Sliding glass doors are popular with homeowners because they offer a range of benefits. For example, they allow natural light to enter the home which can help brighten up a room.
Sliding patio doors are also easy to clean and can easily be adapted to suit your décor. However, they can experience issues over time which could impact your ability to open and close them.
Broken Glass
Sliding glass doors can be very beautiful and offer a great view of the outdoors. However, they are not without their problems. One of the most common issues is broken or cracked glass. Replacing the glass can improve energy efficiency by sealing off drafts, helping to save on utility bills and reducing wear and tear on heating and cooling systems. It can also improve the security of your home by preventing intruders from entering through unsecure openings.
Another common issue with sliding glass doors is a dirty or bent track. This is usually due to daily wear and tear as well as debris that collects on the tracks over time. If the problem isn’t fixed, it could cause damage to other parts of the door or even the frame.
Sliding glass doors can be expensive to replace, so it’s important to fix them as soon as you notice the problem. If you’re a renter, check your lease agreement to see if the landlord is responsible for repairs to damaged windows and doors.
Dirty or Bent Tracks
Over time, sliding doors can begin to require a lot of force to move back and forth or may even become completely stuck. Oftentimes, this is caused by dirt or even a bent track.
The first step homeowners should take to fix this problem is to check the track for obstructions. Small toys, crayons, sticks and pebbles can all block a door from moving. It is also a good idea to use a vacuum with a crevice tool to loosen up any dirt or debris.
If the track is dented or damaged, a DIY homeowner can try using a wood block to hold the channel upright while a hammer is used to straighten it. Alternatively, professional window installers can replace the entire track if necessary. This is a much safer option than trying to repair or straighten a damaged track yourself. These projects can be risky and shouldn’t be attempted unless the homeowner has extensive experience in door and window repairs.
Loose Handle
Sliding glass doors are often in close proximity to people, which makes them particularly susceptible to wear and tear. If your handle feels wobbly or loose it could be due to worn-out screws and a damaged base plate. It may also be a sign of a broken lock.
If your door lock has become loose it’s important to tighten it immediately before the problem worsens. A novice do-it-yourselfer can usually do this with a screwdriver. If your handle has a round doorknob you might need to remove the knob to expose the mounting screws. Regardless of the style of your handle, once you have access to the screws it’s easy to tighten them.
Most steel mortise locks have a rectangular cutout in the patio panel and different sizes of screws for mounting them. When replacing your handle you should ensure that the new one is a matching size so it bolts right on. Many hardware stores sell these locks and you can usually find a replacement for your sliding glass door.
Torn Screen
A properly functioning sliding glass door screen lets fresh air into a house while also keeping debris, critters and insects out. Unfortunately, daily wear and tear and accidents can cause the screen to become torn. When this occurs, a quick call to 24HR Sliding Door Repair Houston will ensure that the problem is taken care of and your home is safe from inclement weather and unwanted visitors.
It is relatively inexpensive to patch a small hole in a standard screen door with a widely available DIY patch kit. However, it may be worth the cost to replace the entire screen if it is large or made from a specialized material that requires more durability than standard screens. Additionally, replacing the screen will look tidier and be a better long-term investment. For the ultimate in durable, attractive and easy to maintain screens, consider PCA’s complete line of handcrafted screen doors built right here in the USA.