Why Aren’t My Sliding Patio Doors Gliding Easily?

Gliding patio doors have an important but simple job: to glide open and closed, providing access to your patio and yard. The gliding action makes using your doors easy, unless that is, the gliding itself becomes a challenge. When you find yourself dreading going in or out because your door is just to hard to open and close, it’s time to take action.

There are a number of potential issues that can cause your gliding or sliding patio doors to become difficult to use. Fortunately, many of these problems are easy to fix — if you have the time, materials and know-how.

There are many things you can do to make your windows more attractive. After cleaning your window glass and window frames, taking the time to follow the suggestions below can also help you make your windows look lovely.

Common Patio Door Problems

Knowing some of the common problems you may face with your sliding patio doors can help you decide what needs to be done get your doors repaired. All the common problems have to do with the rollers under the door and the tracks upon which they ride.

• Misaligned rollers. If the rollers on the bottom of your sliding doors are no longer aligned with the tracks, pushing or pulling the door open and closed becomes much more difficult and takes more strength.
• Dirty rollers. Rollers keep your sliding patio doors moving – but when dirt and debris builds up around the rollers, the rollers won’t roll and the fluid movement you were accustomed to disappears. Repeatedly pushing and pulling on doors with dirty rollers can cause more permanent damage to the rollers, making the problem worse and worse.
• Dirty tracks. In addition to the rollers, the tracks upon which your rollers are supposed to roll may become misaligned as well. Keeping the tracks clean can help keep your patio doors moving.

How to Clean Sliding Patio Door Tracks

You can keep your patio door opening and closing smoothly by keeping the tracks clean. To clean the tracks of your sliding patio doors, start by vacuuming the tracks with a vacuum attachment or a small, hand-held vacuum.

Next, mix a mild, non-abrasive cleaner with a bucket of warm water. Dip a scrub brush or sponge in the soapy water, then use the scrub brush or sponge to clean the tracks.

Finally, use a damp rag to clean the crevices of the tracks. You can stick the rag in the smallest corners of the tracks to get them cleaner.

If the tracks are still dirty, consider using a small putty knife or, in a pinch an old table knife to stick the rag into the tight spaces around the tracks. Wipe the tracks clean. Wait for the tracks to dry, and then use a vacuum one more time to remove any dirt that may have been kicked up during the cleaning process.

Repeat this process annually to keep the tracks clean. Doing this regularly can prolong the service life of your sliding patio doors.

Need New Patio Doors? What to Do

Sometimes old patio doors stop functioning the way they should. If your doors are on their last legs, it may be time to consider installing new sliding patio doors.

At Renewal by Andersen of Long Island, we sell gliding contemporary patio doors, French hinged patio doors, and French gliding patio doors. Take your pick! Call us today to learn more and begin the installation process with a free consultation. Call our toll-free number at (866) 609-5033 or fill out the short form on this page.

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