Keeping Sliding Doors On Track

House Detective : Episode HDT-812 -- More Projects »
Ann Gallagher has fond childhood memories of living lakeside in upstate New York. But the family home she’s inherited has been a rental for years. Now she fears repair costs may keep her from moving back home. She asks house inspector Tom Sherman to have a good, long look at the 1934 lakeside home in Marietta, N.Y.

Inspector's Notebook

Sliding glass doors are a great feature in a home. But if the doors are not maintained, and if the tracks aren’t cleaned, they can become difficult to slide.

The wheels on sliding glass doors operate like a train. The wheels hug and glide along a track. The first step is to keep the track clean and free of dirt that can clog the wheels. Whenever you clean your floors, clean out the dirt that accumulates in the track.

Other maintenance tips include tightening the screws on the track every six months. Loose screws can block the path of the door. Use a brush to clean the small drain holes along the side of the track twice a year. These holes allow trapped water to escape.

If the door still drags, adjust the height of the door by turning the screws on the side of the door. And remember to lubricate the tracks regularly. With a proper maintenance schedule, you’ll keep the glide in your sliding glass doors.

Guests
Tom Sherman
President- Absolute Home Inspection, Inc.
3269 West Seneca Turnpike
Syracuse, NY 13215
Phone: 315-673-1755
E-mail: tom@absolutehomeinspection.com
Website: www.absolutehomeinspection.com
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