Energy-Efficient Entry and Patio Doors in Delaware
A door is opened and closed many times a day, and every cycle wears on the seals that keep outside air out. Over time, gaps open along the sides, top and bottom, and even a narrow one lets in a steady stream of cold air on a windy night. In summer, the same gaps let humid air in and cooled air out.
HomeMax helps homeowners in Smyrna, Laurel, Bridgeville and across Delaware tighten up drafty doors, either by restoring the seals on a door that is still sound or by replacing it with an insulated unit built to seal well. Your free estimate explains which approach fits each door.
Where Doors Lose Energy
Doors lose energy in two ways: heat moving through the door itself, and air slipping around it. An older, uninsulated door conducts heat readily, while worn seals and an unsealed frame let air pass freely. In many homes the air leaks are the bigger nuisance, and often the easier fix.
- Gaps between the door and jamb along the sides and top
- A worn, torn or missing sweep along the bottom edge
- A threshold that is loose, worn or out of adjustment
- Unsealed space between the door frame and wall framing behind the trim
- Single-pane glass inserts or sidelights with failing seals
Insulated Door Cores and Solid Frames
Most energy-efficient entry doors are built around a core of rigid foam insulation between steel or fiberglass skins. Compared with an older, uninsulated door, a foam core slows heat transfer considerably, and these materials hold their shape better than wood through humid Delaware summers. Any glass in the door should be insulated, multi-pane glass as well.
The frame matters as much as the door itself. A door hanging in a warped or out-of-square jamb will never seal well, no matter how good its weatherstripping is, so replacing the complete unit often makes sense when the frame is damaged.
Weatherstripping, Thresholds and Door Sweeps
If your door and frame are in good shape, new seals can often bring it back to tight. Weatherstripping is the compressible seal around the sides and top, the threshold is the strip the door closes onto at the floor, and the sweep is fastened to the door's bottom edge. All three have to work together, and sometimes the threshold height or hinges need adjusting for an even fit. HomeMax handles these repairs as well as new insulated door installations.
Storm Doors and Patio Door Efficiency
A storm door adds a second barrier and shields an older entry door from wind and rain, which can help in exposed spots. With a newer insulated door the added benefit is smaller, and a full-glass storm door on an entry that gets strong afternoon sun can trap heat against the door and damage some finishes.
Patio doors put a lot of glass in one wall, so look for multi-pane, low-E glass and tight seals where the panels meet. On hinged patio doors, multi-point locks pull the panel snug against its weatherstripping along its full height.