Finding a metal sliding door frozen and inaccessible quickly puts a damper on your day. Thankfully, you can rely on common household objects to battle the ice and get inside, but you must take care to avoid harsh chemicals or corrosive elements when dealing with metal. You may have to modify the methods depending on the particular type of door in question, but a few simple tricks will cut the ice in no time.
Spread kitty litter or sand on the ground to increase traction and to prevent you from sliding, slipping or falling while working.
Insert the sharp end of an ice pick into any thick ice buildup that may have occurred near the bottom or edges of the door. Position the pick in the center of the block of ice, hold it in place firmly and pound its handle with a mallet. This causes large chunks of ice to fracture and shatter. Remove large ice pieces from the vicinity of the sliding door.
Fill a spray bottle with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Spray along the tracks and moving parts of the sliding door to thaw the ice. Test the door intermittently as the ice begins to thaw.
Fill a 5-gallon bucket with hot, but not boiling, water if the alcohol didn't do the trick. Slowly pour the hot water on the sliding door's tracks or other areas that have an ice buildup. Open the door immediately to prevent the water from refreezing.
Mop up excess water with a sponge mop, straining it into the bucket to prevent refreezing. Absorb any remaining water with old towels and strain the water into the bucket. Once inside, close the door and run heat to keep the metal door from freezing again.
Things You Will Need
- Kitty litter or sand
- Ice pick
- Ice scraper
- Rubbing alcohol
- Spray bottle
- Sponge mop
- Wear thick, insulated gloves and outerwear to keep yourself warm during the unthawing process.
- In a pinch, use a hammer and chisel or even screwdriver in place of a mallet and icepick.
- Try increasing the pressure on a frozen automatic door via the door opener. If set to a higher pressure, the door may break through the ice when opening.
- If you're on the inside of a frozen metal sliding door, position a space heater near the door to slowly melt the ice outside.
- Do not use salt to thaw metal doors. Salt encourages corrosion in metal.
- Avoid pouring hot water on your door if it has any glass surfaces. This may cause the glass to break.
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