It’s a wonderful feature to have sliding glass doors in your house. Not only do they allow for better circulation and natural daylight to enter, but they also allow for the extension of living rooms to the outside. While our houses’ external parts are designed to survive for years, they do need some upkeep and work on our part. Some of the most common problems with sliding doors are derailed doors, clogged and sticky tracks, and worn rollers. These are just a few of the things that can make it difficult to open the doors.
Keep an eye on your sliding glass doors to make sure they don’t become stuck
Taking care of small concerns now will help you avoid more expensive difficulties later on. Sticky doors are inconvenient and will only get worse if they are not addressed. We want to provide some basic maintenance suggestions that can help your sliding doors operate more efficiently.
Seven Maintenance Tips for Sliding Glass Doors
You may be able to keep your doors in excellent condition if you set a bi-monthly reminder for them to be maintained.
1. Wipe Down the Glass
Cleaning and polishing windows is one of the most enjoyable things you can do. With a few drops of window cleaner and some newspaper, it is simple to remove sticky finger markings from youngsters, sea mist buildup, and general dust and filth from windows. It is possible to delay the accumulation of dirt in the surrounding frame and tracks by cleaning the glass on a regular basis.
Cleaning the glass panels of sliding glass doors is a simple procedure that takes little time. Don’t use a lot of water; you may also use a glass cleaner that the door’s supplier recommended.
2. Wipe the frame with a soft cloth
The interior and external frames of sliding glass doors should be cleaned on a regular basis to keep them looking clean and avoid weather damage to the outside frame seal. It is sufficient to use a gentle dusting followed by warm, gently soapy water to clean the surface. Extremely strong chemicals should not be used on your door frames since they might ruin the finish. After the original varnish on wooden sliding doors has worn off, it is necessary to re-varnish the wood to maintain its beauty.
3. Make sure the track is free of debris
Because they are used often, sliding glass door tracks sustain significant wear and tear from house occupants’ dirty shoes, crumbs from their children’s lunches, and pet hair. Their exposure to seasonal temperature variations as well as blown-in debris is also significant. Cleaning the tracks and rollers on a monthly basis is recommended.
To begin with, vacuum up any loose trash and dust using a high-powered vacuum. Dirt may be removed with the use of a warm soapy water solution. Prepare to spend some time with a butter knife, cleaning the grooves and hard-to-reach areas. An old toothbrush is an excellent tool to use in order to remove fine dirt from tight spots.
4. Apply lubricant to the tracks
Keeping the bottom tracks lubricated will keep doors from sticking and becoming difficult to open in the future. If the tracks are clean and free of dust and other contaminants, this should be done. The doors should be removed from the tracks in order to clean and lubricate the entire rail system if your tracks are dirty or you’ve been dealing with a sticky door for an extended period of time.
Aluminum sliding tracks should not be lubricated in any way whatsoever. Oil may clog the rollers, causing them to jam and create issues. Because aluminum tracks will not corrode, it is just necessary to keep dirt and debris away from them.
5. Replace any weatherstripping that has become brittle
Weathering strips on your old and brittle door will no longer protect your house from cold or wet conditions. Remove the existing strips and clean the surface of any residue or debris before installing new weatherstripping to complete the project. Always double-check your alignment and make sure you’re following manufacturer instructions.
Professional help may be required in certain circumstances when replacing the weatherstripping on sliding glass doors. If this is the case, you should speak with the door manufacturer or anybody else who has worked with sliding doors in the past.
6. Replace worn-out rollers with new ones
The rollers may need to be removed from stubborn or old doors so that you can look into them more in depth. Rollers that have become dirty may be cleaned, lubricated, and replaced. But if the rollers on your sliding glass door are broken, you’ll have to buy new ones. Keep the rollers aligned and play around with the screws to make sure they move smoothly.
7. Verify that the door panels are properly aligned
Incorrect installation and misuse of the sliding door (slamming) may result in misalignment and shaky movement of the sliding door track. Additionally, a sinking base or a buildup of debris may cause rollers to become misaligned and tumble out of alignment. To correct this, either adjust the roller screws or remove the door and align it vertically from top to bottom, depending on your preference.
It is also more cost-effective to install high-quality sliding glass doors from a respected provider since they will last longer and provide better service. Examine your warranty if you suspect that issues have arisen before they should. It is possible that you will still be eligible for repairs or maintenance from the manufacturer. If your sliding glass doors are beyond repair, consult with a professional to learn about sliding door replacement choices that provide superior insulation and longer life spans.