Adding a Storm Door Can Make Cents
by AJ Fanter
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
If you have an older exterior door that still looks great, but is starting to show its age when the cold winds of winter start to blow, you might consider installing a storm door.
By installing a storm door you can cost-effectively reduce your seasonal energy costs without going to expense of a complete exterior door replacement.
When to Consider Adding a Storm Door
While simply adding a storm door to your existing exterior door to reduce your winter energy bills is a fast and easy solution that will work for many homeowners, it isn't necessarily the right answer for everyone. According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Consumer's Guide, there are some important things to keep in mind prior to adding a storm door.
First, if your exterior door is one of those new, insulated foam-core models, adding a storm door is unlikely to add substantially to your energy savings. In addition, if your existing exterior door gets more than just a few hours of direct sunlight daily, you will not want to install a glass storm door. The reason is that the glass storm door will trap too much heat against the exterior door, which can cause serious damage. However, for those whose houses can benefit from the addition of a storm door, there are many options to choose from.
Types of Storm Doors
Gone are the days when homeowners were limited to just a single style of storm door. These day's the EERE notes that storm doors come in a wide variety of styles featuring everything from frames made of fiberglass, wood, and steel as well as aluminum as well as sliding glass panels for ventilation, retractable screens and low-emissivity glass which can help to control heat transfer.
If your hoping to reduce your energy costs while getting a few more years out of your existing exterior door, its time to consider installing one of the new generation of storm doors.
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About the Author
AJ Fanter is a freelance writer based in Reno, Nevada.
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