Tips For Preventing Water From Leaking In Through A Sliding Glass Door

A sliding glass door is a stunning design choice that lets light into a room, but it becomes a burden when water manages to leak through. This can be due to a number of different causes, such as a crack in the glass, clogged weep holes, damaged door seals, or a misaligned frame. Regardless of the cause of the water leak, it's imperative that you resolve the problem as soon as possible to prevent water damage. Luckily, there are a few tips you can use to stop water from leaking through a sliding glass door. Depending on the cause of the problem, simply apply weather stripping tape, unclog the weep holes, repair the door frame or door, or replace the door altogether. 

Your first step should be to determine the cause of the problem that's allowing water to make its way through. That way, you can figure out which water leakage prevention tip actually applies to your specific situation. Just carefully inspect your sliding glass door and frame to locate the issue. If there are signs that it's time to replace your sliding doors altogether, consider calling a contractor to get the job done. Otherwise, you should be able to use the tips mentioned above to stop water from leaking through yourself. 

When inspecting your door for the potential cause of the problem, you'll need to take a look at the interior of your door frame all the way around the perimeter. If the weather stripping tape is damaged, remove it and replace it. This tape acts as a seal that prevents water from making its way inside. When the seal is damaged, you're left vulnerable to leaks. If there is no weather stripping tape around your door at all, go ahead and install it. Consider using the affordable Vannesse Weather Stripping Door Seal.

Check the door's weep holes, too. You'll find them on the exterior side of the door. These holes allow water to drain away from your home rather than collect against the base of your door. However, when they become clogged, water can pool against the door and leak inside. Inspect the holes for debris like leaves or dirt and remove it. Use any long, slender tool you have on hand or a compressed air can to clean the gunk out around your sliding glass door. 

Damage along the door frame could also be the source of the problem, so inspect this, too. If your door no longer closes completely, the frame may need to be realigned. Take a close look at the threshold at the bottom of the door frame to see whether it is also fully intact. Repair any damage you find after inspecting these areas. Lastly, inspect the door itself. If there are cracks in the glass, it needs to be replaced, so start looking into the cost to install a sliding glass door.