Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are an crucial to your home's security. If they're not functioning properly, it can compromise the safety of your family and belongings.
Fortunately, a few easy steps can fix issues with your patio door lock and keep your home secure. This quick fix involves cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Check the Lock
Patio doors are a vital security feature. They must be capable of surviving the elements and keep burglars away. However, the wear and tear, cold and hot weather dust, and other elements can cause damage to the door frames hinges, hinges and locking mechanisms, and eventually, they stop functioning as they ought to. It is essential to be proactive and regularly inspect your sliding doors for damage and then make any repairs needed.
Some of the most frequent problems with patio door locks include difficulty locking or unlocking them, a stuck latch, and keys that don't move smoothly. You may need to adjust the lock mechanism or tighten screws depending on the issue you're experiencing.
If your patio door lock is stuck in the open position and you're unable to pry it out, try using a flat-head or credit card. If none of these options work, call a professional locksmith who can help you open the patio door lock without causing damage to the frame.
The mortise lock on sliding uPVC patio doors usually has comprised of a handle and a cylinder that secures the lock. The locks are safe however they can be damaged or bent when a slammed patio door. It is a good idea to inspect the mortise lock and handle for signs of wear, such as bends or scratches, before it breaks and you have to replace it.
You can also take a photo of the lock to determine its size and location. You can then provide these details to a vendor if you are looking for an alternative lock. This will ensure that you get an appropriate lock that is compatible with the door and is compatible to the current mounting setup. If not, you'll face a difficult time trying to install a lock that's not compatible with the current hardware. That could lead to further issues later on.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are a common entrance point into homes, making them a prime target for burglars. Therefore, it is essential that your patio door lock is fully functional and conforms to Police & Insurance Standards.
Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to handle a lock that is refusing to 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 security you'd like to have.
The first thing that you must do is give the lock a good clean using hot soapy water and a damp, clean cloth. You should wipe off any dirt or stains that might have built up on the lock. After that you can use dry, clean cloths to eliminate any excess moisture and let the lock air-dry before you try to re-insert.
The next step is to be sure to lubricate your lock. This is particularly important for patio doors made of uPVC because they can become extremely noisy with age. Spray lubricant such as WD40 or petroleum jelly to smooth the keyways and internal mechanisms. When applying the lubricant, make sure you wipe your keys afterward to avoid spreading any dirt that may have accumulated on it.
After cleaning and lubricating your uPVC patio door, make sure you test it. Examine whether the door is moving into and out of the frame without a hitch. Also, ensure that the hinges and locking points are aligned properly with the frame of the door. You will notice alignment marks along the edge of the door frame. You can easily fix the problem by re-aligning the doors with the frame.
It's also worth noting that there are different types of uPVC patio door locks available and you might need to replace the lock if the one you have is damaged or broken. If you own E2011 patio doors locks, you'll have to replace them to be safe with E2469 and E2487 lock assembly. These assemblies consist of three components comprised of an E2014 mortise latch, an escutcheon plates and the lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The mechanism that locks most patio doors is hidden within the door. You can buy replacement kits at many locksmiths and home improvement stores when your key cylinder is been damaged or you're looking to upgrade your lock to provide better security. These kits range between $10 and $20 and include a tool for opening the lock, as well as an additional cylinder. The instructions included in the kit will tell you how to remove and clean your old lock. Install the new lock. You may have to adjust the key cylinder slightly to ensure it is operating properly depending on how tight it fits in the lock hole in the door frame.
Dry graphite powder can be used to lubricate locks. It is a low-cost and popular alternative to liquid lubricants which can attract dust and clog the mechanism. You can purchase it from hardware stores or model train shops, as well as some office supply stores. If you choose to use it, make sure the graphite chunks are free of wood particles. You can also buy the commercial graphite lubricant available in spray form. The solvent in the spray evaporates once it is applied, leaving behind a dry layer of graphite which lubricates the lock.
You can also apply lubrication to your lock by applying some WD-40 sprays directly into the keyway. Then, push RepairMyWindowsAndDoors in and out several times to spread the lubricant throughout the lock. After a few moments then turn the key to see if it turns smoothly. If the key is still stuck, try the lock again within a few days after the WD-40 has dried.
Changing your patio door locks is a straightforward task for most homeowners, but the process could be more complicated if have a sliding door with an invisible latch and built-in deadbolt lock. If your patio door is equipped with an invisible latch, it will be required to remove the decorative interior cover by removing the screws that secure it. If your patio door is equipped with a deadbolt, it is necessary to remove the bolt from the edge of the door. After removing both the deadbolt and knob assembly, you are able to install the new lock.
Replace the Lock
Patio doors are an important part of your home's security and it's normal for them to occasionally malfunction. Debris may get stuck within the lock mechanism or it may wear out over the course of time. In either case, a broken patio door latch can pose a serious security risk to your home. Regularly checking the locks on your patio doors can keep them in good condition and allow you to quickly fix any issues.
If you find that lubricating your lock fails to solve the problem then it's time to replace it. This is an easy task that most homeowners can complete themselves, however, it is important to follow the directions to ensure that the new lock will work with your existing system. It's also a good idea to take the old lock with you to the store to ensure that a customer support representative can guide you towards the right replacement.
The first step to replace the patio door lock is to take off the handle. You can do this by unscrewing the screws that hold the interior handle in place. After the handle is removed it will be possible to gain access to 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. Be sure to fix the lever using the help of a graphite pencil because it will fall into the frame and get lost if it is not secured. The next step is to remove the door strike from the jamb. The hole in which the lock hook is located when the patio door closes will be exposed. Once the door strike is removed you can screw the new one in place.
It is important to use larger screws when replacing a door strike. They are used to fix it to the frame. It is also important to ensure that the new strike is properly aligned with the opening in the door frame. Then make sure you tighten the two parts.
There are many different locks for patio doors. The most common is the central rail lock with key operated. They secure the door to the frame at multiple points, and when the key is inserted, all of the points will be locked. These locks provide a higher level security than basic locking mechanisms, and often result in lower homeowner's insurance premiums.