Weatherstripping on a sliding glass door?

Hi All,

A couple of years ago, we had a two panel (one sliding, one fixed) sliding glass door installed in our kitchen (door is made by Sunrise Windows and Doors).

It seems kind of drafty, so I'm just wondering if anyone knows where there should be weather stripping. I just put some stripping in the door frame where the door slides into. (I think its the jamb, but I'm not confident on my terminology.) Basically, when you pull the door shut, it locks by having 3 hooks bite into the inside of the frame. Where the 3 hooks bite into is an about 4.5 foot piece of metal attached to the inside of the door frame, with 3 appropriately spaced "hook holes." However, above and below the metal (which is maybe 0.25 inches thick) there is a channel - it looks like the metal should run the full height of the door frame, but it doesn't. So, I installed weather stripping both above and below the metal attachment, at approximately the same thickness of the metal attachment. I'm hoping that helps, but is there anything else I should check?

For example, should there be any stripping on/in the top of the door frame, in the track where the door runs? It looks like there is nothing there, although there may be some very thin stripping that touches the inside and outside of the door at the top, which I assume is intended to stop airflow.

I hope this makes sense, as door terminology is not my strong point.

Thank you for any help!

 

Typ on sliding doors there is a seal, sort of a felt or short brush vs a foam seal that goes around the perimeter of the opening so when the sliding panel closes it seals.

 

Hi Marq1,

Thanks for the info.

Do you mean that the seal sort of goes around the interior of the door frame to sort of encircle the door when the door is closed? If so, then we do have that. Is it possible that I would need a bit thicker seal? From the inside looking out, the left panel slides and the right panel is fixed. When I slide the door all the way to the left and lock it, you can see that the top left corner moves a hair back down-right. The installers (whom I will never hire again) said that its just the way the house is. But now, cold air leaks in from there quite a bit.

Any thoughts on what I can do?

Thanks again for any info!

 

It depends on the door. Sometimes there is a weatherstrip on the frame... Sometimes it is on the door, or a combination of both.

 

I just checked my door and the "felt" goes around the channel on all four sides inside and out, the sliding door fits between.

So, I doubt there is alternative sizes available, it may be that the frame is out of square/plumb that is causing a gap and thus air entry.

I would probably look to see what type of sealing material could be added. Like the various EPDM foam seals used on cars with adhesive tape. Have never looked for the "felt" type of seal but it may be out there.

Check eBay, can get some ideas!

 

Open the door just a crack... look up and down and see if the gap between the door and jamb is straight or not. If it isnt, you can adjust the rollers until the door sets plumb.