Your doors seal some of the largest gaps in your home’s thermal envelope. That’s why upgrading to a new patio door or entry door is an excellent idea if you want to improve your home’s energy efficiency. In today’s article, Madison Door, one of the top door replacement companies in the local area, explains what makes an entry door energy-efficient.
Energy-Efficient Door Features
Entry doors bearing the ENERGY STAR® label typically feature insulated glass with a low-emissivity glass coating. They are also likely to be made from fiberglass or wood with a polyurethane foam core. These features make these doors more energy-efficient, preventing energy from escaping the homes interior. These doors also have high-grade weatherstripping that makes them weathertight.
Energy Performance Ratings
Entry doors from reputable door installation companies have ratings that can tell you a lot about their energy efficiency and how they’ll perform in certain climates. It’s important to understand these ratings because this knowledge will help you choose the best product for your door replacement project.
Glazing Level – This refers to how much glass is in the door design. For instance, an opaque entry door has no glass, while patio doors can be made of half glass or less.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) – This is a measurement of how well the door is able to prevent solar heat gain. The SHGC is rated on a scale of 0 to 1, with typical ratings ranging from 0.25 to 0.80. Choose a door with a good SHGC rating if you are worried about saving money on energy bills during the summer.
U-Factor – The U-factor measures the rate of heat transfer, with typical ratings ranging from 0.25 to 1.25. The lower the U-factor value, the better the door insulates. Choose a door with a good U-factor rating if you are worried about saving money during the winter.
We hope that this information can help you find the best new patio doors or entry doors for your needs. Madison Door is the premier window and door replacement company in our area because of our great workmanship and customer service. When you work with us, we will guide you every step of the way and make your home improvement project a quick and hassle-free experience. Call us at (973) 822-1693 to learn more about our services and products or to get a free quote. You can also contact us here.