Don't Believe In These “Trends” Concerning Patio Doors Repairs

Sliding Patio Doors Repairs Your sliding patio doors will bring sunlight into your home and increase the efficiency of your home's energy usage. Over time, they may begin to show signs that need some maintenance. The majority of sliding patio door issues are fairly easy to repair. Learn more about how you can keep your patio doors looking and working like new:. Tracks that are dirty or damaged One of the main reasons for sliding patio doors that don't open is dirty or clogged tracks. Over time, the grit and grime from daily use build up on the track and can cause the door to jam or even fall apart completely. Regularly cleaning sliding doors and tracks as part of your household chores can help reduce the accumulation. Begin by cleaning any large debris from the tracks, and then wipe them clean using warm water and a non-abrasive cleaning product, such as dish soap. Vinegar can be added to your cleaning solution to help get rid of stubborn grease and dirt stains. If you find that your sliding door isn't able to move smoothly after completing these steps, it could be an indication of more serious damage that requires a professional repair or replacement. There are a few basic solutions you can try before calling in professionals to avoid costly repairs or replacements. Place a doormat under your sliding doors. This will help keep dirt out of the tracks. Also, you should trim any plants or bushes near your sliding doors to reduce the amount of debris trapped in the tracks. Make sure to close the door properly so it doesn't hit the tracks and cause damage to the wheels and rollers. You can increase the lifespan of your doors by keeping them clean and lubricated. Rollers that are not aligned Sometimes the sliding patio door becomes misaligned or gets stuck. This usually happens due to dirt or other obstructions that can be easily removed. Sometimes, it's due to bent tracks or a bent roller. In the latter scenario, you may be able to realign the roller by extracting them with their adjustment screws and then cleaning them using ruby alcohol. These parts can be fragile. If your doors remain stuck and stick, you can try lubricating the rollers to reduce friction and allow them to slide. Choose a silicone-based lubricant, as petroleum-based lubricants can attract dirt more quickly. It is also crucial to clean the rollers and tracks before applying lubricant. After you've cleaned the rollers, you are able to reinstall them using their adjustment screws. It's recommended to use the same lubricant you used to clean them. When you are reinstalling the rollers ensure that you push them completely into their channels. You can test the door and see if it slides smoothly. If the problem continues, it could be necessary to remove the door and inspect the tracks and rollers. If the tracks or wheels are bent in a way, you may need to replace them. In this case it's best to get an expert to install the tracks. Warped Glass Sliding glass doors are excellent for bringing outside into your home and letting in natural sunlight but they could also be prone to damage that requires repair or replacement. Cracks, warping and fading are just a few of the most common problems. The materials that make up the sliding glass patio doors begin to deteriorate when exposed to heat, sunlight and other environmental factors. Cracks are often caused by injuries caused by impact, like from a lawn mower or ball run-in, and fading generally happens due to repeated contact with sunlight or other elements found in nature. If your sliding patio doors aren't easy to open or close, it could indicate that their rollers and tracks aren't functioning properly. This issue could be caused by accumulation of dirt, rust or debris in the track, misaligned wheels or the lack of lubrication. Cleaning the tracks and rollers by removing obstructions, and then applying silicone spray may aid in resolving this issue. The locking mechanism may also be defective, making it difficult to open and close your sliding patio doors. This could be caused by an issue with alignment or wear and tear, however, a simple fix is to adjust the locking mechanisms by turning the adjustment screws that are located in the bottom of the track. Drafts or air leaks around your sliding patio door are a typical problem that can reduce their energy efficiency. They typically originate from worn weather stripping and poor door alignment, which is easily fixed by replacing the weather stripping and aligning the doors. Loose Handle When a sliding door's handle becomes loose, it could be quite frustrating and cause it difficult for people to open the door. This issue is usually caused by an incorrectly aligned locking mechanism which can be fixed by loosening the screws that secure it and then tightening them until they fit against the door jamb. A loose handle can also result from the handle separating from the spindle which connects it to the interior or handles on the outside. This is usually the result of a number of factors, including frequent use, wear-and-tear or just general aging. If the problem is not addressed quickly, it could eventually result in the whole handle becoming loose and possibly falling off completely. The best method to solve this problem is by first finding the screws that join the handles' exterior and interior. sliding patio door repair are typically hidden by tabs made of plastic that can be removed using a flathead screwdriver (or in the case of some handle styles, a Phillips-head screwdriver). It is a good idea to store these screws somewhere safe so that you don't loose them. Once the handles that were previously used have been removed the next step is to take off the spindle that has become loose. This can be done by pounding the end of the spindle with the hammer until it's removed from its place within the door. The new handle can be installed by simply placing the spindle into the hole on the interior handle and then inserting the other end of the spindle into the hole in the outside handle. Once the handle is in place, it can be tightened by screwing the screws back in and then ensuring that the locking and unlock mechanisms function properly. Faulty Weatherstripping Weatherstripping that is damaged or cracked may 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 let in moisture and create drafts, which will increase the cost of cooling and heating. It is good news that replacing damaged weatherstripping is a simple repair that doesn't require assistance from a professional. You can take off the old weatherstripping by loosening the staples with the help of a screwdriver or by gently prying it with a putty knife and pulling it from the door. After that, 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 the comfort. If your sliding patio doors are no working as they should, it's essential to address the issue immediately to avoid further damage and to keep them functional for a long time to come. Depending on the severity of the issue, DIY or professional repair/replacement may be the best choice. 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. These issues can be solved by regular cleaning and maintenance, such as applying lubrication and adjusting the track and tightening the hardware. If these methods don't work then you should seek advice from a professional to make sure that your patio is working exactly as it should. Check the warranty information before you decide to repair or replace your patio door. This will save you money in the long run on repairs and replacements.