Patio Door Locks Repair
The locks on your patio doors are an integral part of your home's security. If they're not functioning properly, it can affect the safety of your family and belongings.
Fortunately, a few simple steps can fix patio door lock problems and ensure your home is secure. This quick fix involves cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Inspect the Lock
Patio doors are a crucial security feature and must function effectively to keep burglars and elements at away. Wear and tear, extreme temperatures and dust can cause frames, hinges and locking mechanisms to fail. It is crucial to be proactive and regularly inspect your sliding doors for damage and then make any necessary repairs.
Among the most common problems that can affect your patio door locks is difficulty locking or unlocking, a stuck latch, or keys that don't rotate smoothly. Based on the specific issue you're having you may have to tighten screws or adjust the mechanism of the lock in order to get it working again.
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 neither of these methods work, consider hiring a professional locksmith to assist you in opening the lock without damaging the door frame.
Sliding uPVC patio doors usually come with a mortise lock which includes a handle as well as a locking cylinder to secure the lock. They are secure but they may be damaged or bent under the weight of an closed patio door. It is important to check the mortise locks and handles for signs of wear, such as scratches or bends before they break and you have to replace them.
It's also a good idea to determine the size and positioning of the existing lock by taking a photo using your digital camera. This will help you communicate these details to a supplier when you're seeking a replacement lock. This will ensure that you're getting a lock that fits your door and is compatible with your current mounting setup. If not, you'll face an issue trying to install a lock that isn't compatible with the current hardware. This could lead to more complications in the future.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are a common entry point into your home, making them a prime target for burglars. It is therefore vital that the lock on your patio door is functional and complies with Police & Insurance Standards.
There are a few easy steps you can take to fix a lock that won't 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 properly and providing the security you're looking for.
You should first 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. After that you can use dry, clean cloths to remove any excess moisture and let the lock air-dry before you attempt to re-insert.
Next, you should lubricate your lock. This is especially crucial for patio doors made of uPVC, as they can get extremely squeaky with age. You can use a spray lubricant like WD40 or petroleum jelly to smooth the keyways and internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant to your key, wipe it off to avoid redistributing any dirt that may have built up.
Once your uPVC patio doors are cleaned and lubricated, you should then test them. Check if the door slides smoothly into and out of its frame. Also, ensure that the hinges and locking points are aligned properly with the frame of the door. You should be able see the alignment marks on the edge of your door's frame, and you can fix them by re-aligning the doors to the frame.
Also, it's important to note that there are a variety of uPVC patio door locks that are available, and you may have to replace the lock if yours is damaged or broken. For instance, if your have E2011 patio door locks, you'll have to replace them with E2469 or E2487 lock assemblies to ensure that they are secure. These assemblies are made up of three parts, including an E2014 mortise lock, an escutcheon, and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The mechanism of the lock for the majority of patio doors is concealed inside the door. If your key cylinder is wearing out or you wish to upgrade the lock to increase security, you can buy a replacement kit from most locksmiths or home improvement stores. These kits range between $10 and $20 and include a tool for opening the lock, as well as an extra cylinder. Follow the directions in the kit to disassemble and clean your old lock, then 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 within the door frame.
If you're looking to grease your lock, dry graphite powder is a common and cheap alternative to liquid lubricants that can attract dust and gum up the mechanism. It is available at hardware stores, model train shops, and a few offices supply stores. If you choose 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 patio doors repairs near me is applied to the lock, the solvent in the spray evaporates, leaving behind a layer of dry graphite which lubricates the lock without attracting dust or accumulating moisture.
You can also apply lubrication to your lock by applying some WD-40 sprays directly into the keyway. Inject your key out several times to spread the lubricant throughout the lock. After a few moments, turn the key to check if it is turning smoothly. If your key still sticks then try the lock again a few days later when the WD-40 has had time to dry.
Most homeowners can easily change their patio door locks, but if your sliding door is equipped with an invisible latch or deadbolt lock that is built-in, the process could be more difficult. If your patio door has an invisible latch, you will have to take off the interior decorative cover by unscrewing the screws holding the cover in place using the help of a screwdriver. If your patio door comes with deadbolts it is required to remove the bolt. After removing both 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 a crucial security feature for your home. The debris could get caught in the mechanism of the lock, or it may wear out over time. In either case, a damaged patio door latch can pose an immediate security risk to your property. Regularly inspecting patio door locks can help keep them in good shape and help you quickly correct any issues.
If lubricating your lock does not solve the problem, it's time to replace it. Most homeowners can perform this task by themselves. However, it's essential to read the instructions in order to ensure that your new lock is compatible. You can also bring your old lock to the store to help to find a replacement.
To replace a patio door handle, remove the handle. This can be accomplished by removing the screws that hold the interior handle in place. After the handle has been removed, you will be able to access the screws that hold the lock body to the jamb of the door.
After removing the screws you can remove the latch body from the door frame. Be sure to secure 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 take 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 door strike has been removed, you can put the new one in.
When re-screwing the door strike, you must be sure to use screws that are longer as these will be used to secure the strike to the frame. It is also important to ensure that the new strike is aligned correctly with the opening in the door frame. Then tighten the two together.
There are a variety of locks for patio doors. The most popular is the central rail lock with key operated. These bolt the doors into the frame at various points, and when the key is inserted, all points must lock simultaneously. These locks provide a greater level of security than basic locking systems and can often provide discounts on homeowner's insurance.