Weatherstripping reduces drafts and energy loss in sliding glass doors. A home with sliding glass doors is essentially a home open to the elements. Glass, according to Saturn Resource Management, is a poor insulator. In sliding glass doors, the glass merely acts as a conductor for heat to escape and for solar energy to conduct into the home on a hot day. To reduce energy loss caused by sliding glass doors, you could replace doors with low-emissivity (low-E) doors, which have a special coating that prevents energy from radiating through the glass. For homeowners without carpentry experience, replacing the sliding glass door can be difficult. Fortunately, simpler, affordable, weather-proofing options can reduce energy loss through a sliding glass door. Debris Small stones and debris from shoes can accumulate in the sliding glass channels. If the door is pulled over the debris, the debris may be enough to lift the door in the track. Any small crevices will cause drafts and energy loss. To prevent debris from accumulating in the sliding glass channels, vacuum inside the door's channels.
Compression Strips Adhesive-backed rubber compression strips are effective weatherproofing tools. Commonly made of neoprene rubber, these strips can be cut to fit the length of the sliding door channel. The strips are moisture- and chemical-resistant, don't contract with cold temperatures and add an air-proof seal in channels and around the sliding glass door sash. Weather Stripping Weather stripping sliding glass doors weatherproofs and prevents energy leaks. Brush fin or fin seal type weather stripping installed between sliding doors reduces energy loss and helps to weatherproof sliding glass doors. Both brush fin and fin seal use synthetic brush filaments to restrict air flow in gaps between the sliding doors. The fin seal adds a Mylar ridge, embedded in the brush, that forms an additional seal. Plastic Window Kits Window insulation kits essentially use shrink wrap, a polymer plastic that shrinks when exposed to heat. The homeowner cuts the plastic sheeting to fit the sliding glass door.
Double-sided tape, included in the kit, is used to secure the plastic to the door frame. To shrink the plastic, the homeowner heats the surface with a hair dryer. The plastic sheeting shrinks and tightens to make an energy-efficient barrier that reduces drafts. /Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionA sliding glass door can be a great source of heat loss in the home. Many homes and apartments sport these doors. They are attractive, especially when they look out upon a splendid garden or patio where tea is served by gloved butlers, and you can get a few laughs when people mistakenly plow into them. However, they sure aren't doing you any favors energy-wise. There are ways to make sliding glass doors more energy efficient. Here are some tips. 1. If your sliding glass doors run on a track, keep the track clean. If rocks, gravel and clumps of dirt have fallen into the threshold, the door may not be set correctly on the track. This allows cold air in or air-conditioned air out. 2. Caulk around the edges of the sliding glass doors.
If you've recently moved into a domicile that has sliding glass doors, those doors may have been put in haphazardly or their weight may have shifted. It's advised that you properly seal the cracks where the doors meets the house. 3. Insulated drapes, blackout curtains or cellular blinds are just some of the products that can be used to reduce energy loss through your sliding glass doors. 4. Double-glazed inserts can be installed to existing sliding doors. You will have to take the doors apart. 5. Build it Solar has a novel method of insulating sliding glass doors. They affixed an insulation panel to their sliding glass. This panel slides on the same track as the door. They saved $40 per winter and 200lb of CO2.Insulating Sliding Glass Doors My bedroom has a sliding glass door, which is not insulated. Therefore, the room is almost impossible to keep warm. Since I can't afford to replace the door with insulated glass, what else can I do? I was thinking of hanging a thick blanket or moving pad over it, but that would also block the light.
Do you have any good ideas? Insulate with Bubble Wrap I've used bubble wrap on my windows. I sprayed the window with water and then stuck the bubble wrap to the window. Plenty of light still comes in, and I think it helps with the cold. I don't know where you live, but check your local hardware store. Where I live (it gets very cold), there's a plastic film that you can adhere to the inside frame/trim of your windows and doors using a special two-way tape included in the kit (plus you need your own scissors and a hair dryer). You effectively add an extra pane for insulation, stop drafts, etc. and it's perfectly clear like a piece of glass. We did it for years before we could afford to replace our windows, and it makes a huge difference. The kits generally cost less than $10 and they do make ones specifically sized for patio doors. Carolyn in Manitoba, Canada Deck with Sliding Doors photo from Shutterstock Use curtains for insulating sliding glass doors. If you can't afford new, go to thrift shops and look for king size comforters and bedspreads.
Hang these as window quilts at night. Purchase Vinyl at Fabric Store During the winter, we cover our windows and sliding doors with clear vinyl that we bought at a fabric store. The vinyl is clear so you can see through it. Also, the vinyl lasts and lasts. Cut Insulation Board to Fit We have a sliding glass door in our kitchen. Hubby cut two pieces of tongue and groove insulation board 1 1/2" thick (1 1/2" thick was what we had around the house) to fit the opening so that it goes inside the frame snug. Then we got a sliding door size piece of plastic that had double-sided tape to stick it on the frame around the door. We used a hair dryer to get rid of all the wrinkles. We pulled the drape over it for extra insulation and to cover it so that no one sees what we did. It works really well. Don't forget to save the insulation board for the next year. Insulating Sliding Glass Doors with Shower Curtains Hanging a heavy duty clear plastic shower curtain liner with clear plastic dollar store hooks on a tension rod would definitely help.
Take the Next Step: Discover smart ways to keep your home warm this winter for less by visiting the Dollar Stretcher Library. Get control of your financial life. Subscribe to Financial Independence, a free daily email that provides you with the tools to help you gain that control and achieve financial independence. Subscribers get a copy of Are You Heading for Debt Trouble? A Simple Checklist for FREE! Share your thoughts about this article with the editor. More Money-Saving Tips for Your Home 6 cheap, effective home security solutions 5 frugal ways to expand your living space Top 10 DIY mistakes made by home 'handymen' 4 ways to pay off your mortgage earlier DIY home sale options Insulating sliding glass doorsThis week's Readers' Tips Should I use a HELOC for home remodeling and repairs? Find the best mortgage rates in your area Check for a lower homeowners insurance rate 3 ways to use a mortgage calculator Mortgage calculator: Calculate your payment and more