Did you know that over eight in 10 U.S. homebuyers in 2021 wanted a patio? Experts even say outdoor living spaces are now the most coveted outdoor home feature.
One reason for that rising popularity is that more folks are now aware of the benefits of outdoor time. For starters, it can help promote physical and mental wellness.
So, if you have a patio yourself, then lucky you.
However, your patio can also become a source of stress if its sliding glass door becomes too hard to open or close.
Fortunately, some of our sliding glass door repair tips can be easy enough for you to handle. So, check out our guide below to learn about the most common problems affecting these doors and how to fix them.
1. Filthy Rollers
Sliding doors often have a two-panel design; one panel is movable, and the other is a fixed structure. The operable panel, in turn, easily glides from side to side thanks to its attached rollers.
Most sliding doors have one set of rollers on each end. They’re the mechanism enabling the door to slide on the sill track.
Over time, dirt, dust, debris, filth, and human and pet dander can accumulate by and on the rollers. However, that can happen sooner if you live in a Colorado county with air pollution problems. Colorado Springs and El Paso County, for instance, had failing grades in the 2022 U.S. State of the Air Report due to having many high ozone days.
Filth build-up on sliding door rollers can make it difficult to slide the operable panel. It may even get stuck if too much debris accumulates on the sliding mechanism.
The Solution
Luckily, such sliding glass door problems are easy to fix with a vacuum cleaner. However, it’s best to use the thin crevice attachment for optimal cleaning.
Once you’ve removed the build-up, moisten a paper towel and use that to scrub away any remaining dirt. Finally, use a fresh towel to wipe down and dry the rollers.
2. Corroded or Damaged Rollers
Ozone as a pollutant doesn’t only affect human and animal health; it can also damage materials. Prolonged exposure to this gas can degrade metal, paints, plastics, and rubber.
Therefore, Colorado’s ozone-polluted air can also contribute to sliding glass door issues. For instance, it can result in corroded rollers. So if your glass door won’t slide as quickly as it used to, but it’s not dirty, odds are, you have damaged rollers.
What You Can Do
Before worrying about replacing damaged rollers, check for visible damage first. If there’s none, you may only need to lubricate the rollers. Lubrication helps reduce friction, making it easier for the door to glide on the tracks.
Before lubricating the rollers, make sure you thoroughly clean them first. Then, apply a silicone-based lubricant to the mechanism. You want to avoid petroleum-based ones as they attract dirt faster.
After that, try sliding the operable panel again. But if it’s still catching or you hear something like a bumping sound, you likely have broken rollers.
In that case, call a sliding glass door repair company to inspect your door and its rollers. The professionals may still be able to fix them, but if not, you may have to get new sliding glass door rollers.
3. Wheel Misalignment
Over time, the wheels in sliding glass door rollers can become misaligned. That’s usually due to regular, everyday use. However, you may notice this issue sooner if you open or close your doors using more force than needed.
That’s also why you should practice proper sliding door operation. Besides, it’s for your safety, as closing the door with excessive force can cause the glass to break. If that happens, you’ll end up needing door glass replacement.
In any case, misaligned roller wheels can cause a sliding door to catch or slide with difficulty.
Possible Solutions
You can try fixing misaligned wheels by adjusting them. For this, you need a screwdriver to alter the wheel’s adjustment screws. You can find them inside slots on the door’s outer edges.
Once you locate the screws, use your screwdriver to turn them and move the rollers. In many cases, rotating the crews clockwise lowers them. On the other hand, a counterclockwise rotation raises them.
When adjusting the rollers, aim to make the wheels sit perfectly flush with the sill track. You may have to do trial and error to get a perfect alignment. So, try sliding the door between adjustments until it glides smoothly.
At that point, your door should sit level on the track. In addition, you should notice an equal amount of space between your door and its top and bottom tracks.
Call a door repair specialist if that doesn’t work or if you’re wary of trying to fix your sliding glass door on your own. It’s possible your roller wheels aren’t only out of alignment but also damaged. In that case, they may need replacement, which, in turn, requires disassembling the door.
4. Bent or Warped Tracks
The smooth and straight operation of sliding doors is thanks to their rollers and tracks. The tracks, in turn, are metal components that guide the rollers and keep them in place. If not for them, the sliding door panels will wiggle all over the place and be more difficult to close or open.
Unfortunately, tracks can also warp or get bent due to use and environmental factors. If that happens, the rollers can become pinched, causing the door to stop moving. Another problem that may occur is the door getting pulled off out of the track by accident.
Potential Fixes
The direction in which the track can bend can be inward or outward. If your problem is the former, try pulling the bent section back into place with a pair of metal bending pliers.
If your door’s tracks bend outward, grab a rubber mallet and a block of wood. Please use a rubber mallet because one made of metal can do more damage by leaving scratches.
Next, place the wood into the track within the area affected by the outward bend. Secure the wood in place by stepping on it. Then, strike the bent section until it straightens out.
While you should be careful when performing either fix, it’s even more crucial if you’re using a mallet. While it’s rubber, it can still cause more damage if you miss your target. Worse, you may end up hurting yourself if you accidentally let go of it and it breaks the glass.
5. Holes or Tears in the Screen
Screen doors used with sliding glass doors allow homeowners to enjoy filtered ventilation. After all, they block bugs and larger debris, such as leaves, from entering even with the glass door open.
However, like window screens, door screens can sustain damage, too, such as holes and tears.
The Repair Hack
If it’s only a tiny hole in the screen, you can patch it up with self-adhesive fiberglass screen repair tape. Be sure you cut out and stick on a piece big enough to cover the damage.
If there are multiple tears or massive holes, you can take them to a door and window screen repair expert. They may still be able to fix it, depending on the severity of the problem. However, if your screen is also old, they may suggest replacing it altogether.
6. Breaks or Cracks in the Glass
Hail can damage vinyl windows and sliding glass doors, causing their glass to shatter. Even wind alone, as long as it’s strong enough, can cause panes to break, especially if they’re loose. Likewise, rogue balls (such as those used in tennis, golf, or baseball) can crack door and window glass.
The Safest Solution
Whatever broke or cracked your sliding glass door, please don’t attempt to fix it yourself. It’s just as or even more dangerous than damaged glass windows. After all, glass doors have larger panes, which means more potential flying shards.
Instead, contact a local Colorado glass door replacement company. The sooner you do, the sooner the pros can get your hazardous broken glass door replaced.
Please do the same even if the glass hasn’t shattered and only shows spider cracks. Any additional force or pressure can make it collapse, causing potential severe injuries.
Never Delay Necessary Sliding Glass Door Repair
And there you have it, your ultimate guide on sliding glass door repair for common issues. Now you know that some, like filthy rollers and minor dents, are easy to fix by yourself. However, it’s best to call the pros for more complex issues, even more so if you’re dealing with cracked glass.
If you need prompt, expert door repair in Colorado Springs, our team here at Complete Window Care can help. Contact us now to tell us about your door and window woes, and we’ll happily fix them all up for you!