Sliding Patio Doors Repairs Your sliding glass patio doors bring natural light and improve your home's energy efficiency. As time passes, they could start to show signs that require some maintenance. The majority of problems with sliding patio doors are fairly easy to repair. Find out more about how to keep your patio doors looking and functioning like new:. Dirty or damaged Tracks The tracks of your sliding patio door may be filthy or clogged. Over time, the grit and grime of everyday usage accumulates on the tracks and can cause the door to jam or even collapse completely. Including regular light cleaning of sliding doors and their tracks in your household chores can help minimize this build-up. Start by cleaning any large debris from the tracks, and then wipe them clean using warm water and a non-abrasive cleaning product like dish soap. A little vinegar added to your cleaning solution can also aid in the removal of stubborn dirt and grease stains. If your sliding door still not moving smoothly even after you have followed these steps, this could be a sign that there is a more significant damage. This could require a professional to repair or replace the door. There are a few basic fixes you can do before calling in professionals to avoid costly repairs or replacements. Place a doormat under your sliding doors. This will assist in catch dirt before it gets to the tracks. Make sure to trim the plants and shrubs that are located near your sliding door to limit the amount of debris tracked into the tracks. Close the door in a timely manner to prevent damage to the rollers and wheels. By keeping your doors clean and lubricated you can extend their lifespan substantially. Rollers that are not aligned Sometimes, a patio sliding may become out of alignment. This usually happens due to dirt or other obstructions that can be easily removed. However, it can also be due to bent tracks or rollers. In this instance you can re-align the rollers by taking them off with the adjustment screws and cleaning with ruby alcohol. Be cautious because these parts are fragile. If your doors are still sticking, you can lubricate the rollers. This will reduce friction and allow them to slide more easily. Choose a silicone-based lubricant, as petroleum-based lubricants can draw dirt more quickly. It is also important to clean the tracks and rollers before applying lubricant. After you've cleaned the rollers, you can put them back in place them with the adjustment screws. Use the same lubricant that you used to clean them. Be sure to push the rollers fully in their channels when reinstalling them. Then, https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/patio-door-repairs-stevenage/ can check your door to see if it now slides smoothly. If the problem continues it may be necessary to take down your door and inspect the tracks and rollers for any more serious issues. If the tracks or rollers are bent badly, they may need to be replaced. It is recommended to hire an expert to install the rollers or tracks in this situation. Warped Glass Sliding glass doors are convenient for bringing natural light and the outdoors into a space, but they are also susceptible to damage that requires repair or replacement. Some of the most frequent problems that occur include cracking, warping, and fade. Warping occurs when the materials that make up your sliding glass patio door begin to degrade due to exposure to heat, sun and other environmental elements. Cracking often results from the impact of a collision, for example from a ball or lawn mower run-in, whereas fading typically is caused by repeated contact with sunlight or other elements of nature. If your sliding glass patio doors are difficult to open or close it could be a sign that their rollers and tracks aren't functioning properly. This issue could be caused by the accumulation of dirt, rust, or debris in the track, or misaligned wheels or a lack of lubrication. Cleaning the rollers and tracks, removing obstructions and applying silicone spray can help solve this issue. The locking mechanism might also be defective which makes it difficult to open or shut your sliding patio doors. This could be due to an issue with alignment or wear and tear, but the solution is to adjust the locking mechanism by using the adjustment screws located at the bottom of the track. Air leaks or drafts around your sliding patio doors are a typical issue that can greatly decrease their energy efficiency. They usually result from damaged weather stripping and an improper alignment of the door and is easily fixed by replacing the weather stripping and realigning the doors. Loose Handle If the handle of a sliding door becomes loose, it could be quite annoying and make it difficult for people to open the door. This is due to a misaligned lock mechanism. It can be fixed by loosening and tightening the screws holding it in the correct position. A loose handle can also be caused by the handle becoming detached from the spindle which connects it to the inside or handles on the outside. This is typically the result of a mix of factors, including over use wear and tear or just general ageing. If the issue isn't addressed quickly, the handle may be loosened and fall off. The best way to fix this problem is by first finding the screws that connect the handles' exterior and interior. They are usually hidden by plastic tabs, which can be removed with a flathead screwdriver (or in the case of certain handles, a Phillips head screwdriver). It is a good idea to keep these screws in a safe place so that you don't loose them. Once the old handles have been removed and the old handles are gone, the next step is to take off the spindle that has become loose. This can be done by tapping the end of the spindle with the hammer until it's removed from its position inside the door. The new handle is then fitted by putting the spindle inside the hole for the handle inside and the other end into the exterior handle hole. Once the handle is in place it can be tightened by screwing the screws back in and then testing to ensure that the locking and unlock mechanisms function properly. Weatherstripping that isn't working properly A worn or cracked weatherstripping could allow air and water to seep through your patio doors, compromising the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. In addition to letting in water, it can create drafts and also increase your heating or cooling costs. It is easy to replace damaged weatherstripping, even without the assistance of a professional. The first step is to remove the old stripping by either loosing its staples using the help of a screwdriver or by pinning it with a putty knife and then taking it away from the door. You can then clean the area, and then apply a layer of weatherstripping which is secured with a foam seal. This will prevent leaks and enhance the comfort of your. If your sliding patio door isn't working as it should, you need to fix the issue as soon as possible to avoid further damage and to ensure that they are functional for years to come. Depending on the severity of the issue, DIY or professional repair/replacement may be the best solution. The most frequent issues that arise with sliding patio doors are dirty rollers from debris in the tracks, wheels that are not aligned and a loose handle. In most instances these issues can be fixed by regular maintenance and cleaning, which includes lubricating the track as well as adjusting the rollers and tightening the hardware. If these solutions don't work then you should seek professional advice in order to ensure that your patio is functioning as it should. Review the warranty information before you decide to replace or repair your patio door. This can save you money on repairs or replacements in the future.