rtr Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 My sliding glass door is stuck in the closed position. It appears that the lock functions fine but the door won't budge when unlocked. There isn't any ice or snow around the door although there is a touch of snow on some of the ground outside. How do I get this thing open? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoofy Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Step 1: Get a hammer Step 2: do what comes naturally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimel Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 If you have an air leak around the door and humid indoor air is leaking through you have a frozen door. Hair dryer and some time should take care of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtr Posted February 15, 2009 Author Share Posted February 15, 2009 Ok, now it appears it IS the lock that is stuck in the locked position and the handle simply doesn't unlock it. But I can't figure out a way to disassemble the lock/handle. Hoping someone can help me based on pictures of the door. There are NO screws or other obvious ways to disassemble handle on outside, on inside there are two screws but they are up against the door jam, I pulled back the trim to try and access them but it's still a severe angle resulting in screws that are already partially stripped from my efforts. Bigger versions at http://www.flickr.com/photos/13662836@N02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Keen Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 (edited) Try lifting the door up by pressing up on the glass in various places (may take 2 or more people) while trying to open the door, maybe even while trying to unlock the lock ...... all at the same time. Edited February 15, 2009 by CHRIS KEEN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Don't give up. See if you can pry the handle off that covers the thumb latch plate. Looks like it snapped into place. May have to force it. Better to replace handle than the glass panel. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtr Posted February 15, 2009 Author Share Posted February 15, 2009 We tried lifting/moving the door around as much as it'll go while trying to open it and the lock to no joy. I'll try to pry the lock apart next, tried it to some extent before without luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mainus Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 The panels on that door come out somehow. I don't recognize the hardware as being a specific company. On some doors there is a wood trim on the top held in with screws. You take the screws out, the molding comes off and the door will tip out from the top. There should be some adjustment screws on the bottom of the door. They might be on the face or Pella's have them on the side. If you adjust the door all the way down that might give you enough room to lift the door out and clear the track on the bottom. Does the handle have a set screw on the bottom of it. Sometimes the set screw holds a cover plate on, take the cover plate off and then you can get at the screws underneath the cover plate. The pictures look like to me that the door slid past the stops. There should be a stop on the top or bottom of the door that the doors hits to prevent the door from sliding to far. It might be pinched on one of these. If you can't get it PM me your number and maybe we can figure something out. Tom Carpenter for 20 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 If you know what make the door/hardware is --- or can figure that out --- often the installation instructions can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website. That might provide some hints.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajarrel Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Just an idea. Can you remove the molding from the inside of the door frame to allow access to the striker of the lock. If the molding was not there, could you take a knife and perhaps disengage the lock.. good luck dj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopalong Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Can you say......................................................... SLEDGE HAMMER Hoaplong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtr Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 The door is fixed! Just by luck I figured out the manufacturer of the door when I recognized the door handle on a part website, the door is a Wingard, but it doesn't say Wingard ANYWHERE on the door that I can see, just a goofy little symbol. Anyways I called Wingard, they sent a guy out the same day who fixed the door. Long story short he ripped the handle pictured off the door which allowed him to remove the screws for the outside handle which left the lock still inside the door but not attached to the door in any way, pryed door open which popped lock out of door, still attached to door jam but it fell of that easy. One of the two pieces that engage the door jam was stuck in the locked position, he replaced the lock and handles and all is back to normal, now my dogs don't stare at me saying "Hey dummy why aren't you opening the door?" Wingard didn't charge me a penny, the door is 5-6 years old and was put in by previous owner. I now have a lot more appreciation for my sliding glass door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Keen Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Wingard didn't charge me a penny, the door is 5-6 years old and was put in by previous owner. I now have a lot more appreciation for my sliding glass door. And repairmen who make that shit look easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 I could have told you how to do it , but I would get in reprimanded and you would not have believed me any way. You should have asked the repairman how many doors he broke when he was learning. and how many times he can reuse any part he takes out. I have done this work for 35 years and never seen that door , I really did not know, but I was sure the Handel was going to have be ripped off with a pry bar as a start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtr Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 You should have asked the repairman how many doors he broke when he was learning. I didn't ask him this question, however he said he'd only ever seen one other lock like this one that got stuck in the locked position and that was just a few days prior. I was sure the Handel was going to have be ripped off with a pry bar as a start. Just to clarify he ripped it off barehanded, no pry bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [ Just to clarify he ripped it off barehanded, no pry bar. OK I would have backed away too and not asked any more questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny5555 Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 I agree that you should ask the company what happened there. I got a new sliding glass door a few months ago and the installers were very good, but i can't imagine having to go through this. I would highly recommend you contact the people i used conservation construction of houston and ask them about this. I wouldn't stand for this sort of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 27 minutes ago, Jenny5555 said: I agree that you should ask the company what happened there. I got a new sliding glass door a few months ago and the installers were very good, but i can't imagine having to go through this. I would highly recommend you contact the people i used conservation construction of houston and ask them about this. I wouldn't stand for this sort of thing. 11 years later?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 Post # 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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