[adamo]

I bought a house with Anderson Double Patio Doors. Only one door opens, and I simply cannot figure out how to open the other. There seems to be a pin at the top, but I don't see how to disengage it. Any thoughts?

 

[DannyT]

should be sliders on the edge of the door

 

[Just Bill]

On most sliding double doors, only one door operates. I have done a LOT of Andersen doors over the years, don't recall a double door set where both doors operate. Triple door, possibly, not double.

 

[Ron6519]

I bought a house with Anderson Double Patio Doors. Only one door opens, and I simply cannot figure out how to open the other. There seems to be a pin at the top, but I don't see how to disengage it. Any thoughts?

The passive side locks and unlocks with the handle. Push the handle down to unlock it. Lift it up to engage the lock.
Works the same as the active door.

 

[adamo]

Anderson Door Locks

Ron,
Nothing happens when you move the handle up and down. The owner had a thing about doors. You could only get in through the front door with a key. All other doors have no key access. Do you think this has anything to do with this?

 

[Ron6519]

Ron,
Nothing happens when you move the handle up and down. The owner had a thing about doors. You could only get in through the front door with a key. All other doors have no key access. Do you think this has anything to do with this?

If this is an Andersen French patio hinged door with 2 operating doors, this is the way you open them. I have one in my house.
Take a picture of the door and lock.
When you push the handle down, you need to put a good deal of pressure on the handle.
How do you lock the operating(active door)? It has 2 bars on the doors edge that locks into the stationary sash. You must lift the handle up so the bars extend outward into the other door.
Possibilities:
The previous owner modified the door so the lock can't disengage.
The door is not an operating door and the handle is just for show.
-If both doors have hinges, they both should open.
Operator error.

 

[DannyT]

pictures would really help alot

 

[Ron6519]

Well, did you get the door open?

 

[locksmiths]

There are only three reasons for a sliding door not to open easily.
First, the door might be resting on the track. only the rollers should rest on the track. There are usually two adjustments to raise the door. Check the bottom of the door on both ends for plastic caps. Pry the caps off and you will need a long screwdriver or phillip's driver to make the adjustments to raise the door at both ends.

Second, the frame might be out of square.
Third, the frame might be out of plumb.
If this is the case, you may have to take out the door and the stationary door to square it off and adjust the plumb.

 

[Ron6519]

There are only three reasons for a sliding door not to open easily.
First, the door might be resting on the track. only the rollers should rest on the track. There are usually two adjustments to raise the door. Check the bottom of the door on both ends for plastic caps. Pry the caps off and you will need a long screwdriver or phillip's driver to make the adjustments to raise the door at both ends.

Second, the frame might be out of square.
Third, the frame might be out of plumb.
If this is the case, you may have to take out the door and the stationary door to square it off and adjust the plumb.

Talking about a hinged patio door.