Across Florida · Vetted local pros
Why does water come in under my sliding door during heavy rain?
A straight answer first, then what you can safely check yourself and when to get a pro. Free estimates from a vetted MB pro near you.
Most often it is because the drain (weep) holes in the bottom track are clogged, or the weatherstripping and sill seal have worn out, so rain that should drain outside spills indoors. Wind-driven rain makes it worse because it pushes water up and over the track faster than it can drain.
One thing changes the answer: the water may not be coming from the door at all. Water from a failed seal above, a wall crack or a flashing problem can run down and show up at the sill, so where it first appears and when it appears both matter.
Why it happens
A sliding door track is built to get wet. It has a raised inner lip that holds water back and small weep holes that let it drain outside. Leaves, sand, pollen and grit build up in the track and block those holes, and the track then fills past the lip and overflows into the house.
Seals wear out too. Florida's sun and humidity dry out and flatten the weatherstripping, and the bottom edge of the frame and the sill sealant can crack or pull away. Rollers that are worn or out of adjustment let the door sag or sit crooked, which opens a gap that heavy rain finds quickly.
In coastal areas, salt air corrodes aluminum tracks and rollers, which can pit the track surface or bend the lip that holds water back. If the water comes from the sill or wall instead, the cause is usually a failed seal or flashing around the opening, and that needs a pro to trace.
What you can check yourself
Look in the track
Slide the door open and look for dirt, sand, leaves or standing water. A vacuum and a soft brush will clear loose debris.
Find the weep holes
They are small slots along the outside lower edge of the track. Make sure they are open, and do not caulk over them.
Run a cup of water through
Pour a little water into a clean track and watch whether it drains outside. If it pools or heads indoors, the drainage or the track lip is the problem.
Inspect the seals and the fit
Look for cracked, flattened or missing weatherstripping. Close the door and check for daylight at the edges and whether the lock lines up.
Note when and where it leaks
Does water appear only in wind-driven rain, or in any rain? Is it at one corner or across the whole sill? Look for stains above the door too. Photos help the pro.
When to call a pro
Stop and get a pro if the floor near the door feels soft or looks swollen, if you see mold, rot or stains under or beside the sill, or if the track is corroded or bent. The same goes for a door that sticks, will not lock, or has fogged or cracked glass. Tempered glass can break into many pieces, so do not try to lift or remove the door yourself.
On licensing, repairing an existing sliding door (rollers, tracks, locks, handles, weatherstripping, screens) generally does not require a state contractor license in Florida. Replacing the door unit, changing the opening, or glazing and structural work can fall under licensed contracting and usually needs a building permit that the pro pulls. Verify any required credential on the Florida DBPR website and with your local building department. Your MB pro will tell you which category your job falls into. We match you with a vetted pro near you and book the visit.
Your MB pro handles the permit when the job needs one. You can look up a contractor's license at Florida DBPR.
What a pro will do
- Trace the real sourceYour MB pro checks the track, weep holes, sill, seals and the wall above to confirm where the water is entering.
- Clean and repair the trackClearing drains, straightening or repairing the track, and adding stainless track capping where wear or corrosion is the cause.
- Replace rollers and align the doorNew rollers and adjustment let the door sit square and close tight against its seals.
- Renew weatherstripping and sealantWorn seals and cracked sill sealant are replaced so the edges shut out wind-driven rain.
- Advise on replacement if neededIf the frame or glass is failing, replacement is a bigger job. In Miami-Dade and Broward (the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone) a replacement door needs a Miami-Dade NOA. Elsewhere in Florida it needs Florida Product Approval.
How it works
Step 1
Tell us what you need
Call or send the short form with your city and the job. Estimates are free.
Step 2
We match you with a vetted pro near you
We pick a vetted pro from our network who works in your part of Florida and book the visit.
Step 3
Your pro gives a free estimate and does the work
Your MB pro looks at the job and gives you a free estimate. You decide whether to go ahead — and we stay your point of contact.
Related questions
- Can I just caulk the bottom of the door to stop the leak?
- It is risky. Sealing the track can block the weep holes and trap water, which often makes the leak and the damage worse. Let a pro find the source first, then seal only what should be sealed.
- What affects the cost of fixing a leaking sliding door?
- The main factors are the cause (a clogged drain versus worn seals versus a damaged track), the door size, how easy it is to reach, the condition of the sill and floor once opened up, and whether replacement and a permit come into play. A free estimate from your MB pro covers your specific door.
- Will a leak like this damage my floor?
- Repeated moisture can soak flooring and the framing under the sill, and it can encourage mold in Florida's humidity. Fixing it early usually keeps the repair small.
- Do I need approval if I live in a condo or HOA?
- Repairs like rollers and weatherstripping usually do not. Replacing a door often needs association approval as well as a permit, so check your association's rules before you order anything.
Request a free sliding doors estimate
Tell us what's going on. We'll match you with a vetted pro near you.
- 1Tell us what you need.
- 2We match you with a vetted pro near you.
- 3Your pro gives a free estimate and does the work.
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