Have you had the frustrating problem of trying to wrestle your patio sliding door open? You pull on the handle and the door only rocks and pivots, lifting one side out of the track. Or, you have to set your stance and brace yourself as you drag the door open or closed. This is a common problem that occurs with patio sliding doors over time. You may need to call a door repair company or find a reliable handyman, unless you’re a handy DIYer. The repair is easier than you would think if you have the time and you’re comfortable doing your own repairs. In this article we’ll explain how to repair your patio sliding door when it doesn’t slide smoothly. Basically, we will teach you how to replace the rollers on a patio sliding door. When you’re done, it should roll nicely with minimal effort.
You’ll need a Phillips screwdriver and a safe area to set your patio door down. Second, you may want to recruit a helper when it comes time to maneuver the door out of the track.
First you must determine how you’ll go about removing your sliding door based on the style of your door track. Some patio sliding doors can be removed by standing on the inside of the door and maneuvering it out of the track. This is only possible when the track offers enough clearance to maneuver over the inside lip of the track. To determine if your track has enough clearance, simply lift up on the door. If you are able to see the bottom edge of the door frame above the inside lip, chances are you have enough clearance and can go through the steps bellow to replace the rollers in your sliding door.
If you do not have enough clearance, you’ll need to remove a few more components in order to remove your sliding door and start with step 1 bellow. This entails removing the stationary door first so you can remove the sliding door. To do this, remove the vinyl or aluminum strips from the door track in order to access the screws holding the stationary door. Remove any screws that secure the stationary door in the track and remove the stationary door by standing outside of the patio door, lifting it up, then angling the bottom of the door out. Now the sliding side of the door can be removed by going through the next steps.
Step 1: Fully retract the rollers at the bottom of each side of the door by inserting the screwdriver into the adjustment hole and turning the adjustment screw counter-clockwise. The whole door should lower slightly as the rollers bottom out. This should give you the needed clearance to remove the door from the track. Tip: sometimes the rollers seize up because they have become rusty and will not move when you turn the adjustment screw. If this happens, turn the adjustment screw like normal, then push down on the door to manually force the rollers to retract.
Step 2: Remove the sliding door. With a helper, position yourselves on each side of the door. Lift the door straight up, then pull the bottom of the door out of the track on an angle. Once the door is removed, set the door down flat in your designated area.
Step 3: Remove the old rollers. Some rollers will come off by removing a couple of screws. Some rollers have to be removed by first carefully removing the bottom frame of the glass door (gently striking a block of wood against the frame edge can help to remove the bottom frame).
Step 4: Take your old rollers to the hardware store and buy replacements. Roller styles vary so this is will help ensure you purchase the correct rollers for your door.
Step 5: Replace the new rollers, put your door back in the track, and lower the rollers by turning the adjustment screw clockwise. This will raise the door up so that it is level and rolls smoothly. The door is at a proper height when the rollers keep the frame of the door raised off the track, while keeping both the bottom and top edges of the frame concealed behind the inside lip of the door track.
Congratulations. Your patio sliding door will now open and close with ease. No more wrestling with the door or telling everyone to use the other door. If this is something you’d rather have a qualified handyman do for you, give us a call or request a quote at www.handysourcehomeservices.com. We can help with any of your door installation or door repair needs in the Ontario and Eastvale, CA areas.