Is your sliding glass door sticking? The most common reasons are damaged rollers or the accumulation of dust, dirt, and pet hairs. Whatever the cause, you should fix it immediately to prevent further damage.
There are a few important steps to follow to repair a sliding glass door in your Toronto home. You are best off hiring our experts as they can do it fast and efficiently. However, if you still wish to do it on your own, keep reading.
Vital Steps to Follow to Repair a Sticky Sliding Glass Door
Here are a few steps to follow to fix a sliding glass door.
1. Remove the Door
Get someone to help you remove the sliding door from its track. Then, identify the adjustment screw located on the door’s sides at the bottom. Unscrew the screw covers and adjust the rollers with a screwdriver. (Rollers support the sliding door as it runs on the door track. This can also help you to remove the door easily.)
With the help of your assistant, tilt the door’s top towards you gradually. This may also help to remove the door from the track more easily.
2. Vacuum the Door Tracks
Once the door is removed, vacuum its tracks.
3. Clean the Tracks
Clean the vacuumed tracks using hot water, soap, and a brush with stiff bristles, like a toothbrush or the wire brush used for cleaning golf clubs. Clean both the bottom and top of the sliding door as well. Consider vacuuming again if there is debris still left.
Check all weather stripping for damage as it seals off any air leakage near windows or doors. If the weather stripping is not tightly secured, it may cause friction and make the door sticky. Make sure the tracks are dried properly before proceeding to the next step.
4. Lubricate the Tracks
The next step in this glass door repair is to lubricate the door tracks. Simply apply a thin coating of lube at the top and bottom of the track. For more effective results, we also suggest applying a little bit near the door’s frame where the door latches.
Be sure to clean the door using a high-quality spray to prevent a slippery floor. Avoid oil-based lubricants as these attract dirt and dust.
5. Inspect and Reinstall the Glass Sliding Door
Finally, inspect the door’s hardware and rollers. If the rollers become wobbly, cracked, or dirty, pop them off and replace them with new ones.
To re-install the door, pop it back into its original place with help from your assistant. You will need to adjust the rollers once again using a screwdriver.
Remember to pay extra attention when doing this adjustment. When there is too much tension, the door will become too stiff to open; if there is inadequate tension, the door will get loose and come out of the track.
Then slide the door back and forth to test if the repair has been done properly. This also helps spread lubricant across the tracks.
These are simple tips for doing an effective sliding glass door repair in your Toronto-area home. Keep in mind that a broken glass door is another matter entirely and very risky to repair yourself. If you do not have adequate expertise or knowledge, it is best to hire a professional repair team from Academy Glass. Our emergency services are available upon request.