Is your Aluminium Door Jammed and refusing to budge? You may be quick to assume that the whole door needs to be replaced, but wait! You could be dealing with a simple issue that could be quickly resolved. Door jams can be easily sorted with proper inspection. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at a number of causes for your jammed aluminium door.
Causes of Sliding Door Jams
Broken rollers within your sliding door
If the guides or rollers have been mechanically damaged, the door will not slide freely. Replacing the broken and worn rollers and installing high-quality sliding door rollers means your door will be able to slide like new again. Stacked sliding doors are just as susceptible to this as any other sliding door. Stacking sliding doors usually have smaller tracks than a normal sliding door; so keep an eye out on your roller to ensure it is not the culprit.
The track is completely worn down
When the track is damaged or blocked, some of the functional problems begin. A scraping sound is often heard. This occurs when the train’s tracks are being stripped and making it more difficult to slide smoothly. Tracks that are loose or damaged are hazardous and must be fixed or replaced.
The bottom of the door has collapsed
This is pretty self-explanatory. Over time, sliding doors can gradually move lower and lower due to gravity. Damaged frames are usually a cause of this and are a common problem with sliding doors often due to excessive force when opening and closing the door.
Hinge Doors
Improper Installation
If the door is hung incorrectly, it can be difficult for it to open and close properly. The door will get stuck when opened or closed if the hinges are not fully tightened. If you’re looking to replace your broken aluminium doors, consider hiring a professional to do the installation process.
Door Obstructions and the Accumulation of Dirt and Debris
If the door has only been installed for only a few months, dirt and debris can pile up at the bottom. When this is ignored, the accumulation might become so great that it causes an obstruction to other moving parts of your aluminium door. The dirt can also erode or damage other components causing mechanical problems with the opening and closing mechanisms.
Sagging Hinges
If the hinges are not properly tightened, over time it could eventually cause the door to sag and get stuck. Replacing or tightening loose and worn down hinges often corrects this issue.
Heavy Door
The heavier the door, the more difficult it will be for your door to open and close. This problem can be solved by replacing old and worn out rollers and hinges with high-quality components that reduce the force and can withstand the weight of the door.
Issues with the Latch
Latches or lock problems will cause the door to get stuck when it is closed. This issue can be resolved by making sure that your catch and strike plates are properly aligned, eliminating any sticking or jamming along the way.
A Door that is not Level
If your aluminium door is not level, it can cause it to stick and become jammed. This is because the door will not close properly and may exert excess pressure on the frame of the door causing it to get stuck. If this is a problem, consider hiring professionals to re-level your home’s exterior.
How to Unjam a Door
In some cases, a jammed door can be fixed by prying it. In other cases, this may only cause further damage. Assessing what your doors issue is, whether it is the track, the rollers, the latch or the hinges; it will determine how to go about repairing your issue. Replacing old and worn out door accessories can help to avoid this problem. Using heavy-duty aluminium tracks, hinges and other accessories will keep your door jam-free for years to come.
Sliding doors with aluminium tracks, for example, may jam if the metal gets worn down. If the sliding panel flies off a rickety track, insert a screwdriver between the bottom of the afflicted panel and the track. Then lift the panel to slide it back into the track. Sliding door tracks with wheels can accumulate debris, hair, and grime around the wheels. Over time, the wheels may wear down. In either situation, the door might get trapped. Turning the adjustment screws counterclockwise will fix the problem in most cases.
Need Help? Call us
Darley Aluminum has years specialising in manufacturing aluminium frames, doors, accessories and much more. If anyone understands how to deal with these kinds of issues, it’s us. We can find you the right bits and pieces customized for your door. This way, your door will be running smoothly in no time. No more forcing the door to open or having to deal with bumpy tracks, we have a solution for all issues.
If you need any advice or if you want to find out more about our products, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you get the components you need.