Your Guide to Choosing Energy-Efficient Exterior Doors
If your existing exterior doors are old, underinsulated, or improperly sealed, you need to replace them. Many homeowners opt for new entry doors for their looks, but if you’re looking to keep your cooling and heating bills down while increasing your comfort level at the same time, you would be wise to invest in energy-efficient models.
Material
The material you select for your new entry door will have a big effect on its energy efficiency. Solid wood doors may be beautiful, but they don’t give you the insulation and energy efficiency of other modern materials. A 1.5-inch-thick fiberglass or insulated steel door, for example, will give you at least 5x the insulating value of a solid wood door of similar thickness.
- Fiberglass entry doors are durable yet light, and resist against denting and rust for superior longevity. They draw their energy efficiency from their dense polyurethane cores. If you love the look of wood, you can choose a fiberglass with a wood grain texture so you get the best of both worlds.
- Steel entry doors have a steel outer shell with a polyurethane core for optimal efficiency. Some steel doors also have magnetic weather stripping to keep leaks at bay that may arise between the door and frame. Steel doors are also extremely secure, long-lasting, and resist against cracking and warping.
Efficiency of Glass Panels
Whether you want a patio door with glass from top to bottom, or you’re looking for a front door with a decorative glass panel, consider the fact that glass doors lose more heat than any other type of door. Of course, the insulating capabilities of glass have gotten a boost in recent years thanks to the latest in technology.
Be on the lookout for features such as double and triple glazing, low-e coatings, thermal breaks, and low-conductivity gas fills. These typically increase the cost of glass doors, but you will find they are worth the investment.
Storm Doors
If your existing door is getting old but it’s still in good condition, you can boost its energy efficiency through the addition of a storm door. This is essentially a second door installed over the first one featuring an aluminum, fiberglass or steel frame and glass panels. High-quality storm doors can also come with screens with sliding or even removable glass panels for better ventilation without inviting bugs in.
Professional Exterior Door Installation
In the end, it doesn’t matter how energy-efficient a door is; it’s the installation that really makes the difference. Unless your new door has been installed correctly, it won’t perform as it was designed to. That’s why proper installation makes all the difference, ensuring your door will fit snugly in its frame with no chance for air leakage around corners or edges.
Contact Dallas Door Designs
Dallas Door Designs offers a variety of energy-efficient exterior doors for you to choose from. To learn more about our selection and our process, contact us at 214-973-0373 in Dallas.