dulley p 7 january 2006.qxd
12/13/2005
12:41 PM
Page 1
James Dulley
Cut your utility bills
Storm Doors Boost Energy Savings
Q:
I’m thinking of
adding stormscreen doors on
my front and back
doors to save energy and for
security. I don't care how
the back looks, but I want
the front to look good. What
designs and features should
I consider?
Adding either
storm doors or
combination
storm/screen
doors can save energy in
almost any home. Most
primary entry doors are
efficient these days, but
creating the extra dead
air space by adding a
storm door will further
reduce energy loss.
Installing a storm door
also will reduce the
amount of outdoor air
that leaks indoors. Even
though the storm door
may not have the same
level of weather stripping
as the primary door, just
breaking the direct force
of the wind will reduce
its pressure and leakage.
By protecting the primary door from harsh
weather conditions and
the direct rays of the sun,
the primary door weather
stripping will hold up
many years longer.
Before you go out and
buy your storm doors,
make sure your existing
primary entry doors are
in good condition.
Installing a storm door
over an old, uninsulated,
leaky front or back door
A:
This storm door is made of aluminum skins permanently bonded
to a solid core. Strong tarnish-free brass hardware is used.
Photo courtesy of Pella.
will help some, but you
likely would be better off
just replacing the primary
door.
Check and repair the
weather stripping on
your existing doors to
make them relatively airtight before installing
storm doors.
Combination stormscreen doors are likely
your best option for yearround energy savings.
They block the cold
winds during the winter
and allow for ventilation
during the summer.
Some of the designs are
secure with deadbolttype latches.
Since combination
storm/screen doors generally have a lot of
glass/screen area, the
insulation level of the
core of the door is not as
important as with storm
doors with less glass.
Look for doors made
with strong construction
materials.
To be most efficient,
the storm door should fit
as close to the primary
door as possible.
Inspect the door
entrance frame and trim,
and determine the proper
door size to fit in close. If
the dead air space
between the primary and
storm door is too wide, it
is no longer a dead air
space. Cold-to-hot convection air currents can
form inside the wide gap.
For your front door,
consider selecting an
ornate solid wood combination door with a reasonable amount of
decorative glass. The best
and strongest ones use
true mortise and tenon
joints at the rails and
stiles.
Brass-plated decorative
hinges can add a classy
touch to the door. The
less ornate ones are
durable and ideal for a
back door.
Consider installing
heavy 23-gauge stainless
steel screen in the back
for durability and security.
Some ornate steel and
wrought-iron doors
would look good on the
front, and these also provide substantial security.
Another decorative
option for the front is a
door made of a composite of crushed rock and
fiberglass.
Standard foam or particleboard-filled aluminum skin doors are
most common and reasonably priced. These are
found at most home center stores and are easy to
install yourself. ■
To ask a question, write to James Dulley, Energy
Report, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45244, or check his Web page at
http://www.dulley.com.
© 2006, James Dulley
JANUARY 2006 7