ECM: Building Envelope

Information by State  Print version   CAUTION STATEMENT TURN OFF UTILITIES: Turn off electricity, gas, propane, and other utilities before starting repairs, cleaning, or installations to avoid accident or injury. BE AWARE OF LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARDS: Many residences built before 1978 have paint that contains lead, which can pose a serious health hazard if paint, chips, and dust are not handled properly. See the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead brief before disturbing painted surfaces in homes of this vintage. Follow the HUD “Lead-Safe Housing Rule” for requirements for notification, evaluation and reduction of lead-based paint hazards. BE AWARE OF ASBESTOS HAZARDS: Homes older than 1977 may have building products that contain asbestos such as insulation, high-temperature gaskets, roofing and siding shingles, and vinyl sheet flooring. See the EPA asbestos brief before disturbing such materials. BE AWARE OF MOLD AND MOISTURE HAZARDS: Molds can gradually destroy materials they grow on; can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people; can cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold; and can cause other serious health problems. To learn more about preventing and cleaning up mold in homes, see these mold guides and the EPA brief on What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas.

B4. Install Storm Doors

Description

As with storm windows, storm doors save energy in two ways. First, they reduce air leakage through spaces around the existing door. Second, they reduce heat conduction through the door by creating an insulated air space between the door and the storm door. In addition to saving energy, storm doors enhance resident comfort, and they protect the primary door, thus reducing maintenance costs.

Applicability

• Single-family and low-rise multifamily buildings where apartment doors open directly to the outside
• Buildings without storm doors
• Buildings without vestibules

• Low-e glass
• Frames:
  • aluminum
  • steel
  • fiberglass
  • wood

Considerations

• Door clearance for operation by elderly and disabled residents should be considered.
• Storm doors should have latches or locks for security.
• Storm doors should not be installed over primary doors that have foam cores or plastic trim.

Performance/Economics

• Adding a storm door that costs about $200 or less is generally a good investment if your existing door is old, but still in good condition.
• Adding a new (or more expensive) storm door to a modern foam core door is not generally worth the expense since the added energy saved is very small.
• Adding a storm door to a modern multi-glazed energy-efficient low-e patio door is seldom economic.
• Wooden storm doors require more maintenance than the other types.

Resources/Links

Energy Conservation for Housing – A Workbook, HUD, September 1998. Pages 7-21 through 7-24 address storm doors as an energy efficiency measure. 

Storm Doors. Part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Consumer's Guide.

Improving Energy Efficiency in Apartment Buildings, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 1995. ISBN 0-918249-23-6. Pages 95-96 address storm door options in apartment buildings.