If your sliding Houston shower doors are stuck or hard to move, you may need repairs.
If you’re having a hard time opening or closing your sliding Houston shower doors, then there’s probably an issue that needs repair. There are several things you can try yourself at home, but in some cases you might need professional repairs from a shower door expert. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common problems with sliding shower doors and the best ways to fix them, whether by yourself or with a professional’s help.
Signs of Trouble with Your Sliding Houston Shower Doors
There are many issues you might encounter with sliding shower doors. If you notice these issues, then take steps to fix the issue as soon as possible.
Some things you might notice include:
- The door won’t open or close
- It’s hard to slide your Houston shower doors
- The door gets stuck at a certain spot
- The door squeaks or grinds when opening or closing
If you have sliding frameless shower doors in Houston, usually these are less prone to sliding issues, as they use less hardware. Generally, these doors slide on one track at the top and may have some guiding clips on the bottom to keep them straight up and down, while framed sliding shower doors usually have tracks and rollers on top and bottom that might cause issues with the sliding motion. However, frameless doors can certainly still experience issues with gliding on the track.
So, whether you have framed or frameless sliding shower doors, keep an eye out for these problems and make sure you repair them as soon as possible. Delaying repairs may lead to extra wear and tear that requires more intensive repairs or even replacement.
Common Repairs for Stuck Sliding Houston Shower Doors
Repairing sliding Houston shower doors depends on the exact issue causing the problem. If you’re not sure what the issue is, then consider contacting one of our professionals for help. We can identify the cause of the problem and get it fixed quickly to get you back to normal. However, there are some things that you can check for and even fix on your own.
Here is a list of some of the most common issues with sliding shower doors and how to fix them:
Your Houston Shower Doors May Be Off Track
In some cases, your Houston shower doors may just be off track. This can happen for many reasons, but often it’s due to misuse like pulling too hard on the doors when you open or close them or even falling into the doors. Getting sliding shower doors aligned back on the track often requires just a little wiggling of the door to set it back in the proper place. Just be careful, as if you somehow manage to pull the door off the track completely it may be heavy and you might drop it and break it. If you’re concerned about this, then call our Houston glass repair team for help.
Also, if your sliding shower doors frequently come off the track, it might be a sign of a bigger issue. If this is the case, then it helps to have a professional team come assess the doors and see if they can repair the root cause to prevent the issue from happening again.
The Sliding Shower Door Track May be Dirty or Blocked
One of the most common causes of stuck or difficult to slide Houston shower doors is a dirty or blocked door track. If you have framed shower doors, there will be tracks on the top and bottom. Frameless shower doors usually use just one track at the top, though this really depends on the shower design.
If the track is full of dirt or debris, then the shower doors can’t slide from side to side properly because that grime prevents the rollers from turning smoothly across the track. Try looking into the track or even running your finger across it to check for things like dirt, a misplaced bead of caulk, or other grime.
If this is the culprit, then clean the shower tracks thoroughly to fix your shower doors. Start by vacuuming all the debris up and then follow up with a multipurpose cleaner that is safe for the metal. Scrub thoroughly with a soft cloth or brush.
Removing Limescale from Shower Door Tracks
In some cases, it may be that limescale buildup is on the track for your sliding Houston shower doors. If this is the problem, then you might encounter really tough to remove grime that won’t go away with the average multipurpose cleaner.
Instead, try using vinegar to dissolve the limescale. Limescale is due to the minerals in hard water, but mildly acidic cleaners usually work well for dissolving and removing it. Try a vinegar solution and let it soak in the tracks before removing with a soft cloth. If this doesn’t work, you might need to try a limescale remover product. Just make sure that the limescale remover is safe for metals to avoid damaging the tracks and other hardware for your Houston shower doors.
The Houston Shower Door Tracks or Rollers May Need Lubrication
Sometimes, you may just need to add a little lubrication to the tracks or rollers to get your doors to work properly again. Over time, the sliding mechanisms can become stiff and need a little grease like the tin man from Wizard of Oz. Try applying some spray silicone lubricant to the tracks and the rollers and see if that fixes the problem.
Also, keep in mind that these lubricants can attract dust and dirt a little more than usual, so you may need to clean the tracks and reapply regularly to keep your shower clean and keep your Houston shower doors sliding properly.
You May Need to Replace the Rollers for Your Houston Shower Doors
Of course, sometimes it’s actually worn or broken parts that make it difficult or impossible to slide your shower doors. In these cases, sliding shower door repair involves replacing the damaged parts. Rollers can wear out over time and may need replacement. Because so many things can go wrong trying to do this yourself, we recommend getting help from a professional to replace the rollers.
You Might Need Repairs for Damaged Tracks
Less commonly, it may be that the tracks for your sliding shower doors are damaged. For instance, they may be dented or bent. Even slight damages can make the doors difficult to slide. For this problem, we recommend getting professional repairs. In some cases, we may be able to repair the tracks by carefully bending them back into place. However, in other cases we may need to replace the tracks with new ones for your Houston shower doors.
The Shower Door Tracks May be Unlevel
Sometimes, it may be that your doors are difficult to slide because the track is unlevel. This means that parts of the door may hang too low, basically squeezing into the tracks where they are too low. This can cause serious wear on the parts and can lead to damage on the rollers or the tracks. Leveling shower door tracks can be tricky and needs professional expertise to do so properly and safely.
Get Professional Houston Glass Repair from Apple Glass
Our team at Apple Glass specializes in all types of glass, from residential shower doors to commercial storefronts. We offer superior glass installation, repair, and replacement for all your needs. As a top glass company in the Greater Houston area, we are your number one trusted source for glass services. Contact us now to get a free quote from our experts!
