According to Angi, a well-maintained and serviced patio door can last up to 30 years or more, offering a very long lifetime of service in your home. Of course, to get the most out of your door, you need to ensure it serves its purpose of providing your home with a seamless transition between your outdoor and indoor spaces. To this end, energy efficiency is paramount. An energy-efficient patio door will keep your energy bills low, keep your home comfort high, and help reduce unnecessary wear and tear on home heating and cooling systems. But how do you know if you have an energy-efficient patio door? Are you wondering if it’s time to install a new door that offers better energy efficiency? Continue reading for three things to keep an eye out for.
1. Drafts and Air Leaks
Air leaks are a major indicator that your patio door is not operating efficiently. Patio doors should showcase beautiful, clear glass that you can easily see through. They should not include gaps or cracks that let air leak in and out. Such air leaks change the temperature of your indoor space and make your HVAC system work overtime to fix them.
2. Condensation Between Glass Panels
Condensation between the glass panels of a patio door with double or triple glazing is a sign of a broken or failed seal. Whenever the seal between the panes is compromised, moisture gets trapped, and that moisture leads to a foggy or frosted appearance. This not only obstructs your view but also reduces the overall insulative properties of your patio door, thereby making it less energy-efficient.
3. Trouble Opening and Closing
You might think a patio door that stays tightly closed and is hard to open would be well-sealed, but that’s not always the case. A patio door that sticks, jams, and otherwise causes a person to use a lot of force to open it may have an underlying problem with its components. Those components may be warped, misaligned, or deteriorated. While you struggle to open and close the door, air can get through the gaps those problematic components create, and that will lead to reduced efficiency.
Are you ready to upgrade your home’s patio door? If so, you’ll love the selection of durable, aesthetically attractive doors we offer at River Valley Window Company. Contact our team today to get started!