Why Your Sliding Glass Door Is Not Working And What Is Required To Fix It
ShareIf your home's sliding glass door has stopped sliding like it used to, then it is imperative that you figure out what the problem is and fix it as soon as possible. This is one of those household repairs that will get exponentially more expensive the longer that you let the problem persist.
Sliding Glass Door Basic Function
Since large plates of glass are very heavy, your home's sliding glass door uses two roller mechanisms to help you effortlessly move the door. You might be surprised to learn that the door is simply balanced on top of the rollers; they are not attached to the door with any screws or bolts.
The rollers your home's door sits on top of are about the size of a stick of butter. They look like a small platform on top attached to a rubber covered wheel below. The bottom of the sliding door sits on top of the rollers and help it move back and forth on its track.
Common Sliding Glass Door Problems
When your home's door stops moving freely on its track, then it has one of two problems:
- Dirt and rocks in the track
- Flipped door rollers
- Failed door rollers
As your family enters through the door they will drop rocks and dirt into the track of the door. This can damage your door's rollers, and it can cause the door to hesitate as it rolls.
Additionally, a roller can flip over if someone lifts up the door too high while moving it on the track. Sometimes a roller will even break and need to be replaced.
Solutions for Common Sliding Glass Door Problems
The first thing you should always do for a sliding glass door problem is to thoroughly vacuum the track with a shop vacuum. Make sure that you move the door and vacuum along the entire track. This will often solve the problem.
If the door still does not want to move after the track is cleaned, then the door has a problem with its rollers. In order to fix roller problems you will need to call a glass replacement contractor. They have special suction cup devices which will allow them to remove the sliding door and replace the damaged rollers.
Conclusion
Malfunctioning sliding glass doors are always a pain to deal with for homeowners. If you are not able to resolve the issue with your own home's sliding glass door, then you should contact a licensed glass replacement contractor, like Ken Caryl Glass, Inc. The glass contractor will easily be able to resolve this issue for you.