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Did you ever reach out to open a sliding glass door, give it a tug, and feel like the door was pulling back? Hey, patio doors need love and attention, too.
Unlike conventional exterior doors that swing on hinges, a sliding glass door moves on rollers. Little wheels made of neoprene or metal. Little wheels that wear out with use.
Because the wheels on the bottom of a sliding glass door run in a threshold often filled with dirt and sand, it's a wonder that they last more than a year or two. If you have sliding patio doors, here's how to convert loving care into lasting quality and a door that opens and closes as easy as pie.
Keeping it clean
First and foremost always keep the bottom track of the door clean and free of dirt and sand. In addition, regularly spray the track and the wheels with a waterless silicone spray. The absence of water in the spray reduces the chance for rusty wheels, and the silicone is a colorless lubricant that won't stain or attract dust.
Adjusting the rollers
Just like other doors in the home, a sliding patio door can be knocked out of whack when the house shifts. Adjusting the wheels at the bottom of the door can compensate for this problem. Raising or lowering opposing wheels (located at the underside of each end of the door) can straighten a crooked door, thus allowing it to close parallel to the doorframe. Raising both wheels evenly can prevent the bottom of the door from rubbing on the track as the wheels wear out and become smaller.
For wheels that are adjustable, simply turn the adjacent screw to make it happen. Normally, you will find a hole at each end of the bottom track of the sliding door through which you can insert a screwdriver. Use a pry bar to slightly lift the door to take pressure off the wheel while you turn the adjustment screw.
If the door is lowered when you in fact wanted to raise it, simply raise the door and turn the screw in the other direction. How's that for getting the best bang for your sliding door buck.
Replacing the rollers
You can replace rollers that are completely worn out (or those that can't be adjusted). Open the door about half way, raise it 1 inch by forcing it into the top track, and at the same time, pull out on the bottom. With the door out of the opening, snap the old rollers out and pop in a pair of new ones.
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