How to Repair a Sliding Glass Patio Door Quickly | Ottawa Window Medics

Sliding glass patio doors are convenient and cost-effective. They give you the ability to let natural light stream into your home throughout the day and open up to wonderful views when you’re not inside. But like any other piece of hardware, sliding glass door mechanisms eventually wear out.

 The first sign could be that it sticks or fails to move smoothly, or it can be a more obvious issue: the glass doesn’t lock shut anymore and is prone to slowly swinging open if left unsecured for too long. 

If you notice any of these symptoms with your patio doors, don’t panic! You can repair asliding glass door quickly with some basic fasteners and spare parts available at any hardware store. 

What Causes a Sliding Glass Door to Fail? 

There are a few conditions that could cause a sliding glass door to stop functioning properly. One common cause of a stuck or jammed patio door is excessive corrosion on the tracks, also called “oxidation.” If the tracks have accumulated too much salt or chemical residue, they either get corroded and no longer function, or they become too thin to accommodate the door slider and jam. 

You can clean the tracks with a mild, homemade solution of baking soda and water, or by spraying them with a solution of dishwashing detergent and warm water. If the tracks are corroded and the door won’t unlock, simply remove and clean them to reset the mechanism. 

Fixing a Stuck Sliding Glass Patio Door 

No one wants to find themselves with a stuck sliding glass patio door. Fortunately, it’s easy to repair a stuck patio door and get your doors back to moving smoothly. 

• Try pushing the door with your hands to see if it moves at all. Often, you can gently ease a jammed patio door back into working order by using a coat hanger to gently press the door back and forth while prying it open with a wooden butter knife or a sturdy pair of scissors.

• If the problem is a damaged door track, you can easily replace the track yourself. To do this, purchase a replacement sliding door track kit. These come in many widths and lengths to suit any type of door and are easily installed in place of the damaged parts. 

• Slide the new track into the existing tracks on your door and then remove the old track by prying it out with a butter knife or a pair of scissors. 

• If the door keeps jamming, there’s likely too much play in the door mechanism. This can happen if the door was recently adjusted or the weather was particularly cold when you closed the door. The door should be adjusted so that it closes with no more than 0.25 to 0.5 inches of movement.

•  If the problem persists, you can adjust the door mechanism if it’s easy to access. Removing the door and removing the screws holding the door track to the door frame is a simple and effective method of adjusting the movement of a stuck door. 

Repairing Damaged Parts on a Sliding Glass Door

One of the most common repairs on sliding glass doors involves replacing damaged parts. The tracks on your door are usually made of metal, while the door slider is usually plastic. Several years of outdoor exposure can cause the metal parts to corrode, become brittle, and break. 

• You can easily replace the damaged parts on any sliding glass door yourself, without having to remove the door or remove the frame. 

• The tracks can be replaced with sliding door tracks of the same width, and the door slider can be replaced with a new one of the same size and colour. 

• If the sliding door is of different width, you may need to replace the tracks with sliding door tracks of different widths.

 Covering or Securing Lost Fasteners on a Sliding Door 

Many sliding doors fail because they aren’t secured to the door frame properly. If a gust of wind or a heavy object causes the door to swing open, it could damage your home or injure someone inside.

Fortunately, there are several ways to secure a loose sliding door to prevent it from swinging open. The most effective way is to screw the door directly to the door frame, rather than using a sliding track. This can be a bit tricky, as you’ll need a long enough screwdriver to reach through the door and screw into the bottom of the door. You can also screw the door to the wall next to it with a stud finder and pre-drilled screw. This can be a quick and easy way to secure a sliding door to the wall. 

Conclusion 

As with any glass door, you should inspect the sliding glass patio door you’re considering replacing to make sure it’s in good condition. The glass should be free of cracks and no longer be tempered, and the frame should be in good condition as well. If the door is in good shape, consider installing a new door with a professional glass installer. 

Some problems can be fixed by replacing the glass door, but the good news is that Window Medics has trained specialists with many years of experience who can repair your windows and doors. As the industry expert, Window Medics have a solution to all your repair problems.
For more details You can contact us at 613-519-1317 or visit our website at: -  https://ottawa.windowmedics.com/