The locks on your patio doors are essential to your home's security. If they're not functioning properly, you can put your family and possessions at risk.
A few simple steps can usually fix problems with patio door locks and keep your home secure. This easy fix is cleaning and lubricating the lock.
Check the Lock
Patio doors are a vital security feature. They need to be strong enough to withstand the elements and keep burglars at bay. However, regular wear and tear, hot and cold weather and dust can cause damage to the door frames hinges, hinges and locking mechanisms, and eventually cause them to cease to function as they should. It's important to be proactive and regularly check your sliding doors for damage, and make any repairs needed.
The most frequent problems with patio door repair company door locks include difficulty locking or unlocking them, a stuck latch, and keys that don't turn smoothly. It is possible 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 get it out, try using a flat-head or credit card. If these methods don't work, consider hiring a professional locksmith to help you open the lock without damaging the frame of the door.
Sliding uPVC patio doors are usually fitted with a mortise lock which uses a handle and a cylinder to secure the lock. The locks are safe, but can bend or break when a open patio door that is slammed. You should inspect the mortise locks and handles for indications of wear like bends or scratches prior to when they break, and you'll need to replace them.
It's also a good idea to determine the size and position of the current lock by taking a photo with your digital camera. You can then provide the details to a dealer when you're looking for the right lock. This will ensure that you get the right lock for your door and is compatible with the current mounting configuration. It will be difficult to install the lock that's not compatible with the hardware you have already. 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. It is therefore essential that the locks on your patio door lock repair doors are secure and up to Police & Insurance standards.
There are some simple ways to solve a lock that doesn't cooperate. These four steps will allow you ensure that your patio doors are functioning properly and are providing the security you need.
The first thing you should do is give the lock a thorough clean with some hot soapy water and a damp towel. You'll want to clean away any dirt or stains that might have built up on the lock. After you've done this you can use dry, clean cloths to remove any excess moisture and let the lock air dry before you try to re-insert.
Next, you should be sure to lubricate your lock. This is particularly important for uPVC doors that tend to become very squeaky in time. You can apply a spray lubricant like WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate keyways and internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant on your key, clean it off to avoid spreading any dirt that might have accumulated.
After cleaning and lubricating your uPVC patio door, you must test it. Examine if the door moves smoothly into and out of its frame. Make sure that the hinges and locking points are aligned properly with the frame. You should be able see the alignment marks on the edges of your door's frame, and you can easily fix them by aligning the doors with the frame.
It's also important to note that there are different kinds of uPVC door locks are available. You may need to replace your lock if it is damaged or broken. If you have E2011 patio door locks, you'll need to replace them to be secure with E2469 and E2487 lock assemblies. These assemblies are made up of three parts, including an E2014 mortise lock, escutcheon and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The lock mechanism for most patio doors is hidden inside the door. You can buy a replacement kit at most home improvement stores and locksmiths 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 a spare cylinder. Follow the instructions included in the kit to disassemble and clean your old lock. Then put in the new one. You may need to adjust the cylinder slightly to ensure it is operating properly, depending on how tightly it fits into the lock hole in the door frame.
If you are looking to lubricate your lock, dry graphite powder is a popular and cheap alternative to liquid lubricants which can cause dust to build up and damage the mechanism. It is available at hardware stores, model train shops and some office supply stores. If you decide to use it, make sure the chunk of dry graphite is free from tiny bits of wood stuck to it. You can also purchase an industrial graphite lubricant that is available in spray form. When the spray is applied to the lock, the solvent present in the spray evaporates, leaving a layer of dry graphite that helps to lubricate the lock without drawing dust or collecting moisture.
You can also lubricate your lock by applying several sprays of WD-40 directly into the keyway. Push your key in-and-out several times to spread the lubricant. After a few moments, turn the key to see if it moves smoothly. If the key does not turn then try the lock again within a few days after the WD-40 has been allowed to dry.
Changing your patio door locks is a straightforward task for most homeowners, however the process can be more complicated if have a sliding door that has an invisible latch and deadbolt lock built-in. If your patio door is equipped with an invisible latch, it's necessary to remove the decorative interior cover by taking off the screws that hold it in place. If your patio door is fitted with a deadbolt, it is necessary to remove the bolt from the edge of the door. After removing both the deadbolt and the knob assembly, you are able to install the new lock.
Replace the Lock
It's not uncommon for patio sliding door repair near me doors to fail. They are an important security feature of your home. Debris may get stuck in the lock mechanism, or it could simply wear out over the course of time. A damaged patio door latch could pose an extremely dangerous security risk to your home. Regularly inspecting patio door locks can help keep them in good condition and let you swiftly solve any issues.
If you can't solve the issue, you'll need to replace it. This is a task that most homeowners can handle at home, however, it's crucial to follow the instructions to ensure that the new lock will work with your current system. You can also bring your old lock to the store to help you find a replacement.
To replace the handle on a patio door, remove the handle. This can be done by unscrewing screws that keep 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 jamb of the door.
Once the screws are 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 be thrown into the frame and become lost if not secured. The next step is to remove the door strike from the jamb. This will reveal the hole the lock hook fits into when the patio door is closed. After removing the door strike, you are able to screw in the new one.
When re-screwing the door strike, it's important to use larger screws since they'll be used to fix the frame to the strike. It is also important to ensure that the new strike is aligned properly with the opening in the door frame and ensure that the two are secured.
There are different types of aluminium patio door repairs door locks however the most commonly used is a central rail key-operated lock. These bolt the doors into the frame at multiple points, and once 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 often result in discounts on homeowner's insurance.
The locks on your patio doors are essential to your home's security. If they're not functioning properly, you can put your family and possessions at risk.
