There’s nothing more frustrating than a sliding glass door that does the complete opposite of slide. A properly functioning sliding glass door should effortlessly glide open and closed. But if the sliding glass doors for your patio require effort to use, you’ll want to take the time to repair the doors to restore them back to being fully functional. Otherwise the doors will continue to cause complications and plenty of frustration.
Here’s what you need to know about repairing the sliding glass doors in your home as well as how to maintain them to prevent problems in the future.
Necessary Materials
Before you can repair a sliding glass door track, you’ll want to ensure you have the necessary supplies to get the job done right. All of the supplies you’ll need include:
- Wire brush or toothbrush
- Silicone based lubricant or WD-40
- Steak knife
- Vacuum
- Phillips screwdriver
The good news is you likely already have most of these supplies in your home so there’s no need to make an expensive trip to the local hardware store. Once you have all of the necessary materials gathered, the next step is to restore the sliding glass door track to proper function.
Cleaning the Track
The first step in repairing a sliding glass door track is to thoroughly clean it. It’s not uncommon for the track to become filled with a wide range of dirt and debris. Because the track acts as a guide for the door and allows the roller wheels to run smoothly, when there’s dirt and grime in the way, the door’s function is greatly impacted.
To start, use a wire brush or toothbrush to reach the inside of the track. A wire brush is best for thick dirt and grime that may not come off easily with a toothbrush. Once the debris has been loosened, use the vacuum hose to suck it up.
Lubrication is Key
Once the track is clean, the next step is to lubricate it. Using a silicone based lubricant or WD-40, spray the entire track. Both of these sprays don’t attract dirt buildup which is important in keeping the track as clean as possible. Of course, dirt happens so over time you will have to clean the track again to get rid of debris.
Be sure to remove any spray that lands on the floor, otherwise you’ll be dealing with a slippery surface that could be dangerous for pets and young children.
Make Adjustments as Needed
Even after cleaning the track and adding a coat of lubricant, you may need to adjust the glass door rollers for a truly smooth glide. Inside of sliding glass doors are adjustable rollers that allow it to slide on the track. The door has holes that house the adjusting screws for the rollers.
To adjust the screws, you may need to remove plastic plugs using a steak knife. Once the plugs are removed you can use a Phillips screwdriver to adjust the screws as needed. When adjusting the screws you’re able to move the roller high down or up. This impacts the height of the sliding glass door.
Before putting the plugs back in, feel free to lubricate the rollers to ensure they roll nicely.
Maintaining the Tracks
After repairing a sliding glass door track, it helps to know how to maintain the track to avoid constant sliding issues in the future. The best tip for preventing sliding glass door problems is to ensure the track stays as clean as possible. Just as you vacuum and wipe down the floors each week, it never hurts to take time to clean the sliding glass door tracks.
Start with a damp cloth and remove any dirt, grime, and even oil. Depending on the severity of the debris buildup, you may be able to get away with simply vacuuming out the track to remove dust, dirt, small pebbles, and other debris.
Another tip for maintaining a sliding glass door track is to ensure it’s lubricated. Over time the coat of WD-40 or silicone-based lubricant you applied will wear off. As soon as the door starts to get harder to open or close, or if you start to hear a noise, immediately re-lubricate the track.
Last, treat the door kindly. Many people are quite rough with their sliding glass doors. Slamming these doors shut with too much force can imbalance the track and the door, making it much harder to open or close it.
Conclusion
With these steps, you can effectively repair a sliding glass door track. Once the door is back to normal operation, be sure to follow the maintenance tips to minimize sliding glass door problems in the future.