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How to Fix Sliding Glass Door Seals That Make Noise

Alan Temple

Sliding doors have become a popular feature for entrances to patios, gardens, or conservatories. Most of these door mechanisms are sealed with a rubber strip around the outer edges that keeps out heat, cold and excess noise.

Dry, worn seals can create excess noise in sliding doors

Ironically, these rubber seals can often be the cause of excess noise when your doors begin to show their age. It's not difficult to fix the problem.

  1. Run your finger along the rubber seal that stretches the length of the door. If the door is noisy, it's likely the rubber seal is a little worn and particularly dry.

  2. Apply a coat of lubricant to the seal, using the lubricant nozzle. Leave this coat for around an hour to completely soak the seal. This should ease the friction between the drying seal and the sliding door mechanism.

  3. Apply a rubber seal treatment, following the manufacturer's instructions. This is particularly effective if the rubber seal must withstand harsh weather conditions.

  4. Service the rest of the door. Use a small screwdriver or chisel to loosen any debris visible on the tracks of the sliding door before vacuuming the tracks, and then scrub the tracks with a wire brush. Spray lubricant along the tracks.

  5. Slowly roll the door along the tracks. The newly moisturized door seal and cleared tracks should ensure that the door opens and closes with much less noise.

  6. Tip

    It may be necessary to call in a professional if the seal has degenerated to a state where the application of lubricant is not sufficient; for example, the seal is starting to wear away and come off.

The Drip Cap

  • Sliding doors have become a popular feature for entrances to patios, gardens, or conservatories.
  • Ironically, these rubber seals can often be the cause of excess noise when your doors begin to show their age.
  • Apply a rubber seal treatment, following the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Service the rest of the door.