Sliding glass doors are an excellent addition to a home. They provide a lot of natural light and can add a modern aesthetic to your living space. When sliding glass doors work correctly, they can enhance your life at home. However, it can be a real pain when a sliding door starts to malfunction and does not open or close as before. Today, we will go over five common problems you may encounter with sliding glass doors.
Bent Tracks
If you notice that your door is not opening as well as it used to, check the tracks. Often, the daily wear and tear of opening and closing the door eventually make some metal tracks start to bend. This is especially true for the lower track. Depending on how badly a sliding glass door track is bent, a professional may only need a pair of pliers to reshape it. If that does not work, another method that can fix this problem. Professionals can place a block of wood up against one side and tap the other side with a rubber mallet until the track straightens out.
Dirty Rollers
Rollers are the part that allows the sliding glass door to open and close smoothly. Over time, dirt and debris from the outside start building up inside these rollers. If this persists for too long, it will be more difficult for your sliding glass door to function correctly. A professional can do a deep cleaning by vacuuming all the dirt and debris. They will also use a wet rag to pick up any remaining dust particles from the roller to make it look as good as new.
Remember that your rollers will eventually wear down, especially if you regularly use the sliding glass door. Call a professional immediately if you hear a screeching noise, and it becomes difficult for anyone in your family to open or close the sliding glass door. They will need to inspect the rollers and determine what repairs your sliding glass door needs.
Broken Panes
When a glass pane is not sealed correctly during manufacturing, it can make the pane break prematurely, especially during heavy rainstorms. A broken pane can also occur if someone frequently slams the sliding glass door. Additionally, when an object is thrown at one of these panes fast enough, that can also cause it to break.
Homeowners must deal with broken glass as soon as possible because it is a health hazard for all occupants. A broken pane on your sliding glass door will dramatically decrease your home’s energy efficiency. This kind of glass door repair is not an easy “DIY” project. It is always in your best interest to have one of our professionals replace the broken pane and install a new glass pane for your sliding door.
Misaligned Wheels
Wheels on sliding glass doors function similarly to a train and how its wheels roll on the tracks. If the wheels cannot evenly distribute the weight of the sliding door as it opens and closes, it will start going to one side. When left unchecked, this problem perpetuates and makes it harder to open the sliding glass door. Even one misaligned wheel can ruin your sliding glass door, potentially forcing the door off the tracks entirely.
To fix this problem, a professional will adjust the bottom screws on the door that hold the roller wheels in place. They will continue making minor adjustments until both sides are even and the wheels roll smoothly again when the door opens and closes.
Bad Seals
Certain sections of sliding glass doors have seals to minimize potential air leaks into your home. Over time, the seals will wear down, reducing the door’s efficiency. If you notice that your door does not shut quite as tight as it used to, you may need to get the seals replaced. Our team can remove the old door seals and install new ones that fit your sliding door’s measurement specifications.
Conclusion
Common problems people have with sliding glass doors include bent tracks, dirty rollers, broken panes, misaligned wheels, and bad seals. If you have one or more issues with sliding glass doors in your home, don’t hesitate to contact Community Glass and Mirror today. We can help with various glass door repairs in your home, including sliding glass door track replacements and bedroom mirror sliding door repairs. Our experts are ready to assist you; call today for all of your glass door repair projects.
