is particularly important for uPVC doors that tend to become very squeaky as time passes. Use WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate keyways as well as internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant to your key, clean it off to avoid spreading any dirt that has been accumulated.
Once your uPVC patio doors have been cleaned and lubricated, then test them. Check to see if the door is moving in and out of the frame smoothly. Make sure that the hinges and locking points are properly aligned with the frame. You should be able see the alignment marks on the edges of the door frame and you can fix them by re-aligning the doors to the frame.
It's also important to note that different types of uPVC door locks are available. You might need to replace your lock if it is damaged or broken. If you own E2011 patio doors locks, you'll need to replace them in order to be secure with E2469 and E2487 lock assemblies. These assemblies consist of three components: an E2014 mortise latch, an escutcheon plates and the lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
For most patio doors, the lock mechanism is inside the door, hidden from the view. You can purchase an upgrade kit from most locksmiths and home improvement stores if your key cylinder has been damaged or if you're looking to upgrade your lock for greater security. The kits range from $10 to $20, and include a tool for opening the lock and an extra key cylinder. The instructions included in the kit will explain how to remove and clean the old lock. Install the new lock. It is possible that you will need to adjust the cylinder of your key slightly to ensure proper operation depending on how tight it fits into the lock hole in the door frame.
Dry graphite powder is used to lubricate locks. It is a low-cost and common alternative to liquid lubricants, which can draw dust and gum the mechanism. You can purchase it at hardware stores, model trains shops, and even some office supply shops. If you choose to use it, make sure the dry graphite chunk is free of tiny bits of wood stuck to it. You can also purchase commercial graphite spray. The solvent in the spray evaporates once applied, leaving a dry layer of graphite that lubricates the lock.
You can also lubricate your lock by applying several sprays of WD-40 directly into the keyway. The key should be pushed in and out repeatedly to spread the fluid. After a few minutes, test the key again and see if it turns easily. If your key is still stuck, try again a few days after the WD-40 has dried.
Most homeowners can change their patio door locks however, if your sliding door is equipped with an invisible latch or a deadbolt lock that is built-in the door, the process may be more complex. 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 the aid of a screwdriver. If your patio door is equipped with a deadbolt, you'll need to remove the bolt from the door's edge. After removing the deadbolt and knob assembly, you can install the new lock.
Replace the Lock
It's not unusual for patio doors to fail. They are an important security feature of your home. Debris can get lodged inside the mechanism of the lock or it can simply wear out due to age and use. In either case, a damaged patio door latch can pose a serious security risk to your property. Regularly checking the locks on your patio doors can help keep them in good shape and allow you to quickly solve any problems.
If lubricating the lock does not fix the problem then you'll have to replace it. This is a task that most homeowners can handle by themselves, but it is important to follow the instructions to ensure that the new lock is compatible with your existing lock. You can also bring your old lock to the store to assist you find an alternative.
To replace the handle on a patio door remove the handle. This can be accomplished by removing screws that hold the handle in place. Once the handle is removed, you are able to gain access to the screws that connect the lock body to the door jamb.
Once the screws are removed, you can lift the latch lever out of the door frame. Secure the lever with a graphite pen. It will fall into frame if not secured. Next, remove the door strike. patio doors glass replacement will reveal the hole the lock hook is inserted into when the patio door is closed. After you have removed the old door strike, it is possible to install the new one.
When you are re-screwing the door strike, you must be sure to use larger screws since they'll be used to attach the strike to the frame. You should also check that the new strike is aligned properly with the opening in the door frame and make sure you tighten the two parts.
There are a variety of locks for patio doors. The most common is the central rail lock that is operated by a key. They lock the door into the frame in multiple points, and when the key is inserted, all of the points will be locked. These locks offer a greater level of security than standard locking mechanisms and can often result in lower homeowner's insurance premiums.