a brown front door on a gray vinyl-sided home – Joe Hendrickson/Getty Images
Some home improvement trends are fun to partake in, but quickly go out of style. Other trends, like investing in high-quality materials or the latest smart appliances, can both look good and make a lasting difference to your home. One such trend? Making sure your front door is energy efficient. When looking for ways to reduce your energy costs at home, energy-efficient doors help by preventing heat loss and transfer. They feature a tight seal to stop air leaks, keeping your heating and cooling systems from working overtime.
There are two ways to implement this trend in your home: replace your current door or make it more energy-efficient. If you’d like to keep what you have, consider installing or replacing the weatherstripping around the door to seal gaps. Part of the reason why it’s so important to seal your door gaps in the winter is to help prevent those air leaks, making it easier to maintain indoor temperatures. Replacing the glass in an old front door, especially if it has only a single pane, can also help with heat loss. An insulating double or triple-pane window is a solid option in this instance.
: Home Upgrades That Are A Waste Of Money, According To HGTV’s Erin Napier
What to know about buying an energy-efficient door
a man installs a front door in a new house – Photovs/Getty Images
As energy efficiency has become increasingly popular among homeowners, manufacturers have responded by offering a wider selection of insulated doors. This range of offerings means you can easily find the style, color, and features you want and need.
If you’re ready for a complete upgrade, look for the Energy Star label when purchasing a new door. This government-led certification program utilizes third-party testing to ensure products meet rigorous performance standards. Each label displays a map of the U.S., with shading indicating the regions where the door will provide maximum energy efficiency. The Energy Star label also displays other efficiency metrics, including the U-factor, which measures the rate at which solar heat can pass through a door, and the solar heat gain coefficient rating, which measures the amount of solar heat that can pass through the door.
No matter what kind of style or material you choose, remember that there are some common mistakes to avoid when installing a new door. Improperly installed doors can become prone to air leaks, which will flush your potential energy savings down the drain. If you lack the necessary experience for a proper installation, calling in the pros is a safer bet.
Enjoyed this article? Get expert home tips, DIY guides, and design inspiration by signing up to the House Digest newsletter and adding us as a preferred search source!
Read the original article on House Digest.