Looking to install a new door lock yourself? Though it’s best to call a trusted locksmith for assistance, here’s a quick guide for those who feel confident of doing it themselves.
Let’s see how to replace a fault door lock and install new door knobs.
Caution: Do not try to do it yourself unless you are confident enough. You might end up locking yourself out or land up in some other troublesome situation. You have been warned! If you are in San Diego, let our expert locksmith help you with house lock installation and repair.
Buying the Right Door Lock
In order to buy the right door knob, you will have to actually check your door and the diameter of the knob that will fit into the door hole.
- Measure the diameter of the holes cut out in your door so that you select a new door lock that fits. Measure carefully to be ale to get the right size door knob.
- If your doorknobs currently installed in your door, remove the existing lock set and check for the diameter of the hole present.
- Measure the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the doorknob hole. This measurement is called the setback. It is important to know this setback length so that your new doorknob properly locks into the space.
- Select a lock with the same diameter and setback. Many new door lock sets allow adjusting the latch distance.
Replace the Doorknob
Once you have the new replacement doorknob, it’s time to get the work started.
- Remove the screws from the door knob in the inside of your door.
- Pull open the exterior knob and the interior dead bolt.
- Remove the screws from the latch plate on the edge (side) of the door and remove the latch from the opening.
- Insert the new latch into the opening with the tapered side (smooth curved side) facing the direction the door closes. If you place the sides wrong, the door won’t lock on pushing.
- Check that the new latch plate fits the recessed area and moves freely when opening or closing the door.
- The long metal piece sticking out of the exterior side of the doorknob is the spindle. It turns and slides the bolt into the door to open it.
- Install the exterior knob by sliding the spindle through the slot in the latch. The one with the key hole goes on the outside. Also, install the dead bolt side (interior side mechanism) of the doorknob.
- Align the two long screws from the inside into the cylinders on the exterior knob and tighten the screws.
- Check by opening and closing the new doorknob by using the keys. Try not to actually close the doors until you ensure that the doorknob turns properly with the keys. Check multiple times to check that the latch aligns properly with the strike plate and that the knob turns without any hindrance. Check that the locked doorknob is opened by the inside deadbolt / interior know.
Troubleshooting
If you are having difficulty installing the door lock or if the hole and locks do not align properly, you need to take some drastic measures.
Doorknobs that do not work properly or malfunctioning dead bolts need immediate attention. Do not lock your doors when installing new door locks until you are satisfied that the lock mechanism is functioning properly.
Wrongly installed lock can create problems if you lock the doors. You might get locked out or lose access to a room.
Sometimes, you might have to make adjustments to the hole in the door. In such cases, it’s best to call a residential locksmith for professional assistance.