There are plenty of tasks that come up during spring cleaning that we may not want to do. But if you don’t keep up with maintenance, you’ll end up paying for it with repairs down the line. One example is sliding glass doors. They do require care and upkeep that most find annoying or unpleasant, but it’s better than the expenses you might pay for repairing instead of maintaining. Sometimes as much as repairs in the thousands. There are only a few components to a sliding glass door. There is the frame that holds the sliding door, the glass in the center of the panels, a handle, a lock, weather stripping, a track, and rollers.
Clean the Tracks of Your Sliding Door
While cleaning the frame and track also make sure to clean and repair the rollers. Using a wire brush to clean them and wipe them down is usually enough to remove stuck-on debris from the roller. Depending on the wear and tear you may need to replace them more often. You also should use the same lubricant used on the track on the rollers to give it more of a Sliding Door Repair Expert.
How can you fix Your Track?
While you can use an aerosol-based wax spray you may want to use a non-stick silicon-based lube as it won’t freeze in the winter or warp in the summer. The alternative could mean possible rusting, bent or broken tracks, or rollers that would need to be replaced. In Florida specifically, the salty ocean air can cause damage to the rollers which could mean they
need replacing more often
While not too expensive at only $6 – $35 for sliding glass door wheel replacements in Fort Lauderdale Florida the salty air could mean more often need to repair them, and it can add up. Maintenance can save you hundreds if not thousands in the long run to prevent the need for repairs.
Cleaning the Track
While cleaning the frame and track also make sure to clean and repair the rollers. Using a brush to clean them and wipe them down is usually enough to remove stuck-on debris from the roller. Depending on the wear and tear you may need to replace them more often. You also should use the same lubricant used on the track on the rollers to give it more of a Sliding Door Repair Expert.
Broken Glass can be Repaired
One of the more common problems and one people are more willing to buy a new door than replace it, is when the glass is cracked or breaks. Some companies can come out and repair small cracks or chips in the windows without needing to replace the glass at all. Or if it is cracked or broken a lot of people will throw the whole thing out and get a new
door instead of replacing the glass
Repairing the window and replacing the door can be the difference between $100 – $150 for a sliding door window replacement and $300 – $1000 for a whole new sliding door. Maintenance of the glass portion aside from cleaning can also mean replacing torn or cracked weather stripping.
Weather-stripping
The weather-stripping is one of the smaller maintenance issues that can cost you in the long run. If you don’t have a decent weather stripping or sealant then, depending on where you live, you could be paying way too much for heating or cooling if your sliding door isn’t doing its job of being a door.
Lock Issues with Sliding Doors
One of the last of the most common problems is the lock. Because it is a sliding glass door, the lock can have trouble latching correctly. Especially after years of use and possible bending or damage. Before throwing in the towel, you could try a good deep clean as you do with the tracks and rollers. With this, you will lubricate the lock.
If part of the problem might be rust,
you can use dish soap and baking soda mixture. You will scrub it on with a small brush (possibly a toothbrush) and let it sit and harden. Then pour vinegar over it and scrub at it with a brush until clean. This process can help in removing some of the rust and caked-on dirt. Though this is one of the least costly ones if you should have to replace it. In fact, a new lock can still run you from $10 – $60 at home improvement stores.
Choose our Team for Your Repair or Replacement Needs
Some things will eventually need replacing even if you maintain them as time affects us all. But managing your sliding glass door will keep it going that much longer. Though if you ever feel out of your depth and unsure on if you can do it yourself there is nothing wrong with contacting professionals who have more experience working with sliding doors.