If you’re the owner of an old set of exterior French doors which aren’t quite as energy-efficient as they ought to be, you have two options: Outward-opening French doors might also benefit from having their weather-stripping replaced. This is the compressible plastic that runs around the edge of the door. Over time, thousands of compressions will rob the material of its elasticity. This means that it won’t expand to the same size, and thus it won’t form a tight seal around the edge of the door. By replacing the sealing, you’ll hugely improve the door’s draught-excluding abilities – sealing of this sort can often be bought cheaply, and it’ll snap into place rather than needing to be glued. Energy Efficiency: Patio doors are often large glass surfaces, and glass is a poor insulator. Without proper insulation, these doors can add to a lot of heat transfer, letting heat out in the winter and in during the summer. This can cause use more energy to heat and cool their homes, which can lead to higher electricity bills. Window manufacturers can show the energy efficiency of their products using an energy-rating scale from A++ to E. The entire window (the frame and the glass) is assessed to allow for heat loss, draughts and solar gain, giving a rating that indicates the overall impact of fitting that window in your home. Add Weather Stripping – Weather stripping should be replaced on all your doors every few years and glass doors are no exception. Installing weather stripping between sliding doors keeps air from flowing between the sides of the door for better insulation.

Curtains will prevent the warm air in the room from mixing with the cold air around the window, and thereby slow the transfer of heat from the interior of the building to the outside. This can only happen, however, if the curtains in question are drawn; make sure you do this when you aren’t in the room, and when it gets dark outside. How Do I Clean Patio Doors? Because glass is a poor insulator, it isn’t easy to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Furthermore, patio doors give numerous escape routes for the heat within your home. As a result, the area around your patio door is frequently drafty. At Budget, we’re experts in everything glass and we have many different solutions for your home, depending on your individual needs. Offering high-quality double pane vinyl and Low-E coatings to reflect infrared light, you’ll be amazed by how much difference our modern glass doors make. We’ll make sure your home is comfortable and as energy efficient as possible with no more drafts or heat loss! Consider Replacing Your Screens at the Same TimeThe most popular measure of energy efficiency in your home is the U-value. This describes how effective a material is as an insulator. The lower the value, the less heat is able to pass through a given area of material in a given amount of time. It’s typically measured in watts per metre squared. A standard double-glazed window will have a U-value of just under three. Unfortunately, summer doesn’t last forever, and once winter arrives, you may find that prepping your doors for winter will save you loads of cold and wet trouble in the long run. Installing weather stripping is easy to do at home by yourself. You can buy weather stripping from any hardwood store. They typically come wrapped up in a large wheel, ready to be cut to fit your sliding doors. Apply to any exposed edges of your door to create a seal, keeping the heat inside and the cool air outside. Buy insulated curtains

Sliding glass doors don’t provide much insulation and can be a major source of heat loss in a home. By adding insulation to your sliding glass doors, you can create a more energy efficient environment in your home. Wooden French doors tend to be more efficient than their uPVC equivalents because the material is much denser. Heat, therefore, has a far more difficult time passing from one side of the material to the other. Insulating External French Doors Insulating curtains can be bought at most homeware stores and are easy to install – or simply replace your summer curtains with.Weather-stripping is an effective way to seal gaps around the door frame. It helps create an airtight seal, preventing drafts from entering your home. Follow these steps to apply weather-stripping effectively: The design and material used for the frame will both affect heat loss, but you can find high performing windows made with any of the main frame materials. Provided they are never heated, and the doors between the conservatory and the heated house are kept shut in cold weather, they can actually reduce heat loss by acting as an extra insulating layer outside your house. You can make the most of this by installing a sealed sliding door, and sealed blinds or heavy, lined curtains, to separate the conservatory more effectively from the rest of your house.

Double-glazed glass tends to be less thermally conductive than the frame into which it’s built. As such, doors which incorporate lots of it tend to be more thermally efficient than you might expect. If it’s triple-glazed glass, then this is especially so. With that said, double-glazing does have a lifespan. If you can see condensation forming between the panels, it means that the seal has failed and that all of the inert, insulating gas has rushed out. That being the case, you might need to replace the glass insert – or, better yet, the entire door. These are set around the inside edges to keep the panes of glass apart. More efficient windows will generally have pane spacers containing little or no metal – often known as ‘warm edge’ spacers. If you suspect your sliding glass door may be contributing to unwanted temperature fluctuations in your home, here are steps you can take to mitigate the loss of heat and energy. Five Ways to Winterize a Sliding Glass Patio DoorA properly fitted new external door should include an effective draught-proofing system. Existing doors can be improved by fitting draught-proofing strips around the seals and the letterbox. Imagine a house with open doors during winter, and you might be better off by pitching a tent outside, right. Cut the film: Measure the dimensions of each glass pane and cut the plastic film to size, leaving a little extra on all sides. Like any other part of the home, doors can be insulated and draught-proofed to prevent heat escaping. Building regulations state that installing a new door requires approval from the relevant buildings control body, and new external doors now generally contain integrated insulation to reduce heat loss and comply with regulations. Reduced Condensation: Without proper insulation, temperature differences between the indoor and outdoor environments can lead to condensation forming on the glass surfaces of the door. This not only obstructs your view but can also lead to moisture-related problems such as mold and mildew growth.

Trim the draft stopper or door sweep: Using a utility knife or scissors, trim the draft stopper or door sweep to match the width of your door. DIY kits are available, using polycarbonate or acrylic sheets and magnetic or clip-fit mounting systems. These can make a substantial difference, and can be removed and replaced as required.Comfort: The most important thing about insulating your outdoor door is that it makes your living space more comfortable. It makes the inside of the house more comfortable by keeping the temperature stable and cutting down on drafts. For added insulation, consider using insulation film or thermal curtains. Insulation film is a transparent sheet that you apply to the glass surface of the patio door. By trapping a layer of air between the film and the glass, it adds another layer of protection.