Signs You Need New Patio Doors

Your home deserves a nice set of patio doors. Whether your current doors are old and worn down or you just don’t like the way they look, replacing them can do wonders for your home’s beauty and functionality. Today, Renewal by Andersen® of Cincinnati discusses key signs that it’s time to invest in new patio doors.

Your Patio Doors Are Hard to Open and Close

If your patio doors won’t budge open or often get stuck in their tracks, then you probably need new patio doors. Stuck doors are common in the summer, as the frame expands when exposed to extreme heat. Some frame materials are better at resisting this expansion/contraction process, while others become permanently warped. If your doors remain stuck all year round, you should think about replacing them.

Stuck doors are more than just an annoyance–they’re also a safety hazard in the event of an emergency. If you need to exit your house quickly because of a fire emergency, for example, stuck doors can slow you down. Also, stuck patio doors can be a security hazard. A patio door that can’t be fully closed is easier to break into.

Your Energy Costs Are Rising

Another reason to look into getting new sliding patio doors is if your energy costs are rising, particularly during winter and summer seasons. Old patio doors allow heat leaks, either through air leaks through gaps, or conduction through single-pane glass. When this happens, your home will require more heating and cooling, which results in higher energy bills. If you feel drafts near your patio doors, then you definitely need to look into getting new ones.

New patio doors can help you save on your monthly energy bills. Features such as double-pane glass and insulated frames help reduce heat leaks, which helps reduce indoor heating and cooling requirements. They also help prolong your HVAC system’s lifespan because it won’t be working as hard.

Make sure to choose energy-efficient patio doors. The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) uses four measurements to rate the energy efficiency of fenestrations—skylights, doors and windows:

1. U-Factor — This is a measurement of how well a product keeps heat from escaping a room. Lower values mean better insulation. Some labels might display R-value instead of U-factor. They both rate thermal transfer, except that the R-value rates resistance to it. Therefore, patio doors with a low U-factor will have a correspondingly high R-value.

2. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) — The SHGC measures how well a product resists heat gain from sunlight. The lower the value, the more resistant the patio door will be.

3. Visible Transmittance — This measures how well a product allows natural light into the room. Tinted glass has low transmittance values, while clear glass is the opposite. Thanks to low emissivity (low-E) coatings, it is possible to have patio doors with a low SHGC and a high visible transmittance. This type of glass lets you enjoy the benefits of natural light, without the unwanted heat from the sun.

4. Air Leakage — This measures how much air enters the room through the product. Patio doors with low air leakage values are typically airtight thanks to a combination of stable materials, durable weatherstripping and proper installation methods.

Checking these ratings will help you find the right patio doors for your home. You can also simplify your search by looking for ENERGY STAR® certification labels.

Your Patio Doors Are Visibly Warped

Even without touching them, you can tell that warped doors won’t do you any good. In addition to issues with the doors’ operation and energy efficiency, warped patio doors simply look unattractive. Humans are conditioned to see symmetrical lines in certain environments, and can easily distinguish warped doors from straight ones. Warping can also put pressure on the glass panels, which can introduce cracks, or even release insulating gas fills. A new set of patio doors from a trusted manufacturer can help address these problems, and perhaps a few others.

Learn more about sliding and French patio doors with Renewal by Andersen of Cincinnati. Give us a call at (513) 283-8981or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.