Therma-Tru Experts Offer Tips for Deciding When to Replace a Front Door
Maumee, Ohio (PRWEB) August 04, 2014 -- Homeowners looking to save on rising energy bills can start right at the front door. That's the advice of experts at Therma-Tru Corp. during Door Do-Over Week(August 3-9, 2014) who suggest evaluating the main entry door at least once a year to determine the status of the door's operational capabilities and energy efficiency features.
"Every component of a home needs to be replaced at some point over time," says Brad Johnson, vice president of marketing for Therma-Tru Corp. "Most homeowners can get years of service out of their front door, but there will come a time when a door needs to be replaced. That's why it's important to annually evaluate and maintain your main entryway."
According to Johnson, there are several easy ways homeowners can determine when it's time to consider a front door replacement.
Tip #1 - Open and close doors in the home, on both dry and wet, humid days. Make sure all the components operate smoothly. If the door doesn't close securely or fits tightly on humid days, then it’s most likely leaking air on dry days, causing the home to lose energy.
Tip #2 - Inspect the weather stripping around all sides of the front door to make sure it has not worn out. On a bright day, stand inside near the door and look for daylight flowing through the door perimeter. If light is coming in, then so most likely, is external air and possibly moisture. That means it’s time to determine if the foam-filled weatherstripping may have lost some of its compression, cracked or simply worn out.
Tip #3 - Examine the locks to make sure they operate smoothly and are strong enough to help protect the home. Multi-point locking systems, like those that can be requested on Therma-Tru® doors, offer exceptional peace-of-mind and security for the home.
Tip #4 - Reach out and touch the door on both hot and cold days. If you feel the exterior temperatures on the inside surface, then the door may not have adequate insulation. In this situation, consider upgrading the door with a replacement that is more energy efficient and has an ENERGY STAR® qualified rating for your geographic area. Order a multi-point locking system on a new door for a tighter fit against the weatherstripping, which can help provide even greater energy savings.
Tip #5 - Look at the appearance of the door. If it's a wood door, it may be warping or rotting after years of service. A steel door can get dinged and rust over time. And, it's possible that the style of the door simply doesn't match up with the design of the home. These are all red flags that it's time to replace a front door.
What to Look for in a New Door
"If it becomes apparent that a homeowner is in the market for a new door, consider one made of fiberglass," says Johnson. "A solid fiberglass door is up to four times more energy efficient than a solid wood door, plus the homeowner get the benefits that fiberglass has to offer, including resistance to rot, rust, dings, and weather."
Another factor to consider is what's on the inside of the door. The dense polyurethane foam used in the core of Therma-Tru® fiberglass doors helps the doors achieve high thermal performance values.
According to Johnson, homeowners choosing to add decorative glass to their Therma-Tru fiberglass doors can also count on energy-efficient features. The company's triple-pane construction of most doorlites and sidelites creates both a strong thermal and acoustical barrier. And, factory-coated Low-E glass, available as an option for clear glass, also delivers exceptional energy efficiency. In cold weather, the Low-E glass helps reduce the loss of heat by reflecting the heat back inside the home. In warm weather, Low-E glass reflects the sun's rays off of the glass, helping keep the interior of the home cool.
Benefits of Fiberglass Doors
According to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), fiberglass products are known for their reliability, customization aspects for style design, and energy efficiency. Fiberglass doors have an abundance of features outlined by AAMA at
http://www.aamanet.org/general/1/437/fiberglass-product-reliability-and-durability.
Constructed as a complete system of components, Therma-Tru fiberglass doors are designed and engineered to work together for lasting performance, security and energy efficiency. Multi-point locking systems that engage a series of locks at several places on the frame, plus the adjustable security strike plate that can withstand up to three times the force of a standard strike plate, are key factors in creating a dependable Therma-Tru entry door system.
Homeowners looking for durability in their doors can also rely on the Tru-Defense® Door System. This system maximizes the seal between the door and the frame to help keep out the damaging effects of wind and rain, while helping to increase energy efficiency. Within this optional upgrade system, the weatherstripping, corner seal pad, door bottom sweep, and profiled sill all work together to provide a door system that can withstand severe weather conditions along with day-to-day family activity.
About Therma-Tru:
Therma-Tru is the leading entry door brand most preferred by builders and remodelers. Founded in 1962, Therma-Tru pioneered the fiberglass entry door industry, and today offers a complete portfolio of entry and patio door system solutions, including decorative glass doorlites, sidelites and transoms, and door components. The company also offers low-maintenance Fypon® urethane and PVC products. Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, Therma-Tru is part of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS). For more information and product warranty details, call (800) 537-8827.
ENERGY STAR is a government program that helps consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency and is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Kathy Ziprik, Therma-Tru, http://www.thermatru.com, +1 (828) 890-8065, [email protected]
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