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Patio Doors Repair - How to Fix a Wet Dog and Save Your Dog From Cold, Wet Feet

Patio doors are an excellent way to connect your home to the outside. They offer a pleasant and easy transition. They also help save money on cooling and heating bills by keeping air within your home.

Over time the shine of your sliding glass or French door will fade. However, simple repairs can keep them looking and functioning as new.

Weatherstripping

It's 5 am and you're letting your dog out for his morning jog when you step into the puddle of water near your sliding patio doors. You look around and discover that last night's rain blew in through the seals on your patio doors. This is not going to be an easy task. With a bit of patience and some tools to fix this, you can get it fixed and protect your dog from wet, cold feet.

The key is to replace the weatherstripping, which closes the gap between the door and the jamb, preventing the entry of pests, drafts and moisture. It also keeps your energy costs down. A quick inspection of your windows or doors will let you know whether the weatherstripping is in good condition or requires replacing.

There are a variety of weatherstripping that you can choose from that include open-cell and felt foam, thermoplastic rubber, as well as metals like bronze or copper. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. patio door repair and open-cell foam are not expensive, but they also tend to be visible and not effective at blocking airflow. Vinyl is more expensive but it's also durable and resistant to moisture. Rubber is an excellent choice for areas that are heavily used since it won't deteriorate as easily.





To install new weatherstripping, you must first remove the doors from the frame using a screwdriver to loosen the screws for adjustment of the roller. Then, with a flathead screwscrew, unscrew plugs that hold weatherstripping at the bottom of the frame. Then, take out the old weatherstripping and scrape any adhesive from the bottom of the frame. Then, trim the replacement to the proper length, peel off the plastic strip at the other end, and then apply it using a putty blade to the jamb.

Reinstall the door and adjust the roller screws to ensure that it is properly seated in the track. Then, apply caulk on the area where the stationary panel bypasses the sliding door and where the edge of the stationary panel is the frame. This is a less secure seal than the weatherstripping, however, it should last for a while.

Handles and Locks

Locks and handles for patio doors are essential to the security of your home. As time passes, they could be damaged or worn out and require replacement. The spindle connecting the interior and exterior handles can also need to be changed.

To replace a handle for a patio door first, remove the old one by unscrewing any screws that hold it in place. After the handle has been removed using a level, make sure the patio door is straight prior to installing the new handle. If the door is not straight, it could interfere with the lock and cause problems later on.

Close and open the handle a few times after installing it to ensure that it's functioning properly. If you encounter any issues you are having trouble, contact the manufacturer or a hardware expert for assistance. To avoid problems in the future it is recommended to also lubricate your lock mechanism with silicone-based lubricant.

The most popular patio door lock is the mortise latch. It is usually made of steel and fits inside a pocket carved into the door frame. These types of locks are found on wood and aluminum sliding doors. When replacing a mortise lock it's important to take a few measurements prior to ordering a new one. You will need to know the location of mounting holes as well as the location within the keyway lock.

Some handles for patio doors have an integrated locking mechanism that's integrated into the handle. The handles have the key cylinder in a rectangular shape that can be inserted into the handle's keyway. This kind of patio door comes with the exterior and inside locks in one piece. This kind of patio door is most often found on sliding aluminum doors.

If your patio door latch isn't fixed, it could be because the lock tongue isn't grasping the hasp of the jamb correctly. Another possibility is that the sliding door isn't completely parallel to the jamb on the side. Try opening the door up to 1 inch and then spotting it against the frame to determine whether there is any gap between the door and the jamb. If there is a gap, reposition the rollers to the bottom left or the right side of the patio so that it is perfectly parallel with jamb.

Misalignment

Over time, the door's tracks and rollers can lose their proper alignment. This could cause the door to sag or become difficult to move. It could also allow cold air and draughts to enter your home, which can decrease energy efficiency. Fortunately, misalignment can be easy to fix and stop. Applying a silicone-based grease the tracks and rollers can make your doors glide again. It is a good idea to apply this every so often to keep your doors in top operating condition.

Another common problem with patio doors is a damaged screen, which could be a nuisance or even a safety hazard. It can also prevent the doors from closing and opening properly, causing energy loss. In some cases the screen can be repaired, however in other instances, the door needs to be replaced. If you have a torn window screen, be sure you wash it thoroughly. Also, make sure you don't turn the handles of the door in the wrong way.

Over time, hinges may loosen due to wear and tear or use. Regularly tightening screws can aid in fixing this issue and ensure your doors shut tightly. It's a simple task that you can perform yourself. However, if you're not sure with the task, you should seek out an expert.

You should also clean the tracks and rollers of your patio doors on a regular basis. A simple vacuuming or brushing can remove dirt and dust that could hinder the smooth operation of your patio doors. You can also use a specific tool to clean away rust or dirt that has accumulated. Inspecting and tightening the screws on the hinges can help with misalignment, but sometimes it's necessary to replace them all together to ensure a strong and solid seal.

The performance and alignment of your patio doors may be affected if the frames are warped or sagging. The shifting or warping could be caused by foundation changes, but it could also result due to poor installation or regular use. A professional can repair or replace your patio door frame and ensure it's aligned properly so that it can function optimally.

Rollers

Patio doors that slide are great for letting the outside in and providing ample natural light, but they do require some maintenance to ensure they slide smoothly. If you need to pull the handle to get the door to move, or it isn't sliding as it did in the past it could be due to the rollers. Over time the lower track will fill up with dirt, sand, and mud, making it difficult for the rollers to move over. Clean it and spray it with a lubricant, such as 2Slick to see if that helps.

If the tracks have been cleaned but the rollers aren't able to move freely it's time to replace them. There is a variety of replacement rollers that will fit your door and the kind of track you have. You can purchase them at a variety of hardware stores, but will need someone to help you remove and install the rollers. Before ordering replacements, get an image of the roller assembly that is mounted in the door frame so experts can identify the exact model and the type you need. You can also search for features that can be identified, such as bumps or dimples, cutouts or flared edges to narrow down your alternatives for replacement.

After the rollers have been replaced, you'll need to reinstall the sliding door back into its frame. Get help with this one as the door is heavy. Examine if there are screws that hold the track to either side of the frame. If so, make sure they are loose enough to allow the bottom of door to drop into the channel above the frame. Remove the screen door from the opening. Make sure that it is free of track tracks, rollers and track.

After putting in the new rollers, gently slide the door into the frame. It should be lowered to secure it. If the rollers are adjustable you can adjust them so that the door has enough clearance.