Pet Doors for Sliders

One of the greatest benefits to pet doors for sliders is there is no need to cut a hole through your wall or door to install one. Installation is easy and the vast majority of them are just as easy to remove. So if you need a temporary solution (if you rent an apartment, for example) you can just remove them and take them with you when/if you move out.

The following are common questions people ask when shopping for pet doors for sliders. We think you’ll find the answers helpful.

Q: Will the lock on my sliding glass doors work after installation of a pet door for sliders?

A: In a word, no. At least not in most cases. But there are some simple solutions. Many peope use a charley bar, which is easily installed on the inside of your sliders. A charley bar, while more secure, works similarly to placing a piece of wood inside the lower track to prevent sliding glass doors from opening. Some manufacturers will install a customized locking system on their patio pet panel models for an additional cost. For an example, see the Ideal Keylock Kit, which is only available at the time an order is placed for Ideal pet doors for sliding glass doors due to the custom nature of the installation.

Q: Can you install pet doors for sliders in any style of sliding glass doors such as vinyl doors made by Anderson or Pella?

A: There are some models of pet doors for patio doors that are specifically made to work with vinyl sliders. You should not purchase a pet door for your vinyl sliders if it does not specifically state that they are meant for vinyl sliders. America’s Pet Store carries several pet doors for sliders that qualify including: all of Pet 1 Product pet doors; Hale Omni models and Ideal VIP models.

Q: Are there fire-safety concerns with pet doors for sliders?

A: Yes. Pet doors for sliders will leave less room for people to go in and out, because your slider will not open as wide. (Hale is a brand that’s known for making the narrowest pet doors for sliders which leaves more room for your door to open to allow people to pass through.)

Before purchasing pet doors for sliders it is recommended that you calculate exactly how much space will be left over for people after installation. Then check your local fire codes to determine if that amount of space will be compliant.

Just measure your slider and subtract the overall width of the pet door. Will that amount of space be adequate in case of an emergency? In most instances it will be, but some people own sliders that are much narrower than standard models. If you have extra narrow sliders and need a very large pet door, patio pet panels may not be for you.

If you have any questions or would like some help in choosing one of our pet doors for sliders you can contact our Customer Service Department at customerservice@americas-pet-store.com, or call toll free at 1-800-870-1941 Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30 EST.

America’s Pet Store offers all sizes of pet doors for dogs and for cats including small pet doors; medium to large pet doors; and XL pet doors for giant breeds such as Mastiffs, Great Danes, etc..

We also offer electronic models (which are completely automatic pet doors). Please note that we no longer carry storm doors with pet doors pre-installed.