What are the things that you don't know about your home?
They are all the important things that you don't know are important until you need to know them. Now is that clear to everyone.
Now what to discuss today. Hmmm, let's see. How about doors, or more specifically locks on doors. This is important, because it is a little different. With security being a big issue these days everyone should know how to maintain the little things.
Good locks are actually low tolerance precision instruments with very little room for error. Although, many of the less expensive ones are advertised to be consumer items they have to be installed in strict accordance with the instructions.
Most of the locks that I have experience with have fairly clear instructions as long as you have the right tools. One thing that usually causes your average homeowner trouble is how much to tighten the screws. I'm not kidding. One of the biggest problems with lockset installation is most people have a tendency to over tighten the screws holding the lockset together. I know all you handypeople out there think that you have to tighten things until you just can't tighten them any more, but not true in this case. When you over tighten the screws holding the lockset together you put excess pressure (in a bending motion) on the bolt. This causes the bolt to drag and misalign. You can tell that the screws are too tight when it is difficult to turn the key or the door might not latch properly.
Now, maybe you did know all that and if that is the case I apologize for repeating it. If you didn't then you now know something about your house you didn't know before.
Jack Gilleland
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