There are few things more satisfying than the smooth motion of brand-new sliding glass doors. Near you, there's your beautiful backyard, and the yanking, grinding and pulling sensation of a decaying sliding door unit can quickly turn into a daily, unconscious annoyance.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to fix sliding glass doors. We're going to cover the basics of how to fix a sliding door that's stuck or sticking, as well as covering signs that repairs won't help and it's time for that entire unit to be replaced.
How to Maintain a Sliding Glass Door: Some Tips
Every few months to a year, you'll want to spend some time checking and adjusting a sliding glass door. Take these steps to keep it sliding smoothly for longer:
- Use an old toothbrush or wire brush to carefully clean the tracks. Do this once every six months to a year. Do this more often if your door has a lot of debris like leaves or pine needles being tracked in, or if there's a lot of traffic in and out.
- Occasionally tighten the screws that hold in the rollers. If suddenly your sliding glass door is hard to open, it may be an issue with the rollers. A very simple fix that occasionally needs to happen is tightening the screws that hold in the rollers, typically with a Philips-head screwdriver.
- Train pets or children to resist scratching, hanging onto, slamming, shoving or pushing the doors. On an old door, it can affect the latches, weatherproofing and the metal track system inside.
- Clean your doors with the recommended products. Be sure to find the cleaner that the manufacturer recommends. For instance, it's best to wipe down Infinity form Marvin doors with these approved cleaners.
How to Fix a Sliding Glass Door: 4 Common Problems That Can Be Fixed
Many homeowners can manage to do a DIY fix to a sliding glass door if it's one of these four simple problems:
1. Your sliding glass door sticks.
Unfortunately, your sliding door sticking could be the result of dozens of potential problems. It may be fixed by a simple cleaning. It may be the result of a bent track that can easily be bent back. Sometimes, you'll need to tighten the screws that hold in the rollers at the bottom of the door. Most times, you'll want to completely remove the sliding section of the door off its hinges to look at the track and door itself. If your rollers (at the bottom of the door) are frozen or stuck, they can be replaced too. Try a cleaning and work your way downward on this list.
2. The latch is broken.
If a careful oiling doesn't fix the sliding door latch, you may need to replace the lock. This can easily be done with many types of door units, but it definitely will take a trip to the hardware store.
3. The screen is torn.
Many people and pets accidentally step through screen doors. If this happens, it doesn't necessarily mean the unit needs to be replaced. You can either patch or replace it pretty easily.
4. The rollers need to be replaced.
This is the most laborious DIY repair, as it involves taking the entire sliding door off its hinges then replacing the rollers at the bottom of the doors. While you do this, pay attention to see if the rollers are completely rusted or if there is mold or water at the bottom of the door frame - that often means it's time for the whole unit to be replaced rather than just the rollers.
Signs That It's Time to Replace Your Stuck Sliding Glass Door
- The tracks are badly bent. While small bends can be bent back, severely bent tracks should either be repaired by a professional or may be a sign that it's time to simply replace the door.
- The glass has been shattered or chipped. While it technically can be replaced, it's not an easy DIY fix and often pricey.
- There's a gap between the frame of the doors and the rest of the wall. Inclement weather, bad installation or damage may shift the frame so it's not sitting properly. This means that the frame needs to be reinstalled.
- There are drafts (or a big drop in temperature) inside near the door. Temperature drops are a bad sign, especially if you've already tried to remove the weatherstripping or replaced it.
- There's mold or mildew around the frame. While some mold is normal, an excessive amount may be a sign of leaks and moisture buildup.
- The glass appears dirty or foggy. Condensation buildup between the panes of glass generally means that the seal is compromised.
- The door keeps sticking despite numerous attempts at repairs. Have you gone to all the effort of replacing the rollers or doing the typical maintenance and there's still a problem? Either the tracks are severely bent or the entire frame is off-kilter. While it may be frustrating, it also may be time to replace it.
- There's an unusual noise when opening and closing the door. Not everything can be fixed with lubrication; this may be another sign that your tracks are bent or in the process of bending.
- There's water. Broken seals around your door are a sign it needs replacement.
