Sliding glass doors are an attractive and convenient part of your home. Part of owning a sliding glass door is keeping it maintained so it functions properly and safely. Fortunately, with a little knowledge, this is easy to do.
The most important part of maintaining your sliding glass door is knowing how to adjust it. Proper sliding glass door adjustment protects your door and, more important, the safety of anyone that uses it. A door that is too loose can jump off the track while in use, causing costly damage to the door, leading to the need for professional repair, or even causing injury. Doors that are too tight can get stuck on the bottom track, and there’s nothing more frustrating than a sliding door that won’t properly open or close.
Read on to learn how to adjust your sliding glass door.
Keep the Track Clean and Lubricated
Before you begin the sliding door adjustment process, make sure the track is clean. Sometimes dirt and grime build up in the track, causing the door to stick as it slides. Using an old toothbrush or a small wire brush, scrape any dirt and debris off the track and dry with a soft cloth. A vacuum with a long thin attachment can also be used to draw dirt and dust that’s too hard to reach with a brush.
Once your track is clean, make sure it’s lubricated so the door can slide easily. Spray lubricants are the best to use and are easy to find at any hardware store. Just a small amount along the track is all you need.
How to Adjust Sliding Glass Doors
Every standard sliding glass door has adjustable rollers that help it slide back and forth within the track. On the bottom portion of your sliding glass door, you should see a small hole on each side of the door. These holes hide the adjustment screw for the coordinating rollers. There may be plastic plugs in the holes that can be easily pried off using a screwdriver.
By turning the adjustment screws using a Phillips screwdriver you can either tighten or loosen the door to position it correctly on the track. You may need to spray a small amount of lubricant on the adjustment screw if you’re having trouble getting it to budge. As the adjustment screw turns, the door either raises or lowers with the rollers, allowing for a proper position of the door in the track.
Sliding doors slide best when a uniform gap is maintained along the edges and bottom of the door. Open your door approximately six inches and watch the gap between the door and frame, turn the adjustment screws with your screwdriver until a uniform gap is achieved. Once you’ve adjusted your door, slide it back and forth a few times in the track to make sure it’s working properly. If there’s still some resistance, try loosening further. You may need to do this a few times until you reach the desired slide.
Call Glass Doctor for Professional Sliding Glass Door Adjustment
If the adjustment screws on your sliding glass door are broken or won’t turn, or if your door still isn’t sliding properly even after adjustment, Glass Doctor® can help. Never force your sliding glass door to open or close, as this can cause permanent damage to the door or track. Instead, call Glass Doctor at 833-974-0209 or schedule an appointment online at the first sign of an improperly working sliding glass door.