Andersen A-Series and E-Series gliding patio doors: how to tell them apart, and where repairs and parts go

The short answer

Andersen describes both doors as wood with a protective exterior: the A-Series gliding patio door is wood protected by fiberglass, and the E-Series is wood protected by an aluminum exterior. Andersen's own documents also call the A-Series door the A-Series Frenchwood gliding door, and some of its E-Series documents carry the Eagle name.

For repairs, they differ most on parts: A-Series rollers and trim sets are in the Andersen Parts Store, while for A-Series lock parts and E-Series rollers, screens, and older locks, Andersen asks you to contact it. Inspecting or replacing rollers takes the panel out, and this site leaves that to a professional.

Every statement here comes from Andersen's documents, opened on November 9, 2026 and linked below. This site is not affiliated with Andersen.

A-Series or E-Series?

The outside face.

• A-Series. Andersen offers a contemporary panel, with a narrow bottom profile, or a traditional one, with a wider bottom profile; its worksheet tells them apart by the exterior bottom rail height.
• E-Series, made March 2006 to October 25, 2016. Andersen's overview lists an aluminum-clad exterior, a visible screw at the bottom of the interior door panel, a wooden edge on that panel, and a beige or brown interior sill. Traditional French panels have an 8- or 12-inch bottom rail; Contemporary panels a 2 3/4- or 4 11/16-inch one.

The lock. Andersen's gliding door worksheet pairs the A-Series Frenchwood with a multi-point lock and the 400 Series Frenchwood with a reachout lock, which separates two doors sharing the Frenchwood name; the 400 Series Frenchwood guide covers the other. E-Series doors made from 2006 to October 2016 have a mortised two-point hook lock; Andersen says later ones use A-Series lock mechanisms unless specified when ordered.

The Eagle name. Andersen's E-Series worksheet lists handles for "E-Series / Eagle gliding patio doors," and its warranty article sends owners of E-Series / Eagle products made before May 2002 to Andersen.

The label and the glass logo.

• A-Series. Andersen puts the label on A-Series products from 2008 on in the head jamb: the inside of the top of the frame, visible when the door is open. A second label on the panel's top edge needs the panel out; Andersen says in most cases only the frame Product ID is needed.
• E-Series. Andersen shows a label on doors made from April 16, 2009 on; for a door made before 2009, its worksheet skips to the glass logo, etched usually in the bottom right-hand corner.

Andersen says the label gives the Series, size, color, and glass type. With no label, its Identify My Product tool, or Andersen itself, can identify the door by its features. The maker label guide covers labels generally; the 200 Series guide and 100 Series guide cover Andersen's other gliding doors.

Handing, and which parts are handed

Andersen hands gliding doors, E-Series included, from outside, by where the operating panel sits: operating panel on the left is a left-handed unit. The XO or OX guide explains how to read handing from inside.

• A-Series. Panels, exterior handles, and exterior keyed locks are handed like the unit; interior handles opposite. Four-panel exterior keyed locks count as left-handed. Interior gliding insect screens, rollers, and the interlock weatherstrip are not handed. Andersen also shows an A-Series-only three-panel unit: an operating panel at each end, and a center stationary panel that is not handed.
• E-Series. On handle sets used from March 2006 to October 2016, the active panel handle was handed with the unit.

Write the handing on the door record card.

What you can check with the door in place

1. Check the gap. Open the operating panel slightly. Andersen says if the gap to the frame is not equal top to bottom, the panel needs adjusting.
2. Adjust A-Series rollers. Andersen's step 19 of guide 9020095: open the operating panel slightly, remove the adjustment hole caps, and turn a flat-blade screwdriver in the sockets, clockwise to raise the panel or counterclockwise to lower it, until the gap is equal full length; replace the caps. The guide warns that the caps are small parts and, if swallowed, could pose a choking hazard to young children, and says to remove and dispose of any loose or easily removed caps.
3. Adjust E-Series rollers. Andersen says they adjust like 400 Series rollers, which the Frenchwood guide covers.
4. Adjust the lock. For E-Series and A-Series doors made from 2006 on, Andersen points to step 13 of guide 0005414; on a two-panel door, turn the latch receiver adjustment screw toward "IN" for a tighter fit or "OUT" for a looser one. Guide 0005414 warns that incorrect installation may affect egress and home security. For A-Series doors with flush mount hardware, Andersen points instead to step 8 of guide 9163117, which warns that a lock adjustment screw not properly adjusted will prevent the lock from operating and result in loss of building security. After a roller adjustment, Andersen says the latch receiver may need adjusting too.

Parts that depend on the door

Rollers. A-Series doors made after December 2021 use an A-Series-specific roller, which older doors can be upgraded to, from the Andersen Parts Store. E-Series operating panels run on two tandem ball-bearing rollers, zinc bichromate since 1979 or stainless steel; Andersen asks you to contact it to order them.

Locks and handles. Andersen describes E-Series and A-Series locks as a multi-point lock inside the panel and a lock receiver in the frame. Its parts articles say:

• A-Series: trim sets are in the Parts Store, without the reachout lock and receiver kit. Multi-point lock assemblies and latch receivers are not; contact Andersen for a quote. Flush hardware, introduced in 2023, fits only A-Series doors made for it and is not interchangeable.
• E-Series: current trim sets are in Door Hardware on Andersen's website. Handle sets from March 2006 to October 2016 are no longer available; for those, and for that era's locks and keepers, contact Andersen. It recommends a service provider for installing a lock mechanism.

The mortise lock guide compares makers' lock documents.

Screens. E-Series gliding doors use only top-hung insect screens, which are not sold online; Andersen points to service providers for installing or adjusting one.

What this site leaves to a professional

• Inspecting or replacing rollers. Andersen says the panel must come out for both; its E-Series roller guide lifts the operating panel out of the frame. It recommends replacing both rollers and has service providers to install them.
• Replacing a panel. Andersen publishes A-Series and E-Series panel guides; guide 9020095 warns that windows and doors can be heavy, and heavier ones need mechanical assistance.

This site gives no steps for lifting or removing a panel, including to read the A-Series panel label. The roller repair page explains when adjustment is enough.

Parts, service, and warranty

Andersen. For parts and warranty questions, Andersen recommends its Identify Your Product tool first, then contacting it from in front of the door. It says more than 900 factory-trained service providers take its annual training.

Warranty. Andersen says A-Series and E-Series limited warranties are transferable, and that coverage varies by product line, features, accessories, and original purchase date.

Replacing the door. See the Dallas replacement guide.

What this page does not cover

• Warranty terms. The A-Series and E-Series warranty documents were not opened, so this page gives no coverage periods.
• Prices. None of the Andersen documents opened gives a price for a part or for labor.

Asking about a repair

To ask about one of these doors in Plano, Allen, McKinney, or Frisco, use the contact page. Give the label number or glass logo information, the handing, and photographs of the label and the handle. The operator reviews every inquiry and replies with the next step. Sending the form is not a booking.