Patio Door Locks Repair

The locks on your patio doors are essential to your home's security. If they're not working properly, you put your family and possessions at risk.

Fortunately, a few simple steps will usually solve issues with your patio door lock and keep your home secure. This easy fix is cleaning and lubricating the lock.

Inspect the Lock

Patio doors are a vital security feature. They should be able to withstand the elements and keep burglars out. Wear and tear, extreme temperatures and dust can cause door frames, hinges and locking mechanisms to fail. It's important to be proactive and regularly check your sliding doors for damage and then make any repairs needed.

Some of the most frequent problems with patio door locks is difficulty locking or unlocking them, a latch that is stuck and keys that don't rotate smoothly. Depending on the specific problem you're experiencing, you may need to tighten screws or adjust the mechanism of the lock to get it working properly again.

If your patio door lock is stuck in an open position and you are unable to open it try using a flat-head or credit card. If these options don't work, you should think about hiring a professional locksmith to assist you in opening the lock without damaging the door frame.

The mortise lock on sliding uPVC patio doors usually has comprised of a handle and a cylinder which secures the lock. The locks are safe but they may bend or break when a open patio door that is slammed. It is a good idea to check the mortise lock and handle for indications of wear, like scratches or bends before it breaks and you have to replace it.

It's also a good idea to determine the size and positioning of the existing lock by taking a picture with your digital camera. Then, you can provide these details to a supplier if you are looking for the right lock. This will ensure you get a lock that fits the door and is compatible to the current mounting setup. Otherwise, you'll have difficulties trying to install a new lock that's not compatible with the current hardware. That could lead to further issues later on.

Clean the Lock

patio door repair service doors are the most common point of entry into the home, tilt and slide patio door repairs are therefore an ideal target for burglars. It is therefore vital that the lock on your patio door is fully functional and meets Police & Insurance Standards.

There are a few easy ways to fix a lock that won't cooperate. Whether you need to realign the patio door or clean the lock, or even replace it, these four basic steps will ensure that your doors are functioning properly and providing the security you're looking for.

The first thing that you should do is give the lock a good clean with some hot soapy water and a damp towel. You'll want to get rid of any dirt or stains that may have been accumulating on the lock. After you've done this you can use dry cloths to eliminate any excess moisture and let the lock air dry before you try to re-insert.

Then, you must lubricate the lock. This is particularly important for patio doors made of uPVC because they can become extremely noisy with age. Use WD40 or petroleum jelly to lubricate keyways and internal mechanisms. When applying the lubricant make sure to wipe off your key afterwards to avoid redistributing any grime that might have accumulated on it.

Once your uPVC patio screen door repair near me doors are cleaned and lubricated, then test them. Observe if the door slides smoothly inside and out of its frame. Also, ensure that the hinges and locking points are aligned correctly with the frame of the door. You should be able see the alignment marks on the edges of your door frame, and you can easily correct them by aligning the doors with 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 yours 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. These assemblies are made up of three parts, 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 purchase a replacement kit at most home improvement stores and locksmiths if your key cylinder has worn out or if you want to upgrade your lock for better security. These kits cost $10 to $20 and include a tool for opening the lock as well as an additional cylinder. Follow the instructions included in your kit for disassembling and cleaning the old lock, and 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.

Dry graphite powder can be used to lubricate locks. It is an inexpensive and popular alternative to liquid lubricants which can draw dust and gum the mechanism. It can be purchased from hardware stores or model train shops as well as some office supply stores. If you choose to use it, make sure the piece of dry graphite is free from tiny bits of wood that have stuck to it. You can also purchase the commercial graphite lubricant available in spray form. When applied to the lock, the solvent present in the spray evaporates and leaves a layer of dry graphite that lubricates the lock without attracting dust or collecting moisture.

You can also lubricate your lock by spraying WD-40 in the keyway. The key should be pushed in and out several times to distribute the grease. After a couple of minutes you can turn the key and see if it moves smoothly. If the key is stuck, try it again a few days after the WD-40 has dried.

The replacement of your patio door locks is a simple task for most homeowners, however the process could be more complicated if have a sliding door that has an invisible latch as well as a built-in deadbolt lock. If your patio door has an invisible latch, you will have to remove the decorative cover by unscrewing the screws that hold the cover in place using a screwdriver. If your patio door comes with a deadbolt, it will be necessary to take off the bolt. Install the new lock after removing the deadbolt assembly and the knob.

Replace the Lock

Patio doors are a crucial component of the security of your home and it's normal for them to occasionally malfunction. Debris can get lodged inside the lock mechanism or it can simply wear out due to the use and age. A broken patio door latch can be a serious security threat to your home. Regularly checking your patio door locks will help to keep them in good working order 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 complete by themselves, but it's important to carefully follow the directions to ensure that the new lock will work with your existing system. It's also an excellent idea to bring the old lock with you to the store to ensure that a customer support representative can help you find an alternative.

The first step in replacing the lock on a patio door is to take off the handle. This can be accomplished by unscrewing the screws which hold the handle in place. Once the handle is removed, you will be able to gain access to the screws that connect the lock body to the door jamb.

After the screws have been removed after which you can lift the latch lever out of the door frame. Secure the latch lever using a graphite pen. It will fall into the frame if not secured. Then, take off the door strike. The hole where the lock hook is located when the patio door is closed will be revealed. After removing the door strike, you are able to put the new one in.

When you are re-screwing the door strike, you must be sure to use longer screws as they will be used to secure the strike to the frame. Make sure that the new strike is aligned with opening of the door frame, and then tighten them both.

There are various types of patio door locks, but the most common is a central rail key-operated lock. These bolt the doors into the frame at several points, and when a key is inserted all of the points should lock at once. These locks offer a greater level security than basic locking mechanisms and may result in discounts on homeowner's insurance.