Have you ever experienced opening a sliding door that refuses to budge? How about a sliding door that makes an ungodly screeching noise when you open it? These are just two of the problems you may face with a poorly maintained sliding door.
If you want to keep your doors in good shape, here are the best maintenance tips you should know:
1. Clean the sliding tracks at least once a week
Removing dirt and debris from the sliding tracks will help ensure that your door opens and closes smoothly every time. Moreover, it will help keep the parts of your sliding door, such as the door jamb set, in optimal condition so you won’t have to replace them prematurely.
To clean sliding tracks, use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment small enough to reach the nooks and crannies. Then, scrub the tracks with a brush and gentle cleanser to remove dirt. Use baking soda and a combination of vinegar and water for stubborn deep-seated dirt and debris.
2. Enforce household rules to protect your doors
A rule that every house with sliding doors should have is to never slam the sliding doors, or any other door for that matter, to avoid damaging its components. At the same time, members of the household should not step on the sliding doors with dirty shoes upon entering the house, nor drag any dirty object through the sliding door.
3. Lubricate your tracks every month
The best way to keep your sliding door opening and closing smoothly is to lubricate its tracks every two months. After cleaning your tracks, use a cloth doused in silicone lubricant to lubricate the tracks of the sliding door. Make sure you’ve covered every surface by opening and closing the sliding door a few times.
Don’t wait for your sliding door to get squeaky or difficult to open before you lubricate it. To make sure you remember to do this, set a reminder on your kitchen calendar or smartphone. However, don’t lubricate your door too often as too much oil or lubricant can attract more dirt.
4. Check the screws
Sliding doors have a lot of screws along its frame. If one or more of these screws become loose, it can cause a misalignment in your door frame or incomplete closing of the sliding door itself. Fortunately, you can easily prevent these issues from happening by checking the screws on your sliding door at least once a year. If one or two of the screws are loose, simply use a screwdriver to tighten them back up.
5. Fix issues immediately
If you do happen to experience sliding door problems, call in a professional to fix them immediately. Examples of such issues include a door that won’t open or close, alignment problems, shattered glass, faulty seal, and broken latches, among many others.
Among all types of doors, sliding doors are perhaps the most difficult to maintain in a residential setting. But if you abide by these maintenance tips faithfully, you can significantly decrease the chances of having a faulty sliding door.