Do you Need a Storm Door for your Home?

If your exterior door is still looking nice and in good condition, adding a storm exterior door can bring it one step closer to the ultimate in energy efficiency as well. But there are actually a few circumstances in which buying a storm exterior door is not the best bet for energy efficiency and cost savings.

If the exterior door gets more than just a few hours of direct sunlight each day - not meaning that it's in a sunny location, but the sun is really beating directly on it, a storm exterior door may not be a good idea. If the sun is shining directly on the glass of a storm door, it can trap too much heat between the storm door and the primary exterior door, which can actually damage the exterior door itself.

Choosing a storm door that's not appropriate for the location is another bad call. But choosing an exterior storm door that's appropriate for your environmental conditions is going to add value to the purchase. Frames are normally made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass or wood. The metal frames may be preferable in particularly harsh climates, as they can have a foam insulation within the frame that increases the efficiency.

Aluminum storm doors tend to be more affordable and are the best bet for coastal and humid locations, as the aluminum is naturally rust and corrosion resistant. The trade off being that aluminum doesn't offer the variety of finish options that wood, steel and fiberglass would.

Storm exterior doors are one of the most time honored, traditional methods of saving energy in the home. They are a classic, inexpensive, easy to install method that's going to benefit most homeowners. Make sure it's the right choice for your home.