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Sliding Patio Doors Repairs

Your sliding patio doors will bring in natural light to your home and increase its energy efficiency. As time passes, they could begin to show signs that require some maintenance.

Most sliding patio door problems are fairly easy to fix. Find out how you can keep your sliding patio doors looking and working like new.

Tracks that are damaged or dirty

The tracks of your sliding patio door may be dirty or clogged. Over time, the dust and grime from daily use build up on the track and can cause the door to become jammed or even fall apart completely.

The buildup can be slowed by regular light cleaning of tracks and sliding doors in your daily household chores. Start by cleaning large debris off the tracks. Then, use warm water and non-abrasive cleansing products like dish soap to clean them. A little vinegar added to your cleaning product can also help remove stubborn grease and dirt staining.

If you find that your sliding door isn't able to move smoothly after completing these steps, it may be a sign of more serious damage and requires a professional repair or replacement. There are a few easy fixes you can do before calling in professionals to avoid expensive repairs or replacements.





Place a doormat under your sliding doors. This will help to catch dirt before it gets to the tracks. Regularly trim any plants or bushes that are near the sliding door to decrease the amount of debris tracked into the tracks. Also, make sure you close the door in a way that it doesn't hit the tracks and cause damage to the rollers and wheels. By keeping your doors clean and lubricated you can prolong their lifespan substantially.

Rollers that are not aligned

Occasionally, a sliding patio door can become out of alignment or becomes stuck. This is usually due to dirt, or other obstructions that can be easily removed. Sometimes it's due a bent roller or track. In this case it is possible to re-align the roller by extracting them by using the adjustment screws and cleaning them with rubbing alcohol. These parts are prone to damage.

If your doors are still stuck, you can grease the rollers. This will decrease friction and allow them to move more easily. Use a silicone-based product, because petroleum-based lubricants may draw dirt more quickly. It is important to clean the rollers and tracks before lubricating.

After cleaning the rollers, you can reinstall using their adjustment screws. Use the same lubricant you used to clean them. When you reinstall the rollers, be sure to push them all the way into their channels. You can test your door now and see if it glides smoothly.

If the problem persists, it might be necessary to remove your door and inspect the rollers and tracks for more significant problems. If the rollers or tracks are bent in a way they might need to be replaced. It's best to hire an expert to install the tracks or rollers in this situation.

Warped Glass

Sliding glass doors are excellent for bringing the outdoors into your home and letting natural light in, but they may also be prone to damage that needs repair or replacement. Some of the most common issues that can occur are cracking, warping and fade. The materials that compose the sliding glass patio doors start to degrade when exposed to sunlight, heat and other environmental elements. The most common cause of cracking is injuries caused by impact, like from a lawn mower or ball run-in, whereas fading typically happens due to repeated contact with sunlight or other elements found in nature.

If you have sliding glass patio doors that are difficult to close and open, this could be a sign that the rollers and tracks do not work properly. This could be due to the accumulation of dirt, rust, or debris in the track, wheels that are not aligned or an absence of lubrication. Regularly cleaning the tracks and rollers clearing obstructions and applying silicone spray may aid in resolving this issue.

The locking mechanism might also be faulty and make it difficult to open and close your sliding patio doors. This could be due to misalignment or wear and tear, however, a simple fix is to adjust the locking mechanisms by turning the adjustment screws that are located at the bottom of the track.

Drafts or air leaks around your sliding patio doors are a typical issue that can greatly decrease their energy efficiency. These issues are typically caused by weather stripping that has worn out or poor alignment of the door. This issue can be easily resolved by replacing the weather stripping, and re-aligning your doors.

Loose Handle

When a sliding door's handle becomes loose, it can be quite frustrating and cause it difficult for people to open the door. The reason for this is an improperly aligned lock mechanism. It can be fixed by loosing and tightening the screws that hold it in the correct position.

A loose handle can also be caused by the handle becoming detached from the spindle that connects it to the inside or handles on the outside. This is typically the result of a mix of factors, such as excessive use or wear and tear or simply aging. If the issue isn't dealt with quickly, the handle can become loose and fall off.

To solve this issue it is necessary to find the screws that connect the interior and exterior handles. They are typically hidden by plastic tabs, which can be removed with a flathead screwdriver (or in the case of certain handles, a Phillips head screwdriver). It's a good idea store these screws somewhere safe so that you don't loose them.

Once the handles that were previously used have been removed and the old handles are gone, the next step is to take off the loose spindle. This can be done by pounding the ends of the spindle using a hammer until it is removed from its position inside the door. The new handle is then fitted by putting the spindle in the interior handle hole and the other end through the exterior handle hole. Once the handle has been installed, tighten it by screwing back the screws. Then, test to make sure the lock and unlock mechanism works correctly.

Unusual Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping that is cracked or worn can let air and water be able to seep into your patio door, compromising your home's comfort and energy efficiency. In addition to letting in moisture, it can also cause drafts and increase your cooling or heating costs. It is good news that replacing damaged weatherstripping is a simple fix that doesn't require any assistance from a professional. You can take off the old weatherstripping by loosening the staples with an screwdriver, or gently squeezing it with a putty blade and then pulling it from the door. Then, patio door repair can clean the area, and apply an additional layer of weatherstripping that is backed with foam seal. This will stop leaks and improve the comfort.

If your sliding patio door isn't working as it should, you have to fix the problem immediately to avoid further damage and ensure that they are functional for years to be. Depending on the nature of the problem, DIY or professional repair/replacement may be the best choice.

The most frequent issues that are encountered with sliding patio doors are filthy rollers caused by debris on the tracks, wheels that are not aligned and a loose handle. In the majority of cases, these issues can be resolved with regular maintenance and cleaning, such as fluidizing the track and rollers, as well as adjusting them and tightening hardware. If these steps don't work, it's best to seek professional advice to make sure that your patio door is working exactly as it should. Review the warranty information before you decide to repair or replace your patio door. This will save you money in the future on repairs and replacements.