Window Lock Repair in Broward County, FL
Latches, Cam Locks and Keepers Repaired So Every Window Secures Properly
A window lock does two jobs. The obvious one is security. The less obvious one is compression: the latch pulls the sash tight against the weatherstrip so the window seals against air and rain. A lock that no longer engages leaves the property less secure and lets a window leak and whistle even when it looks closed.
Windows Repair of Broward repairs and replaces window locks throughout Broward County on sliding, single-hung, double-hung and casement windows. Many lock complaints are actually alignment complaints, and diagnosing that difference correctly is what separates a repair that lasts from one that fails again in a month.
Benefits of Professional Window Lock Repair
- Cam locks, sweep latches, sash locks, keepers and strike plates repaired or replaced
- Alignment corrected so the latch engages without lifting or forcing the sash
- Corroded hardware replaced with parts suited to a coastal environment
- Matching finishes selected where hardware is visible from inside the room
- Child-safety and ventilation-limiting hardware installed on request
- Multi-window walkthroughs for homes or offices where several locks have failed
Common Problems and Warning Signs
The latch spins without catching
The cam has stripped or separated from the handle, so the lock turns freely and engages nothing.
You have to push the sash to lock it
This is an alignment symptom. The keeper and the cam are no longer meeting, usually because the sash or frame has shifted.
The lock is stiff or seized
Corrosion inside the mechanism is common near the coast and eventually locks the hardware in one position.
A cracked plastic latch body
Sun exposure makes older plastic hardware brittle, and it snaps under normal thumb pressure.
The keeper is loose in the frame
Enlarged screw holes let the keeper move, so the latch engages one day and misses the next.
The window rattles even when locked
If the lock closes but the sash still moves, the latch is not drawing the sash against the seal.
Our Window Lock Repair Process
1. Test the lock and the sash separately
We check whether the hardware itself has failed or whether the sash position has changed, since the fixes are different.
2. Identify the hardware
Window locks vary widely by manufacturer and era. We match the mechanism, the mounting pattern and the finish where visible.
3. Repair or replace
Serviceable hardware is cleaned, refastened and adjusted. Stripped, cracked or corroded hardware is replaced with an appropriate part.
4. Set the keeper and verify
The keeper is positioned so the latch pulls the sash firmly against the weatherstrip, then the window is locked and unlocked repeatedly to confirm consistency.
Alignment is usually the real story
When a customer says a lock is broken, the hardware is intact more often than not. What has changed is geometry. A sash that has sagged a few millimetres, a frame that has racked slightly, or a keeper whose screws have worked loose will all present as a lock that no longer engages. Replacing the latch in that situation produces a brand-new part that still does not catch. We check alignment first, and if the frame has moved, window frame repair is the actual repair.
Security, seal and storm season
An unlatched window is a weak point in a wall. It is easier to force, it leaks air the air conditioning has already paid to cool, and it can be pushed open by wind pressure during a storm. Getting every window in a property to latch properly is a low-cost improvement with an outsized effect, and it is worth doing before hurricane season rather than during it. Homes with impact glazing should have their locking hardware checked as part of impact window repair, since the glass only performs when the sash is properly secured.
Related Window Repair Services
- Window Handle and Crank Repair — Crank operators, gearboxes and handles repaired or replaced so casement and awning windows open and close under control.
- Window Frame Repair — Aluminum and vinyl frames straightened, resealed and repaired where corrosion, warping or water intrusion has taken hold.
- Sliding Window Repair — Horizontal sliding windows restored to smooth, secure operation through roller, track, seal and hardware repair.
- Casement Window Repair — Side-hinged casement windows repaired at the operator, hinge, lock and seal so the sash swings and closes tight.
- Broward County service areas
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you replace a window lock without replacing the window?
- Yes. Locks, latches and keepers are serviceable components and are almost always replaceable on their own.
- My window locks are old and no longer made. Can they still be fixed?
- Discontinued hardware can usually be matched with a current equivalent that uses the same mounting pattern, or the mounting can be adapted.
- Why does my window lock but still feel loose?
- The keeper is probably positioned too far out, so the latch closes without compressing the sash against the weatherstrip. Repositioning the keeper fixes it.
- Do you install child-safety window locks?
- Yes, we can install ventilation limiters and secondary locking hardware on request.
Need a window repaired in Broward County?
Tell us what the window is doing and we will tell you what it needs. Free estimates for residential and commercial properties.