Cold winter temperatures often find their way into your home. Any break in your home’s outer envelope can allow cold air to seep into your home – windows, doors, even electrical outlets. Your entry door alone may not protect your home. If you don’t want to invest in a front door replacement, consider installing a storm door to provide an extra layer of defense.
Storm doors function on the same principal as storm windows. They create a pocket of air between the storm door and your entry door. This acts as a thermal barrier to help keep the inside of your home warm during the cold winter months. That’s why it’s important that a storm door is installed to fit snug in the opening – a good-fitting storm door will improve the insulating value and maximize its energy efficiency.
A storm door also adds another layer of protection by blocking unwanted air from leaking into your home, and act as a buffer to cold wind and precipitation. If you have an unseasonably warm winter day and you have a properly installed storm door, you could leave your entry door open and add additional warmth to your home via solar heat gain.
In addition to increased energy efficiency, storm doors have other desirable features. Storm doors usually have screens to allow you to enjoy warm-weather breezes. Many higher-quality storm doors have screens and glass panels that retract into the door itself, making them easy to change as the weather changes. Storm doors also add an additional level of security to your home. A potential burglar would most likely bypass a home that has two doors to get through to gain entry to your home.
Storm doors are available in a wide variety of styles and colors, from simple white aluminum doors to more ornate choices with decorative iron work and glass options, with full glass or half glass options. Storm door installation is fairly simple using an electric drill, screwdriver, and level. But keep in mind that in order to operate at peak efficiency, the storm door must fit snugly. Some storm door manufacturers offer professional installation service and should guarantee a perfect fit. Consider investing in a storm door to add that extra layer of protection to your home this winter.