How to Replace Door Locks Replacing the door lock could be a challenging task. It is essential to secure your home from potential intruders and also to replace locks if you get a new housemate or let out your home. The majority of modern locks are designed for standard width doors. If your door is more thick, you will need a "thick-door" kit that comes with longer screws and longer tail pieces for the deadbolt. Remove the old lock You'll need to take your old lock from the door before you can install the new one. You can do this using a few simple tools, but you must be careful not to harm your door frame or door. Making use of the right tools will save you money on future repairs. Remove the screws that hold on the handle and trim. You can use a screwdriver do this. Once the screws are removed, you can pull the trim off. You will then be able to gain access to the screw that binds the handle and trim to the door. After removing screw then, you can take off the lock cylinder as well as open the handle. One of the most frequent indications that your lock is getting old is when you are unable to longer turn the key inside. This is because the tumblers are wearing out, and eventually will stop moving up or down, disabling the lock's ability to function. If this happens, you'll have to bring the lock to a locksmith to be reset-keyed. Start by removing the screws that hold the faceplate to its place. If your kit doesn't contain new screws, you'll need to buy them from a hardware shop. If you are installing a mortise locking, you will also need to remove the screws that attach the external roseplate to the door. After you've removed the screws, pull the dead bolt and the plate away from the door. Next, look for a hole in the handle trim inside. If you spot one, insert straightened safety pins into it. You could also try the flat screwdriver against an opening or slot. This should release the lock handle and expose screws which can be removed to remove the entire lock from the door. Installing the new lock Installing a new lock could be done easily regardless of whether you need to replace your lock after an incident of burglary, or simply want to update your door's appearance. It is essential to measure your door prior buying a lock to ensure that it is suitable. This is particularly important for deadbolt locks, which must be a specific size to fit in the strike and pocket of the bolt plate. Ask your local hardware store for advice when you're not sure what measurement to take. If you're replacing mortice locks, make use of the existing centre rail as a guide for positioning the new mortise lock. Once you've determined the location of the lock, drill holes along the centre line to the same size as the lock. Then, chisel away wood until you've got a clear rectangular space for the mortice lock to fit into. After that, insert the lock and outline the faceplate with a marking knife. Mark and drill holes for screws to secure the faceplate in place. If you want to rekey locks, you can save money by purchasing a starter kit that includes keys that are re-keyable as well as a key blank. These kits can be purchased from many online retailers as well as hardware and home improvement stores. These kits also come with instructions to help you complete your task. Check your lease agreement if renting prior to changing locks. It may require that you give the landlord an access key to the new lock. If so, you might be required to take out the old lock and replace it with a new lock. You can purchase a standard lock from the hardware store near you or you can buy an advanced lock that connects to your home's WiFI network and lets you lock and unlock the door remotely. Schlage Smart Lock is compatible with all levers and knobs. This lock can be connected to a security hub for your home so that you can receive alerts when your door is unlocked or opened. Installing a new lock A damaged lock could pose an issue for security, so it is crucial to replace it as soon as you can. It's easy to replace the door lock. The first step is removing the lock that was previously used. The screws holding it in place are unscrewed and the lock is pulled out. You may require either a screwdriver or an Allen wrench, depending on the kind of lock you own. After you have removed the lock that was previously used, save all of the parts and store them in a safe place. Next, install the new lock on the door. The majority of kits come with an image of the cardboard template that shows how the lock should be placed to the door. If the template doesn't line to your door you can trace the template with a pencil, or use a chisel to take off any extra material. Make sure the interior latch plate aligns with the mortise opening once the new lock has been installed. Be cautious not to tighten too much the lock when you install it. This could cause the lock to squeak or even break. If you have a keyed lock, be sure that the spindle is aligned with the hole in the knob. If it isn't then you can make use of a screwdriver in order to push the spindle through the lock and into the knob. Install the baseplate with the design that comes with the lock after you've completed installing it. If the lock does not come with a base plate you can buy one that is compatible with your hardware. Test the new lock to make sure it is working. You can do this by inserting the key into the lock and turning it to make sure that it opens. If it doesn't work then you must contact locksmith. You can also avoid burglaries by having an expert change the locks' keys. This involves changing the internal tumblers of your lock to make it unreceptive to the keys you have previously used. This will help you to feel secure and safe at home. Test the new lock Installing an entirely new lock is a great way to ensure that it works according to the specifications. It's very important to carefully follow the instructions. You may not be able unlock your door if you don't. If https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/croydon-window-lock-repairs-near-me/ of what to do, you can contact a professional locksmith for assistance. A locksmith can also give advice about the best locks for your home. If you are having difficulty opening your lock, there might be a problem with the handle or latch. You can lubricate the latch with graphite, or spray it with WD-40. In some cases it can fix the issue. You may have to replace the latch if the latch is not functioning properly. The lock may have been installed incorrectly. The handle clip inside the door may be damaged or missing from the new lock. In this case it is recommended to grab the handle from the inside and insert the new clip made of plastic. The handle can then be linked to the lock and the lock will be tested. It's important to check the keypad after you've changed your lock to make sure it is working correctly. You can test the keypad by inserting it into the lock and turning it. If the keypad functions properly, it should unlock and lock your door. You should also examine the deadbolt lock to see whether it's working properly. If it's not working, remove the latch on the door and undo the Phillips-head screws. Replace the deadbolt you have used with the new one. Be sure to align and load in the deadbolt lock in the correct way. Another method to test the new lock is by using the spindle test, which can be done by putting a screwdriver into the spindle. This test should be carried out prior to reinstalling a lock in order to avoid any mistakes.