The drawers you have in your kitchen and living room cabinets serve an important organisational function. Whether talking about spare fuses, your gas meter box key, or any number of other nicknacks, your sliding drawers provide a handy place to keep everything.
However, when those drawer slides become damaged or separated from the drawer body, it can ruin the usual smooth opening action. The convenience this storage area provides can then turn into annoyance and frustration. So, if that happens to you, you can take the necessary steps to fix the problem – and that’s the focus of this article.
What Causes Drawer Slides to Break?
The fact that you’ve found our blog online amongst all the personalized content and ads means that you’re probably looking for ways to resolve your own drawer issues. During your search, you may also have seen people online ask how drawer slides end up breaking in the first place.
The answer is that it could just be wear and tear, as sometimes frequently used drawers simply malfunction, with the metal brackets bending or the wood glue coming apart. This can cause cabinet or kitchen drawers to open on their own or the drawer front to fall off.
Other reasons include overpacking, or over-rigorous use that causes the kitchen drawer to have a sagging bottom. Either way, if it’s happened, it needs fixing, so let’s see how it’s done.
What You’ll Need to Fix Sliding Drawer Runners
So, as is the case when preparing for any DIY job, you need to ensure that you’ve got the right tools. In this case, you’ll need the following:
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A Phillips Number 2 screwdriver
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A cloth & household cleaner
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A pair of pliers
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Some bar soap
Types of Drawer Slides You’ll Encounter
When trying to fix a broken drawer, you’ll typically encounter one of two main different types of drawer slides in the kitchens of residential homes.
Roller Drawer Slides
Consisting of two sections, a drawer rail, and a furniture rail – both of which have their own wheel that fits inside the groove of the opposite rail – roller drawer slides are the economy option and are typically made from the cheapest materials.
Ball Bearing Drawer Slides
Offering a smoother action than roller drawer slides, ball-bearing drawer slides offer less friction than those that feature ordinary wheels. They’re slightly more expensive than roller drawer slides (but only by a pound or so), but you’ll know where that extra money went when you see just how smooth they are.
This type of drawer runner extends out with a telescopic action. They’re able to take more weight than roller drawer slides and there are also soft-close options also available.
The Steps to Fixing Sliding Drawer Slides
When fixing drawer sliders, there are a number of things you can do – depending on what’s actually stopping it from working smoothly. Naturally, you need to get inside to see what the problem is.
So, the first step to the job is removing the drawer, which involves carefully pulling it out as far as it will go. When it reaches that point, gently lift it up at a 45-degree angle, which should see it come free.
If this doesn’t work, you might have to pull up the back side of the drawer to work it loose before you can pull it out. In the event that simply won’t come, you may have to manipulate the slides to allow it to release.
Problem: Bent Drawer Slides
If after inspecting your drawer slides, you can see that they’ve become misshapen or bent, then you should try and straighten out any kinks with a pair of pliers. Obviously, if they’re broken or bent to the point where you can’t straighten them out – you’ll need to buy replacement drawer slides.
Problem: Too Much Friction
It could be that your drawer slides look perfectly fine, however, they’re still sticking. This can happen over time when the lubricant it came with from the factory is no longer sufficient for a smooth action. You can solve this particular issue by applying bar soap or spraying in some WD40 to get things moving smoothly once again.
Problem: Screws On the Drawer Body Have Become Loose
It’s perfectly normal for the screws holding your slides to the drawer work loose over time and this can cause the drawer to become jammed. The good news is that it’s another easy fix. Just check that each of the screws is fully tightened and the problem should be solved.
Problem: Dust or Debris Inside the Runners
Another possible reason for poorly functioning drawer slides is a build-up of dust or other debris that can occur. All you need to do in this case is get your cloth and household spray and wipe down the slides, which should restore a nice even movement.
Replacing Broken Drawer Slides
Should you find that none of the solutions above have worked and your drawer slides are beyond repair, you’ll need to replace them. To ensure you get the right replacement product, be sure to measure the old ones or measure the depth of the drawer to get the right figure.
When searching online, you’ll find the following length options available:
You might find that the exact type of slides aren’t available, however, there is usually some flexibility. Typically, deviations of between 20-30mm are close enough to be suitable.
Removal is a simple task and will usually involve simply unscrewing them and installing the new ones. You have to remember though, that there are defined left and right sliders, so we’d recommend matching them up before installation so you don’t get them the wrong way round. Once they’re screwed into place, that’s the job complete!
Look Forward to Years of Smoothing Functioning Drawers
With your kitchen drawer sliders fixed or replaced, you can look forward to a properly functioning drawer for years to come! So, no more frustration that you can’t get to what’s inside! We hope that you’ve found our blog useful in getting yours back in working order.
If you’ve got grander designs for your DIY plans, you’ll find a wide range of top-quality products at the Door Handle Store. We offer a dazzling array of door handle styles for every room in the home, as well as a wide selection of ironmongery, including drawer sliders.
That’s it from us this time. Check back with us again soon for more blogs like this one that provides helpful advice on getting those jobs around the home completed like a pro!
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