The Learning Center There are many reasons why someone may want or need a storm door for their home. Storm doors can offer ventilation, energy efficiency and security. However, the amount of each provided will vary greatly based upon the designs and quality of the product selected. Storm doors emerged from the widespread usage of wooden screen doors, which were initially used to allow ventilation into a home while keeping bugs out during hot summer months. Over time, screen doors made of wood gave way to storm doors made of lower maintenance aluminum frames. In a natural progression, products were developed that incorporated one or more pieces of glass in place of the screen to add an extra barrier against wintertime cold and wind. Because old entry doors were made of wood, they were not insulated or weather-stripped very well. The first aluminum frame designs had interchangeable screen and glass panels that were switched out between summer and winter.  After a while, most aluminum products were pre-painted for increased aesthetics and reduced maintenance. Self-storing designs became increasingly popular, which enabled the products to be shifted from summer to winter mode without removing the screen or glass panels. As technology advanced, designs became more sophisticated to meet the taste of a changing market. Consumers sought out designs with more substantial frames, better weather-stripping, closers, hinge systems, and more decorative hardware. Full panel designs with full glass panels were introduced that allowed the full aesthetics of the entry door to show through. From an energy-saving perspective, a storm door will not really help very much unless you have an older, poorly weather-stripped entry door. A storm door will not save you much energy when mounted onto one of today’s prefinished foam-filled steel or fiberglass entry doors with effective weather seals. These modern doors provide superior insulation and wind-resistance on their own. Generally, in these cases, the investment in a storm door is not cost effective. From a ventilation perspective, a storm door with a screen in place may allow air to flow into the house when the entry door is open. However, many people who have air-conditioning do not open the main entry door all that often. In these instances, the question becomes “is a storm door worth the investment for the few days a year it will be utilized?” From a security perspective, a storm door does provide an additional barrier between you and someone outside your home. You can open the entry door and see who is outside without unlocking the storm door. If the screen is in place you can even talk to them without opening the storm door. However, most storm doors are not intended to be true security doors. There are storm doors constructed of painted steel with heavy duty hardware and locking systems that provide better security. Generally, these doors also have a decorative steel grid work in front of the glass panel that prevents access even if the glass is broken. While these doors do provide a higher level of security, the better quality products are considerably more expensive than a traditional aluminum design. In the end, the need for a storm door is a personal decision based upon lifestyle. If you have a well-insulated tight entry door, you do not need a storm door from an energy-saving perspective. However, if you’re looking for added ventilation during certain times of the year, or in search of a small level of added security, it may make sense for you to consider the investment.   1. What do I need to know before buying a storm door? < back to list of questions about storm doors 3245 Miracle Drive Murrysville, PA 15668 724-387-2991 PA Contractor ID PA001856