Sliding Patio Doors Repairs Your sliding patio doors will bring the outdoors in to your home, and will increase the efficiency of your home's energy usage. However, as time passes, they can show signs of wear and tear that require some maintenance. The majority of sliding patio door issues are fairly easy to repair. Find out how to keep your sliding patio doors looking like new. Dirty or Damaged Tracks The tracks of your sliding patio door could be dirty or clogged. Over time, the dust and grime of daily use build up on the track and can cause the door to jam or even collapse completely. Regularly cleaning sliding doors and tracks in your chores at home can help minimize this build-up. Start by sweeping or vacuuming large debris off the tracks. Then make use of warm water and non-abrasive cleansing products such as dish soap to wipe them down. Add a little vinegar to your cleaning product can also aid in the removal of stubborn dirt and grease stains. If your sliding door still not moving smoothly even after you've completed these steps, this could be a sign there is more serious damage. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/rochdale-patio-door-repairs-near-me/ could require a professional to fix or replace the door. There are a few simple fixes you can make before calling in professionals to avoid expensive repairs or replacements. It is important to put a doormat near the bottom of your sliding doors to help keep dirt out before it can reach the tracks. It is also important to trim any plants or bushes near your sliding doors to minimize the amount of debris trapped in the tracks. Make sure to close the door correctly so that it doesn't hit the tracks and cause damage to the wheels and rollers. You can prolong the life of your doors by keeping them clean and lubricated. Rollers that are misaligned Sometimes, a patio sliding may become out of alignment. This is usually due to dirt, or other obstructions that can be easily removed. Sometimes it's due bent tracks or a bent roller. In this case, you can realign the rollers by taking them off with the adjustment screws and cleaning with rubbing alcohol. These parts are prone to damage. If your doors are sticking, you can lubricate the rollers. This will lessen friction and allow them to move more easily. Choose a silicone-based lubricant, because petroleum-based lubricants may attract dirt more quickly. It is essential to clean the tracks and rollers prior to applying lubrication. After cleaning the rollers you can put them back on using their adjustment screws. Use the same lubricant that you used to clean them. Be sure to push the rollers completely in their channels when reinstalling them. You can then test your door to determine whether it slides more effortlessly. If the issue persists, it might be necessary to uninstall your door and check the tracks and rollers for any other issues. If the tracks or wheels are bent in a way, you may need to replace them. In such a case, it's a good idea to call in an expert for the installation. Warped Glass Sliding glass doors are excellent to bring the outdoors into your home and letting in natural sunlight but they could also be vulnerable to damage that requires repair or replacement. Cracking, warping and fading are just a few of the most frequent issues. Warping occurs when the components that make up your sliding glass patio door begin to degrade as a result of exposure to heat, sun and other environmental factors. Cracking is often caused by impact damage such as the impact of a lawnmowers blade or ball that is smashed into the door. Fading is usually due to repeated exposure to sunlight and other elements. If your sliding glass patio doors are difficult to open or close, it could indicate that the tracks and rollers aren't working properly. This could be due to accumulated dirt, rust or debris in the track, wheels that are not aligned or a lack of lubrication. This issue can be solved by cleaning the tracks and rollers and clearing obstructions. Another reason that sliding patio doors are difficult to open or close is because the locking mechanism is no longer working. This could be caused by an issue with alignment or wear and tear however, a simple fix is to adjust the locking mechanism by turning the adjustment screws hidden at the bottom of the track. Drafts or air leaks around your sliding patio doors are a frequent issue that can greatly decrease their energy efficiency. They usually result from damaged weather stripping and poor door alignment that is easily fixed by replacing the old weather stripping and re-aligning the doors. Loose Handle It can be frustrating when the handle of sliding doors becomes loose. It can be difficult to open. The reason for this is a misaligned lock mechanism. It can be repaired by tightening and loosening the screws that hold it in the correct position. Another reason that is commonly cited for a loose handle is that it is detached from the spindle that connects it with the interior and exterior handles. This is often the result of a number of factors including excessive use, wear-and-tear, or simply general ageing. If the issue isn't addressed quickly, it could eventually lead to the entire handle becoming loose and potentially falling off entirely. To resolve this issue, you should first find the screws that connect the handles' exterior and interior. They are typically hidden by plastic tabs, which can be removed using a flathead screwdriver (or in the case of certain handles, a Phillips head screwdriver). Securely store these screws to prevent them from being lost. After removing the handles then the next step would be to remove the spindle. This can be done by tapping the end using a mallet or hammer until it comes loose from its place within the door. Then, the new handle can be put in place by simply placing the spindle into the hole on the interior handle and then putting the other end of the spindle into the hole on the exterior handle. Once the handle has been installed, tighten it by screwing back the screws. Then, check to ensure that the lock and unlock mechanism is working correctly. Unusual Weatherstripping Weatherstripping that's cracked or worn can allow water and air to be able to seep into your patio door, which can compromise your home's comfort and energy efficiency. It can allow moisture in and create drafts that will increase the cost of cooling and heating. It's simple to replace defective weatherstripping, even without the assistance of a professional. The first step is to remove the old stripping by either loosing its staples using a screwdriver or prying it gently with a putty knife and then pulling it off the door. Then, you can clean the area and apply a fresh layer of weatherstripping that is secured by a foam seal that helps stop leaks and improve comfort. If your sliding patio door is not functioning as it should, you have to fix the problem immediately to avoid further damage and to ensure that they are functional for years to come. Depending on the degree of the issue, DIY or professional repair/replacement could be the best option. The most frequent issues that arise that are encountered with sliding patio doors are dirty rollers due to debris in the tracks, wheels that are not aligned and a loose handle. These issues can be resolved through regular cleaning and maintenance including applying lubrication and adjusting the track and tightening the hardware. If these measures don't work it is recommended that you seek advice from a professional to ensure that your patio is operating as it should. Before you decide to replace or repair your patio door, be sure to check its warranty information to make sure that it's covered by the manufacturer's warranty. This will save you money in the long run on repairs and replacements.