One of the familiar sounds of summer is the sliding patio door, and it’s also a nostalgic one that can take you back to your favorite summer night. 

As the weather turns warm and the outdoors beckon, your breezy oasis outside can be marred by a sliding door that doesn’t slide. If you find yourself facing this annoying problem, don’t fret! Here are three easy things you can do yourself to get your patio door gliding effortlessly once again.

1. Clean the Tracks

Over time, the tracks on your sliding glass door can become grimy and dirty, causing the door to slide less smoothly. The first and easiest thing to do to get your door moving smoothly is clean out these tracks. Use a vacuum to remove any loose debris, such as pet hair, dust, dirt, food crumbs, or dead bugs. Next, take a dry, stiff brush and work through the tracks. An old toothbrush or a narrow grout brush both work well for this job. Vacuum again to remove anything that has surfaced from brushing. Finish up with a damp sponge or cleaning eraser to remove any last remaining particles.

2. Add Lubricant to Your Sliding Patio Door

Now that the tracks are clean, take the opportunity to add some lubricant to the tracks to keep things moving smoothly. A silicone-based lubricant works best for this purpose, as it won’t attract more grime and dirt the way a standard oil-based lubricant can. After spraying on the lubricant, move the door back and forth to work the product in and ensure an even coverage. Another more natural option is to use clear paraffin wax along the track.

3. Adjust the Sliding Door Rollers

If you’ve tried cleaning and lubricating your patio door’s tracks and it is still sticking, the next thing to try is adjusting the rollers. On most sliding glass doors there are one or two small holes on the top and bottom of the door. These are often covered by a plastic plug or trim cap, which hides a hidden adjustment screw. After removing the cap, you can use a screwdriver to make small incremental adjustments to the height of the rollers. It can be helpful to have a second person to hoist the door while you make these adjustments.

Additional Things to Try

Each of the above solutions are fairly easy and can be done by almost anyone. If those steps don’t get your patio door gliding smoothly, there are a few more involved things you can try. Removing the stop molding, or replacing the rollers can remedy a sticky sliding glass door, but may require holding the glass door in place, or even removing it entirely. Remember that a glass door can be quite heavy, and can be easily broken if not handled correctly.

When It’s Time For a Replacement By Northern Utah Glass

If you’ve tried all the steps above, and still find your door sticking, it might be time to replace your sliding patio door. Here at Northern Utah Glass, we can help you replace your sliding glass door with quality and efficiency. Providing service to Weber, Davis, and Salt Lake County in Utah, our professionals are dedicated to making your home shine. Give us a call at 801-528-2800 or contact us online for a free in-home estimate.