Patio Doors CT

As summer winds down, it’s time to think about preparing for the cooler weather of autumn and winter. For Connecticut (CT) residents, and those throughout the northeast in particular, taking a little time to prepare now can prevent costly problems later.

One of the biggest problems for northeastern homeowners in the cooler weather months is heat transfer, which occurs when a home’s heat leaks out (transfers) through cracks, windows, doorframes, and other weak points. As the temperature drops and home heating becomes essential, utility bills can skyrocket. When heat transfer is not properly controlled, those costs can go even higher, wasting incredible amounts of money and energy. Fortunately, homeowners can keep those costs under control by limiting the amount of heat being wasted when it leaks out through such openings as windows and patio doors. CT homeowners who plan ahead can greatly reduce these costs by taking some simple precautions.

First, it’s important to understand that some heat transfer is inevitable. There is only so much that can be done to keep heat from escaping through traditional glass windows and patio doors. CT residents with older homes are particularly prone to these challenges, as they are more likely to have standard dual-pane glass windows and simple glass patio doors, which do little to retain heat in the winter. So the first place to start is with an evaluation of the home’s windows and doors, especially glass ones such as patio doors. CT has such variable weather through the year that window frames and doorframes can easily swell, shrink, and warp, creating easy points of access for drafts and increasing heat transfer.

Walk around the home, inside and out, checking for cracks or other damage. If there is any damage or excess wear to a home’s siding, windows, or patio doors, CT homeowners have a wide variety of licensed contractors to choose from for repair and replacement work. Often, the cost of replacement will be offset by the energy savings realized through installation of energy-efficient windows, composite window frames, and draft-free patio doors. CT winters are harsh, and these simple repairs are an excellent way to fight the cold and its related expenses.

Of course, not all damage and wear is easily visible. As autumn rolls in and cool evening winds become the norm, it becomes much easier to locate some sources of heat transfer. For example, around sliding glass patio doors, CT homeowners often feel drafts because there are multiple ways for air to enter there. For traditional sliding glass doors, when a draft enters at the base of the sliding door, many homeowners choose to simply use “draft dodgers” or “draft stoppers” (stuffed rolls of fabric) to block the draft. However, when the leak comes from the “static” side (the non-moving side of the sliding doors), the best solution is proper caulking. When drafts come through where the doors meet or where the sliding door meets the wall, weather stripping is the best solution, although installing it can be tricky.

There are many types of windows and doors that are prone to drafts in addition to the sliding doors mentioned above. The thing to keep in mind is that nearly all traditional windows and doors can allow heat transfer, so installing energy-efficient replacements can often be a worthwhile investment that will keep energy costs down year round. For information about evaluating the energy efficiency of your windows and patio doors, CT homeowners and those throughout the northeast can contact us at 800-975-6666 or fill out the form on the right side of this page for a free-in home estimate.