Do you have gaps around or under your exterior doors? Those gaps are not only making your home less comfortable, but they're adding some very unwelcome extra costs to your energy bills. You can get a handle on energy waste and save money by sealing those gaps today.
Making your doors more energy efficient
You can seal gaps between the door and doorstop with weatherstripping. There are a number of products you can use, such as foam and rubber adhesives. Just remove any old weatherstripping and make sure the area is clean. Then, just cut the new weatherstripping to length and attach it.
You can fill gaps underneath doors with door sweeps. There are many different kinds of sweeps. Some will require fasteners, some will slide on to the door, and others use adhesives. Whatever type you choose, it will help keep your conditioned air from getting out.
If you have an older door, consider installing a storm door. It's a more expensive option, but a properly installed storm door will go a long way toward improving the energy efficiency of the entranceway.
Replacing older doors
New exterior doors often fit and insulate better than older types. If you have older doors in your home, replacing them might be a good investment.
Wood, fiberglass and steel doors are available. Wood doors provide a classic look, but steel and fiberglass products are generally more energy efficient and easier to maintain.
When selecting doors for energy efficiency, it's important to consider their energy performance ratings, such as U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). U-factor measures how well a door keeps in heat on a scale from 0-1.2 — lower is better. Also, look for a lower SHGC, which measures how well a door keeps out solar heat on a scale of 0-1.
Look for doors that are ENERGY STAR®-certified. ENERGY STAR doors are more efficient than standard products.
By taking these measures, you can close the door on energy waste and start enjoying the extra comfort and the lower energy bills.