When the chill of winter invades your home due to a front entry door that lacks efficiency or doesn’t fit properly, the addition of a storm door can solve the problem with ease. Low-e storm doors, installed by Kelly Window & Doors, provide an insulating barrier from the elements and shield your current entry door from harm. They also add great functionality each spring and summer, giving you cool breezes and increasing natural light inside your home.
Low-E Glass Door Defined
Ultraviolet (UV) light can contribute to bleaching things out that are left in the sun. Infrared light (IR) is associated with heat energy. The heat you feel from the sunlight is infrared light. Controlling IR light boosts control over the passage of heat through your storm door.
Low-e coatings are microscopically thin and are applied during the glass door’s manufacturing process. Bonded to the glass, it’s tough to notice. Low-e coating can’t be applied once windows or doors are purchased and installed.
Low-e coatings help you block out most of the UV and IR wavelengths of light while still allowing the visible light through your glass storm door.
Storm doors are available in a variety of options including low-e glass. Low-e stands for low emissivity and uses a thin, invisible coating on your storm door glass which minimizes the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light that can come through the glass into your home. Each winter, the low-e allows radiant heat to pass through it, so it helps retain heat inside your home. Each summer, the low-e glass helps keep some of the heat out of your home. It also provides your home with UV protection to prevent your furniture from fading.
Advantages of a Low-E Storm Door
Increase the energy efficiency of your entry door
If you have an entry door that isn’t very efficient at keeping cold wintery air outside where it belongs, add a layer of insulation to your current entry door with a low-e storm door.
Decrease your home’s energy usage
Low-e coatings reflect heat back into your home, helping it stay warm in winter months. In summer months, low-e coatings reflect heat away from your home, keeping it cooler. Blocking IR light helps improve your home’s energy efficiency by controlling the passage of heat in and out of your storm door.
Block UV rays to prevent fading
Low-e coatings safeguard your furniture, window treatments, and carpeting from fading.
Protect your home from the elements
Storm doors keep freezing winter air from entering your home, and keep the heat out of your home each summer. Storm doors keep rain, ice, and snow from building up on your entry door.
Increase the life of your entry door & improve your curb appeal
Protect your home’s entry door with an insulating storm door. Keep your home’s front door from fading and warping. Boost your home’s curb appeal with a gorgeous new storm door. Increase resale value with the addition of an attractive, versatile storm door.
Increase natural light in your home.
Get more natural light in your home each spring and summer with a beautiful new low-e glass storm door. Also, enjoy fresh breezes inside your home each spring. Low-e coated storm doors are available with screens to give you versatility and options each spring and summer.
Each winter, avoid indoor drafts near your front door
Low-e coated storm doors reduce the possibility of unwanted winter drafts from entering your home and making it uncomfortable. Keep your home’s indoor temperatures consistent throughout each winter by installing a new storm door.
Disadvantages of a Low-E Storm Door
Creates a heat pocket
Low-e storm doors allow heat to enter your home through the glass, but don’t let the heat back outside. This creates an extreme heat pocket between your storm door and entry door. Known as a heat sink, this trapped hot air can cause your glass to warp or your entire entry door to bow.
Solution—If your low-e storm door is exposed to high heat or direct sun, vent it so the trapped air can be released. Another solution is to add a gray or bronze tint to the glass of the storm door to reduce UV infiltration and help keep some of the heat out so it doesn’t create a heat sink.
Forms winter ice
Each winter, when the sun generates heat by coming into contact with your storm door, condensation is created when the cold comes into contact with the warmer air trapped inside your storm door—and then it freezes.
Solution—Be sure to use a storm door with adequate ventilation to prevent storm door freezing each winter.
The Best Use of Low-e Glass
ProVia exhorts homeowners to use low-e glass for their entry doors rather than storm doors. ProVia’s glass options make entry doors energy efficient. ProVia offers five lines of storm doors, with a wide variety of options that improve the functionality of your home’s entryway.
How to Clean Low-e Glass
Storm doors with exposed low-e glass (as opposed to low-e glass between layers that make it inaccessible while cleaning) need to be cleaned with special care. When cleaning low-e glass, avoid the use of ammonia-based cleaners or abrasive squeegees. Use a lint free cloth or microfiber cloth with a basic ammonia-free window cleaner. Read the manufacturer’s suggested care instructions for proper cleaning.
Get the best low-e glass for your home’s climate, your desired look, and your budget. Check out the energy ratings to find what will create the best long-term savings.
Get Expert Storm Door Installation
Don’t settle for subpar storm door installation. Get precision storm door installation by the Kelly Window and Door team so you can enjoy all the benefits of a quality low-e storm door for years to come.
Kelly Window and Door is a full-service door installation company. Simply choose your custom storm door features, and we will transport and install your new door with great attention to detail.