Sliding glass doors seamlessly connect your indoor spaces with the outdoors, allowing natural light to flood your space and boost your home’s resale value. But choosing the right patio door isn’t just about style; your choice impacts your home’s energy efficiency and durability.
Add-ons like window tinting and insulation inserts can also improve your sliding glass door’s energy efficiency.
Broken Glass
Sliding glass doors are a great way to bring in natural light and improve the transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces. They can also improve energy efficiency and reduce drafts. In addition, they help protect your home from the harsh Houston weather.
Broken patio door glass is a safety risk that should be repaired right away. It can break into long sharp shards that would cause severe injuries. Fortunately, today’s safety glass is made so that upon impact it breaks into small crumbly pieces. It is much safer than the old style glass that used to slice arteries and puncture rib cages, causing many casualties until it was outlawed.
Sliding glass doors are easy to maintain and can be a beautiful addition to your home. They are often a more cost-effective option than traditional doors and offer more versatility. You can choose from a variety of styles and finishes, including double-pane glass that reduces energy bills and helps stabilize indoor temperature.
Torn Screen
A functional screen allows fresh air to circulate through a home while protecting occupants from bugs, debris and harsh weather conditions. A ripped or missing screen compromises the functionality of your sliding door, making it less valuable to your household.
A torn screen is easy and inexpensive to fix with a DIY patch kit, but replacing it may be a better long-term investment. A new screened door also provides improved energy efficiency and prevents water damage from the outside.
Over time, daily wear and tear can cause the metal tracks to bend, preventing the doors from moving smoothly. Try tightening the adjusting screws to see if this helps. If not, you can spray some silicone lubricant on the track to help it move freely. If you’re a tenant, check your lease agreement to find out who is responsible for fixing things like your glass sliding door if it gets damaged. Landlords are typically required to maintain properties in good condition before tenants move in.
Loose Handle
Sliding glass doors offer homeowners a way to enjoy beautiful natural light, expansive views and a sense of security. However, they are subject to a lot of human contact and can be particularly susceptible to wear and tear. If your handle is loose it can make it difficult to use your patio door or even get it open and closed.
The handle on your sliding glass door is connected to a steel mortised lock. These locks come in a variety of styles and are sized differently. If you are replacing the lock it is important to know the size of your existing one so that you can find the correct replacement.
Most of these mortise locks are an assembly consisting of an E2014 mortise latch, a recessed housing or escutcheon plate and a lock hasp. They all require different sized rectangular cutouts for the hasp. If you buy the wrong mortise latch it will not fit in the hasp and will prevent the door from latching.
Misalignment
Over time the screws and hardware that secure sliding glass doors can loosen, leading to misalignment. It’s important to tighten loose screws and inspect all hardware regularly. This helps to prevent problems like water infiltration, which could damage the frame and lower energy efficiency.
One of the most common reasons that sliding glass doors become difficult to move is dirty track or roller wheels. To keep your track in good condition you should clean it on a regular basis and lubricate the rollers.
Use a stiff brush to remove any debris from the track, then vacuum or wipe the surface with a rag. Be sure to support the door while you are working so that it doesn’t fall or break. You can also purchase a door track lubricant, such as silicone spray (do not use WD-40). After cleaning and lubricating the track, you should test the function of the door by sliding it back and forth.