Energy Efficient Front Doors
Posted on: 3 December 2017
Your door opens your home to your friends and family. Unfortunately, sometimes it can also open your home to the elements. Many people opt to update their door with an energy efficient door to give your house the best protection available.
How Doors are Energy Efficient
Doors can lose heat through air leakage and direct conduction. Energy efficient doors prevent this from happening through a number of different methods.
The material used to make the door can help make it more energy efficient. Fiberglass doors offer more energy efficient properties than wood and steel options. In fact, fiberglass doors offer 5x the protection of wooden doors.
Besides being made of fiberglass or steel, energy efficient doors usually have a core of polyurethane foam.They also have double or triple insulated glass. Finally, they use a magnetic strip similar to a refrigerator to keep the door as secure as possible.
Benefits
- Tax Benefits
There are tax benefits for people who get energy efficient doors. In fact, the US government will cover up to 30% of the cost of your new energy efficient door as long as it meets certain requirements. The doors must have a certain U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. Simply having an Energy-Star sticker doesn't mean that you will qualify for the credit. It certainly points you in the right direction, though. The U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient cannot be higher than 0.3. To prove this, you will get a notice from the manufacturer at the time of purchase. You may also be able to get the proof from the manufacturer's website.
- Utility Bills
You can save up to 15% on your energy bills by installing new energy efficient doors. The doors keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. You don't have to use your HVAC system as much, which is how you save the money. Not only does this save money, but it keeps your home a more comfortable.
- Home value
Installing an energy efficient door will add to the resale value of your home. It's a great idea for people who need to replace the door before selling a home anyway.
Installation
According to Angie's List, installing a new fiberglass door will usually cost roughly $2000 - $2500. The installation should take less than a day. You would notice the benefits of your new energy efficient door immediately. For the best results, consider updating your windows as well.
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