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How to Troubleshoot and Repair Patio Door Locks Keep your patio doors in good condition to safeguard your home from intruders. However, the elements may cause the doors and their locks to be misaligned or damaged. You can repair your patio door lock on your own when it's not functioning properly. These steps will resolve issues with the latch, keyway, and handle. Check the Lock Patio doors are often targeted by burglars due to their huge quantity of glass and their convenient location within a home. Having well-functioning locks is therefore essential to ensure that your home is safe. There are simple methods to repair patio door locks that have stopped working. First, inspect the lock and make sure nothing is blocking it from latching or locking. You should address any issues you find like loose screws or rust. In some cases an adjustment of the door's location could be sufficient to fix the issue. Another issue that is common is dust or debris that could cause the lock mechanism to not function properly. To prevent this from occurring, be sure to clean your patio door regularly and clean the lock hardware. You can apply a mild detergent solution when needed, but ensure that you dry the lock thoroughly afterward. It is also a good idea to lubricate your lock regularly. The moving parts inside your uPVC patio lock are comparable to those used in a finely tuned machine. They can jam or get stuck just like any other mechanical device. Using a graphite pencil or a light lubricant can help to remove any dirt or debris that has accumulated inside the lock cylinder and keep it operating smoothly. It is crucial to know the exact dimensions of the patio door lock. This will help you locate the right lock replacement that fits perfectly with the existing mechanism. If you're not sure how to do it, contact a professional locksmith or tradesperson for assistance. Clean the Lock The intricate parts of the door lock can get jammed over time because of dirt, dust, and hot and cold weather. These issues can affect your home's security. But it's easy to fix these problems If you know how. Before making any repairs, you must first clean your lock. Utilizing a damp, clean cloth, wipe away any debris or stains that may hinder your lock from functioning properly. Make use of hot soapy water and a bit of grit to clean the lock mechanism. Dry your locks completely after cleaning them. The majority of patio doors are secured using mortise locking mechanisms. This is a secure lock, but it is susceptible to issues in time. If your uPVC lock has become stuck, the first step is to clean and lubricate it. For the uPVC lock it is best to begin by cleaning the latch plate using a small amount of soapy water. The next step is to unfasten the screws that hold the latch body in the position. After you have the latch plate as well as handle removed, you'll be ready to remove the latch from its slot in the door frame. Once the latch has been removed and lubricated, you can apply with a light engineering lubricant like WD40. If you don't own WD40 or a graphite pencil, a graphite pens can be used to clean dirt and grit off the mechanism. If your uPVC locks aren't working, you may need to reposition lock cylinder. This requires some additional tools and should be done by an expert. You can practice repositioning a cylinder, without having to remove it from the door. Open and close the door while the cylinder is in lock position. Then make pencil marks on the frame the area where the screws that support the cylinder in place are. Lubricate the Lock When your lock is free of debris and dirt it's a good idea to lubricate the keyhole as well as the locks themselves. Using the correct type of lubricant will keep your lock in top condition, and extends its life. Dry graphite powder is excellent for lubricating small metal components like locks since it's not oily or sticky and lasts for longer than liquid greases. It's easy to apply and you can apply it to sliding doors, door hinges and garage door tracks. Master locksmith Shawn Fago recommends using a pencil-type graphite lubricant that is designed specifically for lock cylinders. Liquid lubricants can be more effective than graphite, especially in humid climates. Silicone lubricants are resistant to water and won't attract as much dust and dirt as other types of liquid lubricants. They are suitable for both low and high temperatures. Certain silicone lubricants may build up over time, and can displace other lubricants that you've used. Teflon-based lubricants can be a great alternative to silicone lubricants because they last for a long time and don't attract dust and dirt. They're also great for cold environments because they'll stop the accumulation of ice inside the lock. If your lock's cylinder seems extremely stiff and hard to turn, it's probably damaged and will need to be replaced. A professional locksmith can take apart the lock mechanism and replace it with an entirely new cylinder that is compatible with your existing keys. They can also repair or modify existing locking mechanisms. A professional can install a new lock cylinder if the door isn't equipped with one. This will increase safety and security. They can also install new faceplates for your lock on your patio door that are in keeping with the rest. Reposition the Lock Cylinder If cleaning and lubricating the door doesn't work, the issue could be that the latch on the door isn't aligned properly with the jamb or frame. To test this, open the sliding patio door and look both ways from the door's opening to see if the door is parallel with the frame or jamb. If not you can loosen the screws that hold the latch body and adjust it upwards or downwards until the latch is able to catch the latch's hasp with a tight snap when the door is shut. The latch is also sometimes difficult to close due to the cylinder is worn out. You'll need a replacement cylinder if the worn cylinder is making it difficult to turn the key. It is essential to select an alternative cylinder that is the same size as the previous one and has the same style keyway, so you can easily replace it by screwing the two halves of the lock to one side and then inserting the new one. patio door repair sell replacement cylinders. You'll need the manufacturer and model number of your current cylindrical to purchase a replacement. If you don't know the model and manufacturer, take a photo of the cylinder along with its mounting screws. Then go to the local hardware store for assistance. Once you have the new cylinder in place remove it from the screw that holds it in place. Take off the escutcheon. Use a screwdriver for the removal of the lock cylinder, escutcheon plates and lock from the door as well as the door frame. Set the screw in a safe location so you don't loose or damage it. Then, loosen enough the set screw that is located on the cylinder keep (the metal piece that fits into the rectangular hole in the door). Replace the Lock A patio door lock that's not functioning properly can be an immediate security risk. Dirt and debris can become stuck in the lock mechanisms. If this issue isn't taken care of promptly, the lock will eventually stop working and won't longer provide security. It's a simple DIY project to change the patio door lock. You only need just a few tools and a bit of time. Start by inspecting the lock and determining the cause of the issue. If cleaning and lubrication do not aid, the latch could be bent too much to function properly. If this is the case, replace the lock latch using mortise locking to ensure it's as solid and secure as possible. If you're not confident in tackling this DIY task yourself contact a locksmith or door hardware expert to assist you in the installation of an entirely new lock. They'll have all the tools and expertise needed to install the lock properly. Routine maintenance is essential to keep your patio door lock operating effectively. Check that the knobs and handle aren't loose, and if they are tighten them as required. Lubricate your lock at least once per year to avoid it getting stuck or becoming stiff. It is recommended that locks that are exposed to heavy usage or extreme weather should be lubricated more frequently. The type of lubricant you use is crucial, so make sure to select one that's specifically designed for use with locks (GT85 or WD-40's Specialist Friction Dry PTFE). Apply the lubricant to the keyhole of the lock mechanism to achieve best results.