This post goes hand in hand with one we shared earlier this week on the importance of energy-efficient replacement windows. We’re following up with this article, because exterior doors are the second major cause of heat and cooling loss in a home after windows. If you’re concerned about making your home more energy efficient, it just makes sense to address the areas that are likely the biggest energy-wasters.
It’s recommended to homeowners that if they believe their utility bills are excessive that they have an energy audit. (Check with your local utility company – some of them do it free of charge.) One component of most energy audits is infrared scanning of window and door openings, and the results can be very revealing. Sources of air leakage/heating and cooling loss can be pinpointed, as well as the extent. There are even infrared cameras (referred to as ‘FLIR’) available so you can do your own.
But there is more to it than just saving energy. The same spots that leak air (referred to as infiltration or exfiltration, depending on which direction the air is flowing) also let in moisture. Moisture can cause deterioration of your home’s structure around the door frame. That moisture can also cause higher-than-healthy humidity indoors, and high humidity can result in mold formation.
Another issue is indoor comfort. That air leakage can also result in drafts, making your indoor spaces a bit uncomfortable. And while you can’t put a dollar value on comfort, it should be an important factor in whether you decide that replacing your exterior doors – especially your entry doors – with more energy-efficient ones is worth it.
And then there’s return on investment (ROI) if you plan on selling your home. Some remodeling projects add value, others add function. A number of surveys have shown you can recoup anywhere from 75%-90% of the cost of replacing your entry doors when you sell. We’re seeing that prospective home buyers in the Minneapolis area are putting a high priority on homes with great energy efficiency and often are willing to pay more than asking price to get it.
We’re proud to install exterior doors by manufacturers such as ProVia. (The door/sidelight combo in the photo above is from ProVia.) This company wins EnergyStar Partner of the Year awards year after year. Their doors carry the EnergyStar rating, your assurance those doors meet or exceed EPA standards for energy efficiency. We not only highly recommend ProVia doors, we’ve qualified as the ONLY Certified ProVia Installer in the Minneapolis area. (We also offer energy-efficient exterior doors from other manufacturers like Marvin and Weather Shield.)
Still not convinced that replacing your current doors with more energy-efficient ones is worth it? We’d love a chance to sit down with you either in our home or our Savage window and door showroom to discuss what having these doors on your home can do for you, your budget, and your home. Why not contact us today? There’s no cost, and there’s no obligation.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
