One of the best things about the weather warming up, is being able to let the outside back in again, and one of the best ways to do that, is by having a sliding or bifold door that connects the outdoors with the inside. With spring beginning, you will want to start taking advantage of your glass doors again (regardless the type), but are they working as they should? Let’s review some of the most common reasons for sliding glass door repair.
Most Common Reasons for Sliding Glass Door Repair
Our Pittsburgh weather can be unpredictable, and during the spring we may see some days with sunshine and warm temperatures, and others with snow and chilly air. If you are like most of us, whenever those warm and sunny days hit, you want to enjoy them as much as possible, and if you have a sliding glass door in your home, that is possibly one of the best ways to do so.
Like all things in your home, your sliding glass door can need some love and care and its functionality can deteriorate over time. Just like our windows need to be ready for spring, so do your doors, especially if they are all glass. Can your entrance to the outside handle the added activity the warmer weather is sure to bring it? We are going to take a look at some of the most common reasons for sliding glass door repair, so you can be proactive and ensure yours is ready for the added usage to come.
– Dirty track or rollers: If you have had your sliding glass door for a while, you likely are no stranger to the dirt that can build up in the track and on the rollers and make it difficult to use. If you have been using your door during the fall and winter, added debris can build up. Things like leaves, salt, and ice, can cause issues. If you are finding it very difficult to slide the door open and closed, the rollers or track may be dirty. You should vacuum and clean the wheels and see if that resolves the problem, if not, there may be another issue.
– Bent track: Tracks can bend either inwards or outwards and prevent the door from running smoothly. This is one of the most common reasons for sliding glass door repair and can happen over time and use. If the tracks are bent inward, they will pinch the roller and stop the door from moving. If the tracks are bent outward, you may accidentally pull the door right off the track. The best way to ensure no further damage is caused to your door, is to contact a local glass repair expert to fix the problem.
– Damaged glass: Winter is hard on all things around your home, and your sliding glass is no exception. Inspect your door for chips, cracks, or obvious breaks, before using it, to avoid any safety issues. The glass in sliding glass doors can become foggy, broken, cracked, or chipped due to environmental causes and everyday accidents. Even minor cracks and scratches should be addressed promptly, because they have the potential to get bigger and lead to the glass needing to be replaced completely.
– Gaps and/or drafts: If you notice a gap between your sliding glass door and the framework surrounding it, you’re likely losing money on your energy bills as air is getting in, and your warmed or cooled air is getting out. Even if you don’t see any gaps in your door, you could still experience drafts that can cause you to spend more money to heat or cool your home. Any drafts or temperature differences near your sliding glass door should prompt you to replace them. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that fixing drafts can save you anywhere from 10% to 20% on your energy bills annually.
– Locking issues: Another one of the most common reasons for sliding glass door repair is due to safety concerns. When it comes to your home’s security, sliding glass doors can put you at risk, as they come with some security flaws. Since the doors are made of glass and offer clear views into your home, they may attract burglars. Many basic sliding glass doors only have a simple lock, which can be unlocked by jiggling the door and if that lock is not working or not working as it should, you are put at an even higher safety risk, not just for letting unwanted people in, but for children being able to get out when they are unsupervised.
The warmer weather tends to give us all that itch to get outdoors, and if you have a glass door that welcomes you outside and the outside in, you are likely ready to use it as much as possible. You should watch for signs of the most common reasons for sliding glass door repair, and do what you can to have any issues resolved as soon as possible.
At R and C Glass, we are your Pittsburgh glass experts. If opening up your home more to the outdoors sounds appealing to you, we install bifold doors and other exterior glass doors. We are also your glass repair experts.
Contact us today for all of your Pittsburgh glass needs.
