How to Replace a Barrel Lock in Dormitory Doors
Learn how to replace a barrel lock in dormitory doors with simple steps, safety tips, and tools to ensure a smooth, secure, and proper installation.
For the most part, dormitory doors are keyed using a barrel lock. Barrel locks are very popular because they tend to be highly versatile, cost-effective, and generally very safe. So long as you buy a British Standards-approved door lock barrel, you should feel pretty confident about your dormitory doors staying locked. However, given the high turnover in dorms, replacing the locks regularly makes sense.
After all, it only takes one bad apple to create a potential security concern. If a key for your dorm is cloned or copied, then the locks become vulnerable to re-entry by the previous tenants. That is a risk that any landlord should try to avoid. With advice from the experts at Locks & Hardware, you can replace the barrel cylinder lock in your dormitory doors quickly.
Otherwise, you can call a locksmith to do the job for you in a matter of minutes. Either way, you should make replacing your door lock barrel a priority at the end of each tenancy. No matter how well the tenancy went, why take the risk? Let’s take a look at the replacement process in brief.
Why Dormitory Doors Need Replacement Barrel Lock
If you buy a high-quality door lock barrel, then in typical circumstances, you would get many years out of that same lock. In a dormitory, though, the rules are a little different. Why?
Put simply, dormitories see a much higher turnover of residents than you get with a normal house. In a rental house, you could have the same people living there for years, decades, even. In a dormitory, though, there is incredible turnover. You might have more than one set of tenants living in the building in a single semester. As such, there is always the risk that keys go ‘missing’ or get cloned by a tenant.
This poses a significant security risk, putting both the current residents and the property itself at risk. Most key-cutting companies will create spare keys without much questioning. As such, your tenants could have spare keys cut without your knowledge. Unless you get a specialist key setup designed where only the master key can be copied, key copying remains a common issue.
There is also just the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your new tenancy starts with new locks. It means that any problems with the locks are unlikely to be due to the age of the lock itself. Most of the time, though, landlords should replace the door lock barrel, or lock cylinder, as soon as the old tenants move out. The sooner the job is done, the quicker new tenants can move in.
Now, the question is simple: do you fit the new barrel of a lock yourself? Or do you hire a locksmith? The former is cheaper but means having to supply and fit the lock yourself. The latter costs you more but is more likely to result in a professional finish.
If you prefer to take the DIY route, follow the simple instructions below.
Steps To Replace A Barrel Lock In Dormitory Doors
The good news is that replacing the barrel of a lock is a pretty easy process.
Getting Started
To begin, you will need to find the following:
A Phillips or flathead screwdriver; ideally, one of each, just in case
A tape measure so you can get accurate lock cylinder measurements
The keys for your current dock lock barrel
The new replacement cylinder barrel lock
Once you have these items in place, you can set about replacing your barrel lock. To get started, measure the barrel that is already in your lock. To do this, open the door out wide and measure the central screw from one end to the next, giving you two measurements – for example, 40mm and 50mm. Now, when you go to buy a replacement barrel lock, make sure the measurements are identical. If you are unsure, remove the old barrel (see below) and take that to a lock vendor.
Removing The Previous Lock Barrel
Your lock should have a long screw or fastening screw, usually located on the edge of the door. If you remove this screw, the lock cylinder should become loose and removable.
Now, insert the key into the current lock barrel and then turn the key 10 to 15 degrees to the side. You may need to try going left to right or right to left. Eventually, though, the cam will align properly, and the barrel should become removable. Pull the barrel out and, if needed, re-measure. Again, if you are unsure, take this current barrel to a lock vendor and see if they can find a matching barrel lock.
Installing The New Cylinder Barrel Lock
This is quite simple: your new barrel, if it is the same measurements as the old barrel, should simply slide into place. You might need to reposition the lock cam with the key. Test this out; you will know if the barrel is in the right place when it feels snug and tightly in place, and that it rotates smoothly when the key is put into the door.
Finally, you will need to reinsert the fastening screw that you removed earlier. Make sure that you do not overtighten the fastening screw; it should be tight, but not so tight that it cannot budge whatsoever.
Finally, test out your handiwork. Make sure that the door closes over and opens properly, and that the locks connect. If you find that anything is out of place or not working as it should, call a locksmith.
Save Yourself Stress By Replacing Dormitory Door Barrel Locks
We appreciate that having to go through this process every time a tenancy ends can seem like overkill; however, there is no benefit to hoping for the best.
Using the above guide, you should be able to quickly replace any cylinder barrel lock fitted into your dormitory doors. This makes it easier to ensure that students are safe in their dorms, but also that you are protected from any previous tenants turning up and trying to enter the building using old keys.
Again, if you run into problems when replacing your barrel lock, call a locksmith. A professional can do this job for you in minutes; you can then watch what they do, see where you went wrong, and do the job yourself next time. Good luck, and stay safe!
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