Some Amazing Ways to Make Your Home Energy Efficient

What type of exterior doors do you have? Are they old, wooden doors? Or are they new, energy efficient steel doors? By replacing your doors, you can save hundreds of dollars on your heating costs. Replacement doors are a bit more expensive than windows, but much easier to install.

You can get replacement doors with a steel core at any home improvement store or you can even purchase them online. By purchasing them online, you can usually save money. Look for energy efficient steel doors and measure the type of door that you need. Chances are that you need a standard sized door. A special order door may be a bit more costly, but a steel door cored door will help keep all of the draft out of the house.

Just because the door has steel core is no reason for it to look unattractive. Most of the doors have a wood finish or wood look to them. Steel doors come in a variety of different styles and colors. Some come unpainted and have to be finished before installation.

If you have old and drafty doors, chances are that you are losing heat each winter. It is a smart thing to replace them. Not only will you be making your home more energy efficient, but you will also be making your home safer. Unlike wooden doors, steel doors are impossible to kick in, so in addition to saving money, you will be also making your home safer for you and your family.

Installing a door is easy enough. Simply remove the old door and put the new door in its place. You will probably want to change the hardware and locks, as well. These items are easy to install and relatively inexpensive at your local home improvement center or online.

Once you have installed the new door, you should make sure that you caulk around the woodwork outside and in, to make sure that it is sealed properly.

Another thing you can do with your doors to make your home more energy efficient is to install a screen door. A screen door is not only a good idea for the warm weather when you can open the main door and allow some air to circulate in the house, but it will also protect your house from the cold. The screen door acts as a barrier in the cold weather, further protecting your home from the cold and wind. Most screen doors come with insulated glass that gives double insulation at the door area.

You should also be sure to check under the door for gaps. Most doors have a gap underneath, especially older doors. If you are not going to replace the door, you should invest in a weather stripping kit. This will allow you to fill up any gaps between the door and the home. Weather stripping is relatively easy to do and well worth the extra effort. Weather stripping can be done on both doors and windows and will make your home more energy efficient in both the winter months and the summer months.

If you cannot afford weather stripping kit or do not want to embark on this venture, you can shove some sort of towel or a blanket under the bottom of the door to keep the draft out. There are items called "draft dodgers" that you can get for this purpose. These will work to keep the house less drafty in the winter; however, you will not be getting the advantage of weather stripping in the summer.

In addition to sealing the bottom part of the door against drafts you can also make sure you caulk around the door on the outside and inside to seal out any moisture or draft that can come through the door. Caulking is a good idea around all windows and doors on the outside of the house and the inside to keep the drafty weather on the outside, where it belongs.

If you have a screen door, or storm door as they are called, make sure that you have thermal glass and that you remove the screens for the winter. In the warmer weather, you can put the screens in the screen door and save on cooling costs by allowing the fresh air to circulate in the house.

Another door you should look at is your garage door. If you have an attached garage, you will want to make sure that they garage door is insulated. This can keep the garage from getting cold and drafty and save on energy, especially if you have a heated garage. A garage door can be an expensive replacement and usually runs around $500, with installation for a two door garage door. However, if you are thinking of replacing a battered wooden garage door, you should ask for an energy efficient garage door. An energy efficient garage door is made of steel and will keep the drafty, cold weather outside. In addition, a steel garage door will also last a lot longer than a wooden garage door and is maintenance free.

If you have an attached garage, you can make your house more energy efficient by not only sealing the doors and windows in the house, but also in the garage as well. This will keep the garage warmer and thus, the house warmer.

Do not neglect the door that opens to the garage. You should make sure that you seal this door as well. If it is a newer utility door, it is most likely made out of steel and is insulated.

Insulating all of the doors in your house is a good step towards making sure that the house is more energy efficient. If you do not have the money to replace the doors or install a storm door, you can at least caulk around the doors on the inside and the outside and also use draft dodgers under the doors to eliminate any draft.

It is not that difficult to seal your doors for the winter and each winter, this should be done. Not only will this maintenance keep your home more energy efficient by keeping cold weather out, but it will also allow your doors to last a lot longer. Replacing old, wooden doors with steel core doors can be beneficial for both energy and safety in your home and is well worth the cost of the new door, which is easy for just about anyone to install himself.