DIY interior door locks repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of interior door locks from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

The frequency and intensity of door use in any home is different. However, given the fact that even the highest quality structures and parts are prone to wear and tear, the repair of interior doors is a fairly common occurrence. Therefore, in order to perform it efficiently and ensure a longer service life of the structure, you need to know how to act in case of various types of breakdowns.

Almost any door has a fairly impressive weight and, depending on the frequency of use and the force applied at the same time, the load on the hinges provokes their deformation. At the same time, gaps often appear between the frame and the door leaf. To correct this problem, you can replace the door hinges.

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Sometimes the frame itself is deformed. In this case, do-it-yourself repair of interior doors consists in leveling the box. To do this, several holes are made in it deep into the wall and with the help of dowels it is fixed at the required vertical level.

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If the blade sags before it gets stuck and the floor covering scrapes, proceed as follows:

  • Check how tight the loops are. In some cases, to solve the problem, it is enough to simply tweak them;
  • If the hinges are not loosened, you need to fix them deeper. For this, the door is removed and the hinge mechanisms themselves are disconnected;
  • Deepening can be done with a chisel both in the door leaf and in the frame. After that, the hinges are mounted in their original place.

After this procedure, it is important, initially securing the mechanism with only one screw, to check how the door closes. If the result is unsatisfactory, it is necessary to increase the degree of deepening of the hinge mechanism. Full fixation of the loops is performed only after the desired result has been obtained.

Video (click to play).

If, in the process of repairing the interior door, significant damage is found in the attachment points of the hinge mechanisms, the correct solution would be to move the hinges above or below the old location.

The most unreliable mechanisms of the entire structure are fittings, and in particular door handles. This is due to the rather heavy loads that fall on them. In order to carry out a high-quality repair of door handles used to open and close interior doors, it is necessary to study the type of the mechanism itself.

So the door handles, based on the principle of operation, are divided into:

  • Swivel, usually in the form of a ball with a keyhole in the center;
  • Push-type mechanisms;
  • Standard, immovable.

The most common cause of jamming malfunctions is insufficient lubrication of product components. To eliminate the malfunction, it is enough to disassemble the handle and treat the parts with lubricant. In some cases, it is permissible to simply apply the oil used for processing sewing machine parts to the transom. Subsequently, it is necessary to turn the mechanism several times.

Such measures are often quite enough to eliminate the squeak that occurs during the use of the handle and jamming of the crossbars. If these manipulations did not solve the problem, it is necessary to completely disassemble the door handle.

In this case, the decorative strip is initially removed and the fasteners located under it are unscrewed. When repairing interior doors with your own hands, you need to carefully consider the washer and the rotary spring.For a detailed inspection of the washer, it is necessary to remove the retaining ring. If these elements are damaged, they must be replaced.

In the event that the reversing spring has been displaced, it is simply enough to reinstall it in its original place. However, in the presence of damage in most cases, a complete replacement of the entire mechanism will be required, since pivot springs for door handles are extremely rare on the market.

If it is impossible to identify the problem, the door handle mechanism is completely removed and disassembled. In this case, any broken part must be replaced. The assembly of the product itself must be carried out in the reverse order of disassembly.

In the event of any problems with the lock, repairing interior doors with your own hands is much easier than if there was a breakdown of the locking mechanism of the front door. In most cases, the causes of problems are:

  • Foreign objects in the keyhole in the form of litter or a piece of a broken key;
  • Insufficient lubrication;
  • Skewed door leaf or deformation of the hinges;
  • Mismatch of the hole in the frame with the bolt;
  • Damaged spring or deadbolt mechanism.

If the reason is not in the lock itself, the door leaf should be adjusted. In most cases, it is necessary to tighten or replace the hinge mechanisms. Lubrication of the lock is much more effective when processing the entire interior; for this, the lock must be disassembled. However, even without this, a long-term effect can be achieved. It is enough to apply grease to the bolt using an oiler, syringe or pipette and slowly turn the handle several times.

In the event that the breakdown lies in the mechanism itself, it is necessary to remove and disassemble it. The lock itself consists of a lock and an executive part. For dismantling and disassembly, first of all, the screws located near the core of the product are unscrewed. Next, a key is inserted into the keyhole and the secret is removed by turning it a little. Only then is it permissible to remove the entire lock body.

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The case cover itself also has fasteners in the form of small screws. After their removal, the accumulated dust is cleaned and the integrity of all internal components is inspected. If any damage or deformation is found, the part needs to be replaced.

All parts must be lubricated before assembly. If after all the procedures the lock does not work properly, it must be completely replaced.

Many interior doors are made of wood. Since this material is largely exposed to the external environment, it is not uncommon for the web to dry out and crack. The simplest solution in this case is to install metal corners. However, such measures can significantly spoil the appearance of the structure.

In case of dryness, the repair of interior doors can be carried out by processing the canvas with a special adhesive solution. To do this, the door must be removed from the hinges and the entire surface must be treated. Cracks are lubricated more intensively. To achieve the desired effect, the glued door is slightly squeezed with clamps or a press and left in this form until completely dry. After that, the blade can be reinstalled in its original place.

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If cracks and chips are found on the glass, it must be replaced. For this, the method of its installation is determined. The glass can be fixed with glazing beads or installed inside the curtain.

To remove glass with glazing beads, you need to lift them with a thin screwdriver or knife near each nail. After that, all the strips and the glass itself are removed. The installation of a new glass is carried out in the reverse order.

