Fiberglass doors offer insulation benefits over wood
Q: Now that I am older, I want to replace my wood front door with a lower-maintenance one. Would an insulated, stainable fiberglass door be an attractive, efficient alternative?
A: Although new natural real wood front door is likely the most beautiful material, it is not nearly as efficient as an insulated stainable fiberglass door. Wood is a reasonably good insulator compared to metal, but much less so than rigid foam insulation inside of fiberglass skins.
If your current wood front door or a new fiberglass one you are considering has much glass as many door models do today, the door material becomes less important from an insulation level standpoint. Check the specifications for the door to determine its relative efficiency.
For example, many insulated fiberglass doors have uninsulated wood rails and stiles along the edges. If you also subtract the area of the glass, the insulated area may be only one-half of the total door. Select a new insulated door with minimum glass for the greatest efficiency and security.
The significant efficiency advantage of a fiberglass door is does not warp with changes in humidity and requires very little maintenance. My guess is much of the chilly sensation you feel around your existing wood door is from air leakage around the edges. If a wood door is not properly maintained and regularly sealed, even the best doors will warp and leak over time.
Modern fiberglass doors have natural grain rolled into the surface. Once they are stained and finished with urethane, it is difficult to distinguish one from real wood until you touch it. They also weigh less than a solid wood door making them easier to open and close with your arms full.
I recommend using a staining and finishing kit from the door manufacturer. Most manufacturers offer a wide variety of stains and you know it will be compatible with the door surface material. Also, when it needs to be refinished, the stain in the refinishing kit will match. Even though it is fiberglass, if the door is exposed to the direct sun, it will need occasional refinishing.
There are several insulation options for fiberglass doors. Some use a preformed rigid foam insulation panel which fits inside the fiberglass skins. Others inject expanding foam inside the door after it is assembled. If both methods are done correctly, there is not a significant difference in efficiency so don't be swayed by marketing hype about one or another.
Since you probably will want some glass in your new door, make sure it is triple-pane which provides two insulating air gaps. The insulated fiberglass door I have on my own house has the beveled decorative pane (plastic) in the middle. This protects it and makes the smooth indoor and outdoor glass surfaces easier to keep clean.
The following companies offer fiberglass entry doors: Jeld-Wen, (800) 535-3936, www.jeldwen.com; Pella, (877) 473-5527, www.pella.com; Plastpro, (800) 779-0561, www.plastpro.com; Taylor Door, (800) 248-3600, www.taylordoor.com; and Therma-Tru, (800) 843-7628, www.thermatru.com.
Q: We have a heat pump, but our neighbors have gas heat. Our heat pump cools well, but does not produce much heat. We cover it during winter like our neighbors do their air conditioners. Should we cover it?
A: It is fine to loosely cover the outdoor unit of a central air conditioner over winter to keep out debris, but not a heat pump. The heat pump outdoor unit needs to have air circulation to draw heat from the air.
Your heat pump compressor has probably been running like crazy trying to produce heat and your backup resistance has been coming on. It would be wise to schedule a service call to have the heat pump inspected.
• Send questions to James Dulley, Daily Herald, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.
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