How to Repair a PVC Door Lock
While most PVC door locks are very strong and long-lasting, there reaches a point when they get weak and break, or when something happens, and you need to repair it. This can sometimes be expensive depending on the type of lock you have. However, there is always the choice of doing it yourself, and we will talk about the step by step process of doing so.
Various problems can occur with locks, including:
- The lock key stopping to work
- Locks that do not latch properly
- Frozen door locks
- Turned lock cylinder
- Loose doorknob
- Stuck deadbolt
If you have some problems with your doors give Top Door Repair a call.
Lock key stops working
There are two possible explanations of this: either your key is dirty or dry. For such cases, you need to use graphite to lubricate the key. Take note: some people advise that you use other oils, but this is not recommended as it will lead to gumming up. This is the most straightforward problem with locks.
Locks that do not latch properly
Locks fail to latch properly when the latch and the strike plate do not align well. For such a case, you should tighten the hinge screws so that there is a perfect alignment. Then loosen the strike plate screws and slightly shift it.
Turned lock cylinder
This happens in case the setscrew breaks or loosens. You need to remove the faceplate on the door edge then check if they are in line with the center of the cylinder. If not, then they are either broken, in which case you need to buy one, or loose, in which case you will have to tighten the.
This may not work, and in that case, you should determine how the bolt connects with the strike plate and determine whether the bolt is leaning more to one of the sides, above or below. In this case, you should continue readjusting the two to align correctly.
Filing the edges of the hole in the strike plate can also be an option for a misalignment of below 1/8-inch. However, for a wider misalignment, just remove the strike plate then shift it to the necessary side.
Stuck deadbolt
When a deadbolt gets stuck, it means the bolt is failing to find the slot in the strike plate, and this will require that you remove the strike plate first. You should then apply glue on the screw holes and a few matchsticks. Then reposition the strike plate and screw it back on.
Loose doorknob
A loose doorknob can also bring problems with the lock. For an interior mortise lockset, you should first loosen the setscrew on the shank, then tighten the loose doorknob by turning it clockwise as you hold the knob on the other side. Lastly, tighten the screw until it fits tightly. Alternatively, the problem could be that the spindle is worn out, and in such a case, you need to replace it.
