How To Replace A Sliding Door Handle And Lock

Sliding doors are the most popular choice among homeowners nowadays because of how easy they can be used. They require a minimum of effort to open and close and come with a lock that can be opened pretty easily from the inside but from the outside, not so much. But their downside is that when the handle or the lock of the sliding door is damaged, they can leave your home quite vulnerable.

Fortunately, these door handles and locks can be replaced very easily and you can do it yourself. What’s more interesting is that it doesn’t take more than 5-10 minutes to do so, which makes it all the more worthwhile.

So, let’s take a look at how to replace a sliding door handle and lock to make your homes safe and secure.

7 Steps to Replacing Sliding Door Handle and Lock by Yourself

Replacing the handles and the locking mechanism of the sliding door of your home is very easy. All you need is to have the following tools at your disposal and follow the steps that are mentioned below. 

Our friends at smartboltlocksmith.com have kindly provided us with the list of necessary tools to replace the sliding door handles and locks. The tools you will need for this task are:

• Safety Glasses
• A Phillips Screwdriver
• Replacement Door Handles
• Replacement Door Locks

After making sure you have all the above-mentioned tools, you have to follow the following steps :

1. Opening The Door And Removing The Screws

First, open the sliding door. Then take a screwdriver and remove the two screws on the interior handle that keeps the handle in place. Be very careful because as soon as the screws come loose, the handle, as well as the exterior screw receivers, will get separated from the door. If you are not careful, they will just fall to the floor and will either get lost or damaged. 

After removing the interior handle in this process, remove the exterior handle in the same way as well. Put the handles aside.

2. Removing The Locking Mechanism

Now that the handles are removed, it is time to remove the locking assembly. You will notice two Phillips head screws holding the locking mechanism together, one at the top and the bottom each. Using the Phillips screwdriver, remove these screws and set them aside because you will need them to screw the new locking assembly to the door. 

After removing the screws, gently remove the locking mechanism from the door. When unscrewing the screws, take extra care as the locking assembly may fall from the door. 

3. Inserting And Securing The New Lock Assembly

Now insert the new lock assembly into its place. Hold it and use the Phillips head screws that you had put away earlier to secure them. Screw one screw at the top and another one at the bottom.

4. Installing The New Exterior Handle 

Once you put the new lock into its place, you have to start installing the replacements for the door handle. The first one you need to install is the exterior one. 

First, install the screw receivers by aligning the handle with the holes on the door. You have to make sure that the lock actuator is aligned. You have to insert it into the proper slot and through the lock. 

5. Installing The New Interior Handle

Now take the replacement interior door handle, First thing you need to do is to align the new handle with the door’s holes. Then hold the screw receivers from the exterior and put the screws into the receivers from the inside. Don’t tighten the screws all the way, rather leave them slightly loose. 

6. Making Sure The Lock Actuator Is Engaged

Now you need to ensure that the lock actuator is engaged in the appropriate slot in the lock assembly. To do this, you need to engage and disengage the lock a few times. If the actuator is not functioning properly, slowly turn the latch. Keep turning it until you can feel the actuator engage in the right slot of the lock assembly. 

7. Finishing Up

Now you can tighten the screws fully. Then close the door and engage the lock. If the lock is correctly engaged, then you have properly and successfully replaced your sliding door handle and lock. 

Final Words

Your door is meant to provide your home with security and safety. But when the lock of that very door is compromised, it also compromises your safety. So the locks as in some cases, the handles have to be replaced as soon as possible. Taking professional help, in this case, can be quite expensive. But if you know how to replace a sliding door handle and lock yourself, it will save you a lot of money and time. Just follow the aforementioned steps properly and you will have a new set of handles and lock in no time at all.

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