Troubleshooting Your Sliding Glass Door

Posted on: 26 December 2017

Many homeowners invest in sliding glass doors leading from their home to a backyard or patio. These doors allow you to maintain an unobstructed view of your home's landscape while still protecting your home from the elements.

Although sliding glass doors can be beneficial, they can also become a source of stress when not properly maintained. Here are three tips that you can use to troubleshoot your sliding glass door when it malfunctions in the future.

1. Check the tracks for debris.

If you find that you are having a hard time opening and closing your sliding glass door, the issue may be dirt or debris caught in the tracks of the door.

Your sliding glass door relies on rollers that glide through tracks on the top and bottom of the door in order to open and close properly. If these rollers get gummed up with dirt or debris, they could stop functioning. Cleaning out the tracks on your sliding glass door regularly should help you prevent any issues with operation in the future.

2. Check the function of the lock.

In order to ensure that your sliding glass door remains safe and secure, you need to be able to lock the door when it is not in use. Many sliding glass doors feature a hook-style lock that can become damaged during routine use.

If your door isn't locking tightly, then replacing the lock can be a simple and effective fix. Anyone with basic handyman skills will be able to use a screwdriver to remove the locking mechanism and replace it with a new one to ensure that your sliding glass door is as secure as possible.

3. Check for damaged glass.

Since your sliding glass door features a large panel of glass, there is always the possibility that this glass will become damaged during use. Failing to address minor chips or cracks in your door's glass early could result in significant damage in the future.

You can fill in small chips or cracks with clear nail polish to help preserve the integrity of your sliding glass door and prevent these small areas of damage from spreading and compromising the structural integrity of your door in the future.

Knowing how to properly maintain your sliding glass door ensures that you will be able to enjoy the door well into the future. Be sure that you are regularly cleaning out the tracks on your door, that you are replacing a damaged locking mechanism quickly, and that you are addressing minor chips or cracks in the glass panes of your door to preserve its beauty and function over time. For more help, go to site.

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