The locks on your patio doors are an crucial to your home’s security. When they aren’t working correctly, it could compromise the safety of your household and belongings.
A few simple steps can fix patio door lock problems and ensure your home is secure. This quick fix is lubricating and cleaning the lock.
Check the Lock
Patio doors are an essential security feature. They must be capable of surviving the elements and keep burglars out. Regular wear and tear, extreme temperatures, and dust can cause door frames, hinges and locking mechanisms to fail. It is essential to be on the lookout and regularly check your sliding patio door repair service doors for damage and then make any repairs needed.
Among the most common problems that may affect your patio door locks is difficulty locking or unlocking, a stuck latch, and keys that don’t rotate smoothly. You may need to adjust the mechanism of your lock or tighten screws according to the issue you’re experiencing.
If the issue with the lock on your patio door is that it’s stuck in the open position Try using a credit card or a flat-head screwdriver to pry it open. If none of these methods are working, you should contact a professional locksmith who will help you open the patio door lock without damaging the frame.
Sliding uPVC patio doors usually come with a mortise lock that utilizes a handle and cylinder to secure the lock. The locks are safe however they can break or bend when a open patio door that is slammed. It is important to check the mortise locks and handles for indications of wear like scratches or bends before they break and you need to replace them.
It’s also a good idea to identify the size and position of the current lock by taking a picture with your digital camera. This will allow you to provide these details to a supplier when you’re looking for a replacement lock. This will ensure that you’re getting the right lock for your door and is compatible with your current mounting configuration. It will be difficult to install the lock that’s not compatible with the hardware you have already. This could cause additional problems in the future.
Clean the Lock
Patio doors are an incredibly common entry point into your home which makes them a prime target for burglars. Therefore, it’s essential that your patio door locks are functional and conform to Police & Insurance standards.
Fortunately, there are easy steps you can follow to handle locks that are refusing to cooperate. If you have to re-align the patio door or clean the lock, or even replace the lock, these four steps will ensure that your doors are operating correctly and offering the level of security you’d like to have.
First, you 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. Once you’ve done this then you can use a dry, clean cloth to get rid of any excess water and allow the lock to dry completely before trying to re-insert it.
The next step is to make sure that your lock is lubricated. This is particularly crucial for doors made of uPVC that tend to become very squeaky over time. Use WD40 or petroleum jelly to grease keyways and internal mechanisms. After applying the lubricant on your key, wipe it off to avoid redistributing any dirt that might have built up.
After your uPVC patio doors are cleaned and lubricated, then test them. Examine if the door moves effortlessly into and out of its frame. Make sure the hinges and locking point are aligned properly with the frame. You should be able see the alignment marks on the edges of your door frame, and you can easily fix them by re-aligning your doors to the frame.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that there are various types of uPVC patio door locks available and you may need to replace the lock if the one you have is damaged or broken. For instance, if you have E2011 patio door locks, you’ll have to replace them with E2469 or E2487 lock assemblies to ensure that they are safe. The assemblies consist of three parts, including an E2014 mortise lock, an escutcheon, and a lock hasp.
Lubricate the Lock
The mechanism of the lock for most patio door handle repair near me doors is hidden within the door. If your key cylinder is worn out or you wish to upgrade your lock to increase security, you can purchase the replacement kit at most locksmiths or home improvement stores. The kits cost from $10 to $20 and include a tool to open the lock as well as an additional cylinder. The instructions in the kit will show you how to disassemble and clean the old lock. Install the new lock. Depending on how tight the key cylinder fits in the hole of the lock, you may need to adjust it a bit to ensure proper operation.
Dry graphite powder can be used to lubricate locks. It is a low-cost and widely used alternative to liquid lubricants, which attract dust and clog the mechanism. It is available at hardware stores, model train shops, and a few office supply stores. If you decide to use it, make sure the dry graphite chunk is free from tiny bits of wood sticking to it. You can also purchase commercial graphite spray. After application to the lock, the solvent present in the spray evaporates, leaving a layer of dry graphite which locks without attracting dust or accumulating moisture.
You can also lubricate your lock by spraying WD-40 onto the keyway. Push your key in-and-out repeatedly to spread the grease. After a few minutes, try the key once more and see if it turns effortlessly. If your key is still stuck, try again a few days after the WD-40 has dried.
Many homeowners can easily alter their patio door locks but if the sliding door has an invisible latch or a deadbolt lock that is built-in the door, the process might be more complex. If your patio door comes with an invisible latch, it’s required to remove the decorative interior cover by unscrewing screws that secure it. If your patio door is fitted with a deadbolt, it is necessary to remove the bolt from the door’s edge. After you have removed the deadbolt and the knob assembly, you can put in the new lock.
Replace the Lock
Patio doors are an essential component of the security of your home and it’s normal for them to malfunction from time to time. The debris could get caught in the mechanism of the lock, or it could simply wear out over time. A damaged patio door latch could pose an extremely dangerous security risk to your home. Conducting regular inspections of your patio door frame repair door locks will help to keep them in good condition and allow you to easily solve any issues that occur.
If you find that lubricating your lock fails to solve the issue then it’s time to replace it. This is a task that most homeowners can do at home, however, it is important to follow the directions to ensure that the new lock is compatible with your existing lock. You can also bring your old lock to the store to help find the right replacement.
To replace a patio door handle remove the handle. It is done by removing the screws that hold the handle in place. After the handle is removed it will be possible to remove the screws that hold the lock body in place.
After removing the screws you can remove the latch body from the door frame. Secure the lever with a graphite pen. It will fall into the frame if not secured. Next, remove the door strike. This will reveal the hole the lock hook is inserted into when the patio door is closed. After the old door strike is removed you can install the new one in.
It is important to use screws with longer lengths when re-screwing the door strike. They are used to attach it to the frame. It is also important to ensure that the new strike is aligned properly with the opening in the door frame, and tighten the two together.
There are a variety of patio door locks, but the most common is a central rail key-operated lock. These bolt the doors into the frame at multiple points, and when keys are inserted all of the points should lock at once. These locks provide a higher level security than basic locking mechanisms and may result in discounts on homeowner’s insurance.