In the case of an internal type of glass installation, the procedure for replacing it is more laborious. For this, the door is removed from the hinges. There are plugs on the canvas with self-tapping screws under them.These fasteners secure a special cover that holds the glass in place. By unscrewing the screws, the cover can be removed and then remove the damaged glass.

It is important to take into account that a special seal is located in the grooves, which protects the glass from damage during the opening and closing of the doors. In order not to damage it, the edges of the glass are coated with soapy water before installation and dismantling. The installation procedure is carried out upside-down.

How to fix a lock on a door if it suddenly breaks down? Such an unpleasant situation requires an urgent solution, especially when it comes to the front door. In this case, you can make repairs yourself. What is required for this and what actions need to be performed?

To know how to repair it yourself and not damage the door lock, you need to familiarize yourself with its design. There are many types of mechanisms. For an entrance wooden or metal door, the following systems can be used:

  • cylinder - the key is small in size, with notches and protrusions;
  • lever - a key on a long leg with "wings" on the sides;
  • disk - a small semicircular key with notches;
  • Phillips - The wrench is similar to a Phillips screwdriver.

The main types of door locks for the front door

The principle of operation of such systems lies in the features of the locking elements: cylinders, levers or disc plates. Cross locks are similar to cylinder locks, but they do not differ in reliability, since the lock can be broken with a simple screwdriver.

Also distinguish between overhead and mortise locks. It is quite easy to repair the invoice, as you only need to remove the escutcheon. But it will be more difficult to correct the mortise on your own. You should not undertake repairs if you are not familiar with the rules for installing the mechanism, since you can only repair a door lock of such a plan by disassembling it.

Repair of a door lock largely depends on the nature of the breakdown. It is not always possible to fix the problem with your own hands.

A common cause of door lock breakage is failure of the locking mechanism tongue

The most common problems are the following situations:

  • The tongue does not snap. The reason may be an insufficient size of the mating hole. In this case, you need to bore it or displace the iron plate. The pad of the lock itself at the end of the door can block the tongue. It may also be skewed due to frequent use of the door, due to wear and tear of the mechanism. It is necessary to adjust its position.
  • It is difficult to open the door. It can be blocked by a skewed lock or a door frame. The problem is corrected by adjusting these items.
  • Key sticks, turns poorly, or does not insert. Especially often, such a breakdown occurs in the locks of a metal door. The reason may be clogging of the mechanism or displacement of its individual parts. To repair it, you need to disassemble the lock, clean it, lubricate it and install it in its proper place.
  • The lock is jammed. The reason lies in the state of the larva. Repair of the lock, its replacement or complete change of the lock can help.

Do-it-yourself repair of the lock on the front door largely depends on the type of larva mechanism. It is in this detail that the source of the problem most often lies. For a metal door, cylinder and lever locks are most often used.

Replacing the larva will help extend the life of the locking mechanism

How to fix a cylinder lock on a door with your own hands:

  1. Remove the armor plate.
  2. Unscrew the retaining screw at the end of the door.
  3. Pull out the cylinder.
  4. Replace it with a new one and put all the parts back.

In the case of a lever mechanism, it is better to completely replace the lock, since it is highly likely to break again. If the tongue is ignited, you need to disassemble the structure and adjust its position.

Other types of mechanisms are less reliable or do not have adequate quality replacement parts on sale.First of all, this applies to disc and cruciform locks. Therefore, it is easier to install a new lock than to repair a broken larva.

A more complicated situation is when the spacer mechanism becomes unusable. In this case, the repair is carried out by removing the door from the hinges and disassembling the door leaf. The peculiarity of this lock is that when the door is closed, additional crossbars are extended both vertically and horizontally.

Image - DIY do-it-yourself repair of interior door locks

Any locking mechanism requires periodic lubrication

Let's say you checked the security status and did not find the source of the problem. All parts are intact and are in place. How to repair a lock with a working cylinder in a metal door with your own hands? Most likely, the cause of the breakdown lies in the clogging of the mechanism. This situation is not uncommon, especially when it comes to a metal door.

In this case, do-it-yourself repairs are as easy as shelling pears. Unscrew the lock first. Remove all parts of the mechanism. Blow thoroughly and use a stiff brush to remove any accumulated dust and other dirt particles. Then wipe down the larger parts with a cloth. Apply a small amount of lubricant to a cotton swab and carefully clean each piece of the lock. Assemble it and put it back in place. Check the quality of his work.

Please note: after such processing, the key may become contaminated with lubricant for some time.

Quite often, it is required to repair the lock in the interior door. There is a large load on them, and therefore, over time, the tongue begins to sink, the handle sticks or the latch dangles.

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How to repair a lock in an interior door with your own hands:

  • If the problem lies in the sunken latch, it is necessary to disassemble the lock and reinstall it. The spring may need to be replaced.
  • If the handle is loose and does not return the tongue to its original position, you need to check its attachment relative to the pivot mechanism. Then put it back in place and tighten with screws. From time to time, you need to carry out a similar procedure and lubricate the mechanism to prevent its breakdown.
  • When the latch jams, you need to disassemble the part of the lock that is responsible for fixing it. The reason may be displacement of the part, rubbing of elements, their deformation or cracks. In this case, you need to replace the damaged part with a new one.
  • If problems arise with the turnkey lock, the repair is carried out according to the same principle as for the front door. Perhaps replacement of the larva or simple cleaning of the mechanism is required.

If all efforts were in vain, you can call the master. However, you will most likely need to install a new lock.