As you probably noticed, Denver winters can get pretty cold. And if your entry door or patio doors are at least 10 years old, those cold temperatures are likely seeping through them and into your home.
Why? Doors that are a little “long in the tooth” have typically lost a good chunk of their energy-efficient properties. They may not fit as tightly as they once did. They may have warped, causing gaps that let in drafts. Or they may simply not have the state-of-the-art energy-efficient features that many of today’s replacement doors do. No matter what the issues are, they all result in the same thing: higher energy bills and an uncomfortable home.
So if you’re considering door replacement in Denver, it’s best to go into the buying process armed with the proper knowledge about door energy efficiency. To help you, we’ve created the 2018 Denver Homeowners Guide To Replacement Door Energy Efficiency.
In this guide, which you can read below, we explain…
Let’s get started by looking at entry doors…
Not all front doors have the same features. Some may contain glass, some may come with sidelites, and others may be made of a different material than your current (and probably wood) entry door. That said, the diagram below provides a good idea of the energy-efficient components of which an entry door consists.
Image Credit: energystar.gov
If you have already begun researching door replacement in Denver, you have probably read about R-value. R-value measures heat-flow resistance through a material. The heat-flow resistance is determined by the insulating properties of the actual materials. The average R-value of steel and fiberglass entry doors is between R-5 and R-6 (not including any glass in the door). Certain fiberglass entry doors can have an R-value as high as R-15.
Different insulation materials have different R-values. For instance, polyurethane offers better R-value than polystyrene because of its composition and the fact that it expands once injected inside the core of the door.
Energy can flow through an entry door in a number of ways. But only one is measured with R-value. Here are the different ways energy can move through your door…
In terms of energy efficiency, a patio door is more similar to a window than an entry door. This is because patio doors are made mostly of glass. For a solid guideline to patio door energy efficiency, visit our Window Energy Efficiency page. All of the aspects of window energy efficiency also apply to patio doors.
If you need door replacement in Denver, Zen Windows has got you covered. Visit the Patio Doors and Entry Doors pages of this website for details about our superb selection. All of our replacement doors meet or exceed Energy Star standards for energy efficiency.
Thanks!
Kyle Derstler
Owner
Contact Zen Windows Denver