After years of regular use, sliding glass door hardware like tracks and rollers can get clogged with dirt and debris, or may even become damaged. When this happens, the door becomes difficult to open and can cause other hardware like the handles to break from bearing the pressure to open the door. Preserve the life of your sliding glass door and protect other components with some of SWISCO’s upkeep tips. 

Remove & Clean
First, remove the sliding door. Adjust the rollers to retract enough for the door to be lifted up and out of the frame. Open the door to the center of the opening then pull outward at the bottom. Be sure to have someone else nearby to help.

While the door is removed, now is a good chance to clean out any debris from the crevices of the track. Use a stiff brush or vacuum cleaner along the length of the track.

Some sliding glass doors are removed a bit differently, so, if you’re having any doubts about the removal process, ask our experts on the SWISCO website.

Replace Rollers
While the door is out, inspect the rollers for dirt or damage. If they’re in bad shape, remove them for replacement or repair. To determine the replacement roller needed for your door, match its style and dimensions to the options in the patio glass door replacement hardware section of the SWISCO online catalog. Or, let our experts recommend a replacement for you by sending photos and dimensions through our free hardware identification service.

For more information on replacing the rollers, see our How-to Replace a Sliding Glass Door Roller Guide. as well as our guide detailing unique roller characteristics.

Replace the Track or Add a Track Cover
It’s time to replace the track once it’s dented enough to interfere with the door rolling smoothly.

This can be fixed by either installing a new door track or track cover. To install a track cover, cut a stainless-steel channel to the length of the original track, then snap the channel onto the old track. Press it down with a woodblock. If needed, readjust the rollers by turning the roller adjusting screws.

Replacement tracks and track covers can be found in the patio sliding glass door accessories section of the online SWISCO catalog.

For information targeted toward replacing patio door handle sets, see our Legacy guide, as well as an overview of our diverse 82-030 handle set, to help you determine the best style and dimensions needed for your door.

Since all sliding glass doors can work differently, reach out to our experts for advice specific to your door if you’re having trouble at any phase of the project.