Patio Door Locks Repair
Your home's security is dependent on the locks that are installed on your patio door. If they're not working properly, it can compromise the safety of your family and belongings.
Fortunately, a few simple steps can usually fix patio door lock problems and keep your home secure. This easy fix is cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Inspect the Lock
Patio doors are a vital security element and need to work efficiently to keep burglars and elements at bay. Wear and tear, extreme temperatures and dust can cause frame, hinges, and locking mechanisms to fail. It is best to take a proactive approach in dealing with these issues and regularly check your sliding door locks for signs of damage and make necessary repairs.
Among the most common problems that may cause problems for your patio door locks is difficulty locking or unlocking, a sticky latch, or keys that don't rotate smoothly. You may need to adjust the mechanism of your lock or tighten screws depending on the issue you are experiencing.
If your patio door lock is stuck in the open position and you are unable to open it try using a flat-head or credit card. If none of these options are working, you should contact an expert locksmith who will assist you in opening the door lock without damaging the frame.
Sliding uPVC patio doors are usually fitted with a mortise lock which utilizes a handle and cylinder to secure the lock. These locks are secure but they may break or bend in the force of a closed patio door. It is a good idea to examine the mortise lock and handle for indications of wear, like scratches or bends before it is broken and you have to replace it.
It's an excellent idea to identify the size and location of the existing lock by taking a picture with your digital camera. This will allow you to communicate these details to a vendor when you're searching for a new lock. This will ensure you're getting the right lock for your door and is compatible with the current mounting setup. If not, you'll face difficulties installing a new lock that isn't compatible with the existing hardware. This could cause further problems in the future.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are the most frequent point of entry into the home, making them an ideal target for burglars. As such, it's crucial that your patio door locks are secure 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, 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'd like to have.
First, you should clean the lock using hot soapy water using a damp cloth. You'll want to clean away any stains or dirt that may have accumulated on the lock. After this then you can use a dry, clean cloth to wipe away any excess water and allow the lock to air-dry completely before attempting to re-insert it.
Next, you need to make sure that the lock is lubricated. This is especially important for uPVC patio doors as they can become extremely squeaky with the passage of time. Use WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate keyways as well as internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant on your key, wipe it off to avoid redistributing any dirt that may have built up.
After cleaning and lubricating your uPVC patio door, make sure you test it. Examine whether the door is sliding in and out of the frame without a hitch. Also, make sure that the hinges and locking points are properly aligned with the frame of the door. You will notice alignment marks along the edges of the door frame. You can easily fix the problem by re-aligning the doors with the frame.
It's also important to know that different types of uPVC door locks are available. You might need to replace your lock if it's damaged or broken. If you own E2011 patio door locks, you'll need to replace them to ensure that you are secure with E2469 and E2487 lock assemblies. These assemblies consist of three components, including an E2014 mortise lock, an escutcheon and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The lock mechanism for the majority of patio doors is concealed within the door. You can buy an upgrade kit from most locksmiths and home improvement stores when your key cylinder is been damaged or if you're looking to upgrade your lock to provide better security. The kits cost from $10 to $20 and include a tool to open the lock, as well as a spare cylinder. The instructions included in the kit will explain how to take apart and clean the old lock. Install the new lock. Depending on how securely the key cylinder fits in the hole of the lock it is possible to adjust it a bit for proper operation.
If you are looking to grease your lock, dry graphite powder is an easy and affordable alternative to liquid lubricants that can cause dust to build up and damage the mechanism. It is available at hardware stores, model train shops, and even some office supply shops. If you decide to use it, ensure that the graphite chunk is free of any wood particles. You can also purchase an industrial graphite lubricant that is available in spray form. When the spray is applied to the lock, the solvent in the spray evaporates, leaving behind a layer of dry graphite which locks without attracting dust or accumulating moisture.
You can also lubricate your lock by spraying WD-40 into the keyway. Inject your key out several times to spread the lubricant across the lock. After a few minutes, test the key once more and see whether it turns effortlessly. If the key is stuck, try it again few days after the WD-40 has dried.
The replacement of your patio door locks is a simple task for most homeowners, but the process could be more complicated if you have a sliding door with an invisible latch and a built-in deadbolt lock. If your patio door has an invisible latch, you'll have to remove the decorative cover by removing the screws holding the cover in place using the help of a screwdriver. If your patio door is fitted with a deadbolt it is required to remove the bolt. After removing the knob and the deadbolt assembly, you can put in the new lock.
Replace the Lock
Patio doors are an important element of your home's security and it's not uncommon for them to malfunction from time to time. Debris may get stuck within the lock mechanism or it could wear out over the course of time. A damaged or broken patio door latch can pose a major security risk to your home. Regularly checking your patio door locks can help keep them in good working order and let you easily solve any issues that occur.
If lubricating the lock does not fix the problem it's time to replace it. Most homeowners can perform this task on their own. However, it's important to carefully go through the directions to ensure that the new lock is compatible with the old lock. You can also bring your old lock to the store to help locate the right replacement.
The first step to replace a patio door lock is to remove the handle. You can do this by unscrewing the screws that hold the interior handle in place. Once the handle is removed, you can then gain access to the screws that connect the lock body to the door jamb.
After removing the screws, you can slide out the latch body from the door frame. Secure the latch lever using a graphite pen. It will fall into the frame if it is not secured. The next step is to take the door strike from the jamb. The hole where the lock hook is when the patio door is closed will be exposed. After removing the door strike, you can put the new one in.
https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/patio-door-repairs-bournemouth/ is essential to use longer screws when re-screwing the door strike. These will be used to attach 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 tighten the two together.
There are various types of locks for patio doors however the most commonly used is a central rail lock that is operated by a key. They bolt the door into the frame in multiple points and, when the key is inserted, all of the points should lock. These locks provide a greater level of security than basic locking systems and can often earn you discounts on your homeowner's insurance.