If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by the constant sliding open of your shower door, you’re certainly not alone.
Many homeowners have encountered this peculiar issue, which can be annoying and potentially embarrassing. Your morning routine should be a peaceful and refreshing experience, not a constant battle with a rogue shower door.
It defeats the purpose of having a shower door in the first place when it opens during your shower. You can find several reasons why a shower door refuses to close. You should expect your glass shower door to wear and tear over time.
There is a possibility that the hardware, such as screws, latches, hinges, or magnetic strips, has worn out over time.
Usually, all that is needed to fix a shower door is to tighten or replace the hardware. Most of the time, this work does not need to be done by a professional.
Sticking or malfunctioning shower doors have simple causes for the homeowner to fix.
Several others may benefit from professional attention, and one, in particular, urgently needs it. No matter the cause, it can be dealt with quickly.
Why Is Your Shower Door Not Staying Closed?
Shower doors come in many different shapes, sizes, and styles.
In most cases, the causes and solutions discussed below would apply to a shower door regardless of whether it’s made by Kohler, Delta, or Dreamline.
The following list contains all the reasons why your shower door won’t close.
Built-Up Dirt and Debris
Usually, soap scum, mildew, and limescale can build up in the track of the shower door, causing it to open accidentally.
Additionally, this buildup gets into shower door hinges, which can prevent them from closing completely, which may cause your shower door to open as you use it.
When cleaning the shower space, we usually don’t clean door frames, tracks, and hinges.
Bad Tracks
There is a problem exclusively affecting sliding shower doors. However, a few things can affect the track of a sliding door.
There might be an issue with the track being out of level. Doors installed on an inclined or unlevelled track are likely to slide back as they are opened.
Alternatively, your track may be worn, causing the door to slide open when you bump into it or from the water pressure in the shower.
Loose or Worn Out Hardware
In most cases, a shower door that won’t close has a problem with the hardware. There is, however, the possibility that all types of shower doors can be affected by hardware problems.
As a result, this can domino effect the whole situation. If a screw is stripped or loose, a hinge or latch will become loose, opening the door halfway through the shower.
Use of magnetic strips and rollers for shower doors would also be considered hardware.
How to Fix a Shower Door That Keeps Sliding Open
Several DIY fixes can be tried if your sliding door won’t close all the way in your bathroom. Here’s how to prevent being blasted with cold air again in your shower.
Things You Will Need:
- Screwdriver
- Allen Wrench
- Adjustable Wrench
- Level
- Bathroom Cleaner
- Cloths or Rags
Keeping the Door Tracks Clean
Usually, sliding doors collect dirt and dust along the tracks, which prevents them from operating correctly.
It is as simple as using white vinegar to solve this problem. Place the vinegar into the tracks and let it sit for up to ten minutes before cleaning.
Block the door’s weeping holes if the vinegar drains faster than usual. These holes allow water to escape from the tracks.
Once the shower door track has been soaked in vinegar, move it back and forth a few times before rinsing it off. It should remove all the dirt.
Check the Door Rollers
A sliding door would not be functional without its rollers, which enable your shower door to open and close smoothly.
Inspecting them to see if they’re rolling well or getting stuck right away is possible.
In this situation, the rollers can become stuck if you have to exert more effort to close the door completely.
Remove the shower door and use vinegar or the solution as mentioned earlier to clean the rollers when the shower door is off its tracks.
Ensure that the wheels are turning while you are waiting. Free but unrolling hinges indicate that the door is not level and is not dirty.
Rusting often prevents the roller from spinning, resulting in a clogged spindle. You should also clean the rollers to get rid of dirt and rust.
Adjust Rollers
A misaligned door roller is most likely to blame if your sliding door isn’t closing completely. A level adjustment is necessary.
You can adjust the door rollers to achieve this. The height of the shower door is adjusted with these. It will start to open and close properly once it reaches the correct level.
Adjust the Door’s Position
You can remove the door from its track and inspect it for obstructions or obstructions if it doesn’t perform better.
A properly working shower door should be able to close when you replace it and slide it open and closed.
Debris Removal from Door Tracks
Using tweezers, chopsticks, or toothpicks, remove all visible debris from the tracks before you proceed.
Even if you are unable to properly remove the debris, you can loosen it. The stains can be removed by scrubbing with white vinegar.
Clean the Door Tracks
When the white vinegar and rinsing method has not resolved your issue, it is time to move on to plan B. A mineral-infused lubricant solution can also be used here.
Remove all of the grime by coating the entire track with this solution and then scrubbing with a stiff brush.
It is possible to remove stubborn dirt deposits using something with a rigid edge if the brush does not work. Use a screwdriver or other sharp object to ensure your shower door isn’t scratched.
Replace Your Hardware
Hardware that won’t tighten, such as a spinning screw, means it is stripped and needs replacing.
It is essential to maintain shower doors because they take a lot of abuse from water, limescale, shampoos, and soaps. Look out for any hardware that is degrading or just in poor condition.
Wear-and-tear and failure of worn-out hardware are common. In either case, it must be replaced.
You need to be careful when removing the shower door hardware because it will force your shower door to come off.
Cases That Require The Assistance Of A Professional
If you have no experience working with glass, I wouldn’t suggest you try to do it yourself. glass isn’t like ordinary glass, and you might injure yourself.
Typically, shower doors are made of tempered glass, which is difficult for do-it-yourselfers to deal with because it requires specialized tools.
If Your Glass Shower Door Begins To Leak
The seals around the edges of your shower door are usually the culprit if it leaks. It is a good idea to have them inspected by a technician.
You can repair your glass shower door without much trouble. It is usually easy to find a solution to problems. Be sure to check your shower door for loose screws and to clean it.
If You Have Scratches On Your Shower Door
You can easily fix scratches with the help of a professional, but you will need the help of a knowledgeable individual. You can hire a glass repair technician to buff out the scratch or fill in the defects.
If Your Shower Door Is Dragging
Having a sliding shower door may cause some dragging. Changing the clamps and realigning the door may fix the issue if your shower door drags. A buildup of water or debris may be responsible for this.
Although it is possible to do it yourself, it does require that the shower door be taken off the track, so we recommend that you find a professional to do the job.
How Much Does a Shower Door Repair Cost?
The answer must be, “Why should I fix my shower door myself?” you must be wondering. The answer to this question lies in knowing how much money you’ll save from doing the job yourself.
The cost of repairing a shower door that won’t close completely can be found below. You can save money by avoiding hiring a repairman to inspect your shower door.
Several hundred dollars can be involved in just contacting someone to assess the problem. It is possible for the technician to charge between $200 and $600 for fixing the issue once they have identified the problem.
As you can see, there are some costs associated with repairing your door and how much money you can save if you fix it yourself.
To resolve the problem, you will need to spend no more than $10 to complete one of the methods listed above.
Shower Door Safety Tips
Here are some shower door safety precautions to keep in mind. Several responsibilities go along with working on shower doors. To prevent problems like leaky shower doors, here are a few precautions you should take.
You should clean your shower after taking a bath. The kids must follow the instructions as well, as well as be cautious whenever they are using the shower door.
You should spray WD-40 on the hinges and railings as part of your regular cleaning routine. It is not advisable to slam the shower door.
The Bottom Line
A hot shower can feel uncomfortable when you feel the cold air on your body. The reason why your shower door must be completely closed is because of this. You need privacy even while showering!
A few minor issues keep it from being completely closed. It is not worth spending hundreds of dollars on them. Additionally, you can repair your shower door yourself and will most likely have it working in no time.
