How to Replace Rollers on Sliding Glass Patio Doors
When the rollers on your sliding glass patio doors begin to malfunction, it can make using the door a difficult task. The good news is that replacing the worn out rollers is not as difficult as many people think. With a little effort, the job can be done in a short amount of time, using nothing more than a screwdriver.
Sliding glass patio doors are found in many different house designs, and make it very easy to enjoy a flow of traffic from the interior of the house onto the patio area. When the doors begin to stick, chances are that the rollers or wheels are beginning to wear out. Fortunately, replacing the rollers on sliding glass patio doors is a simple task that can be accomplished using a few basic tools and a little time.
Things You Need
- Replacement rollers
- Screwdriver
- Remove the patio door from the frame. With many designs, this requires nothing more than sliding the door into a position in which you can grasp both ends of the door easily, and gently lift upward. The bottom of the door, along with the rollers or wheels, will lift out of the bottom track. Step back, bringing the bottom of the door toward you, an action that will allow the rollers along the top of the door to slip out of the top track. Place the door on a flat surface so you have easy access to the worn rollers.
- Determine the size of rollers or wheels you need for the job. You can often obtain this information by contacting the manufacturer of the door with the part number of the door itself. The sticker with this information is often found on a discreet place on the door panel, usually on the edge. If there is no sticker and you have no paperwork on the patio doors, use a screwdriver to remove the worn rollers and take them with you to a hardware or home supply store.
- Install the new rollers onto the sliding glass patio door. Once you have the right replacement rollers, follow the instructions that come with the rollers to attach them to the bottom of the door. Keep in mind that the new rollers may or may not come with screws, so hang on to the screws used for the older rollers. Make sure the screws are flush with the surface of the rollers, and that they are securely in position.
After the new rollers are attached, reverse the process used to remove the door from the frame and place the patio door back in to position. Try the rollers to make sure they are sliding in the track properly. With a little luck, the rollers will be a perfect fit and you can get back to enjoying your patio.