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 its 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 its 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

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Therma-Tru Experts Offer Tips for Deciding When to Replace a Front Door