Symptom guide
Sliding door problems: what could be wrong and what fixes it
Find the description that sounds like your door. Each one lists the common causes and the repair that usually applies. These are possibilities, not a diagnosis: an onsite inspection confirms the cause.
What is your sliding door doing?
- Sliding door hard to open
- Sliding door sticks or drags
- Sliding door grinding or scraping
- Sliding door off track
- Sliding door won’t lock
- Broken or loose sliding door handle
- Sliding screen door torn or off track
Sand, salt in the coastal air and frequent use can wear sliding door parts, but they aren’t the cause of every problem. Worn parts also tend to damage each other, so one symptom can have more than one cause.
Sliding door hard to open
Possible causes include:
- Rollers that have worn, flattened or seized
- Sand, grit or debris packed into the track
- A panel that has dropped or is out of adjustment and rubs the frame
- A dented or bent track
Which repair usually applies
An onsite inspection confirms what is causing it, and we’ll recommend the repair that fits. If your door can’t sensibly be repaired, we’ll say so.
Sliding door sticks or drags
Possible causes include:
- Rollers that have worn unevenly
- Buildup along the track that catches the rollers
- A panel that sits lower on one side, so the bottom drags
- More than one cause at once, since worn parts damage each other
Which repair usually applies
An onsite inspection confirms what is causing it, and we’ll recommend the repair that fits. If your door can’t sensibly be repaired, we’ll say so.
Sliding door grinding or scraping
Possible causes include:
- Worn or broken rollers, so metal rubs on metal
- Grit between the rollers and the track
- The panel rubbing the frame or track edge
- Damage to the track surface
Which repair usually applies
An onsite inspection confirms what is causing it, and we’ll recommend the repair that fits. If your door can’t sensibly be repaired, we’ll say so.
Sliding door off track
Possible causes include:
- Damaged, worn or missing rollers
- A bent or damaged track
- A panel knocked out of alignment
- Parts that keep the panel seated in the track having worn or loosened
Forcing a derailed door back on can add damage to the track and rollers.
Which repair usually applies
An onsite inspection confirms what is causing it, and we’ll recommend the repair that fits. If your door can’t sensibly be repaired, we’ll say so.
Sliding door won’t lock
Possible causes include:
- A panel that has sagged, so the latch misses the keeper
- A worn or broken latch or lock
- A bent or worn keeper on the frame
- Worn rollers letting the panel sit out of position
A door that doesn’t lock securely is a security concern. Many people place a bar or dowel in the track until it’s repaired.
Which repair usually applies
An onsite inspection confirms what is causing it, and we’ll recommend the repair that fits. If your door can’t sensibly be repaired, we’ll say so.
Broken or loose sliding door handle
Possible causes include:
- Loose fasteners or a worn mounting
- A cracked or snapped handle
- Wear in the latch mechanism behind the handle
- Difficulty finding a matching replacement for the door
Photos of the handle, latch and any brand name make it easier to work out the right parts.
Which repair usually applies
An onsite inspection confirms what is causing it, and we’ll recommend the repair that fits. If your door can’t sensibly be repaired, we’ll say so.
Sliding screen door torn or off track
Possible causes include:
- Torn or stretched mesh
- A bent or twisted frame
- Worn or missing screen rollers
- Debris in the screen’s track
Which repair usually applies
An onsite inspection confirms what is causing it, and we’ll recommend the repair that fits. If your door can’t sensibly be repaired, we’ll say so.
Not sure which one it is?
Request an onsite inspection. Our technician will find the cause at your property and explain the repair and pricing before any work.