What's Holding Back The Patio Door Locks Repair Industry?
Patio Door Locks Repair
Your home's security depends on the locks you have on your patio door. If they're not functioning properly, you can put your family's and possessions at risk.
A few simple steps can usually fix issues with your patio door lock 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 must be capable of surviving the elements and keep burglars at bay. However, the wear and tear, hot and cold weather, and dust can take their toll on the door's frames hinges, hinges, and locking mechanisms. This can eventually cause them to stop functioning as they ought to. It's best to take a proactive approach in addressing these issues and to regularly check your sliding door locks for signs of damage and to make the necessary repairs.
One of the most frequent issues that can affect your patio door locks is difficulty locking or unlocking, a sticky latch, and keys that don't move smoothly. It is possible to adjust the lock mechanism or tighten screws depending on the issue you're experiencing.
If the issue with the lock on your patio door is that it's stuck in the open position You can try using a credit card or a flat-head screwdriver to pry it out. If none of these methods are working, you should contact an expert locksmith who will help you open the patio door lock without damaging the frame.
Sliding uPVC patio doors typically come with a mortise lock that includes a handle as well as a locking cylinder to secure the lock. The locks are safe, but can break or bend under the weight of an closed patio door. It is a good idea to check the mortise lock and handle for indications of wear, for instance scratches or bends before it breaks and you have to replace it.
It's also a good idea to determine the size and positioning of the existing lock by taking a photo with your digital camera. This will help you convey these details to a vendor when you're searching for a new lock. This will ensure you get a lock that fits the door and is compatible with the mounting configuration that's currently in place. It will be difficult to install the lock that's not compatible with the hardware you have already. This could cause more complications in the future.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are an incredibly common entrance point into homes, making them a prime target for burglars. As such, it's crucial that the locks on your patio doors are secure and up to Police & Insurance standards.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps that you can follow to resolve locks that are refusing to cooperate. It doesn't matter if you want to adjust the patio door or clean the lock, or even replace it, these four simple steps will ensure that your doors function correctly and provide the level of security that you're looking for.
First, patio doors repairs near me should clean the lock using hot soapy water and a damp cloth. You want to wipe away any dirt or stains that may have accumulated on the lock. After you've done this then you can use a dry, clean cloth to wipe away any excess water and allow the lock to dry completely before trying to re-insert it.
Next, you need to lubricate the lock. This is especially 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 afterwards to avoid spreading any grime that might have accumulated on it.
After your uPVC patio doors are cleaned and lubricated, you should then test them. Examine if the door moves effortlessly into and out of its frame. Also, ensure that the hinges and locking points are properly aligned with the frame of the door. You can see alignment marks along the edges of the frame. You can easily fix these by re-aligning your doors to the frame.
It's also worth noting that various types of uPVC door locks are available. You might need to replace the lock if it's damaged or broken. If you own E2011 patio door locks, you will need to replace them to ensure that you are safe by using the E2469 and E2487 lock assemblies. The assemblies consist of three components, which include an E2014 mortise lock, an escutcheon, and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
For most patio doors the lock mechanism is located in the door, hidden from the view. If your key cylinder is wearing out or you wish to upgrade the lock for greater security, you can purchase a replacement kit from most home improvement stores or locksmiths. The kits cost 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 remove and clean the old lock. Install the new lock. You may need to adjust the cylinder of your key slightly to ensure proper operation based on how tightly it fits in the lock hole in the door frame.
If you want to lubricate your lock, dry graphite powder is a popular and affordable alternative to liquid-based lubricants that can attract dust and gum up the mechanism. It can be purchased from hardware stores, model train shops and some office supply stores. If you choose to use it, make sure that the graphite chunks are free of any wood particles. You can also buy an industrial graphite lubricant that is available in spray form. When the spray is applied to the lock, the solvent in the spray evaporates and leaves a layer of dry graphite which lubricates the lock without attracting dust or accumulating moisture.
You can also grease the lock by spraying WD-40 onto the keyway. Inject your key out several times to spread the lubricant across the lock. After a few seconds, turn the key to see if it moves smoothly. If the key is stuck, try it again few days after the WD-40 has dried.
Change the locks on your patio door is a straightforward task for most homeowners, however the process can 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 remove the decorative interior cover by removing the screws that secure it. If your patio door is fitted 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 essential part of your home's security and it's common for them to malfunction from time to time. The debris can get stuck inside the lock mechanism or it may just wear out due to age and use. In either case, a broken patio door latch can pose an extremely risk to the security of your property. Regularly inspecting patio door locks will help ensure they are in good shape and let you swiftly solve any issues.
If you find that lubricating your lock fails to solve the problem, it's time to replace it. Most homeowners can perform this task by themselves. However, it is important to carefully go through the directions to ensure that your new lock is compatible with your existing lock. You can also bring your old lock to the store to help you to find an alternative.
The first step to replace a patio door lock is to take off the handle. This can be accomplished by unscrewing the screws that keep the handle's interior in place. Once the handle has been removed it will be possible to gain access to the screws that hold the lock body in place.
Once the screws are removed after which you can lift the latch lever out of the door frame. Make sure you fix the lever using the help of a graphite pencil because it could fall into the frame and get lost if it is not secured. The next step is to remove the door strike from the jamb. This will reveal the hole that the lock hook is inserted into when the patio door is closed. Once the door strike is removed, you can install the new one in place.
When you are re-screwing the door strike, you must be sure to use screws that are longer as they'll be used to secure the strike to the frame. Check that the new strike is in alignment with the opening of the door frame and then tighten them both.
There are a variety of locks for patio doors. The most common is the central rail key-operated locking system. These locks bolt the doors into the frame at various points, and when the key is inserted, all of the points should lock at once. These locks provide a higher level of security than the standard locking mechanisms and may result in lower homeowner's insurance premiums.