The exterior doors in your home serve important purposes functionally and aesthetically. They are the points where you welcome family, friends, and potential buyers into your home. Good doors keep out would-be intruders, and they serve as a barrier between your home and the heat, cold, wind, rain, and snow outside. If your door can no longer be that efficient barrier, it’s one of the major signs your door needs to be replaced.

Rather than taking your door for granted, it’s smart to evaluate whether or not your door is really doing its many jobs. By replacing a door that is not performing well, you can save money in utility costs. You can also preserve the condition of your home by protecting it from moisture. Here are some big signs your door needs to be replaced:

1. The Door is Letting in Drafts

Doors become drafty if they were not properly installed in the first place. This is one of the ways poor installation damages your home. Also, the seals around your doors can crack or shrink over time.

How to Test Your Doors for Drafts

If you’re not sure if you have a drafty door, there are a few different ways to test your door for drafts:

Use an Incense Stick and Watch How the Smoke Moves

One way is to hold a lit stick of incense and trace the perimeter of the door from the inside. If the line of smoke moves without your interference, there could be a drafty spot around your door.

Use a Flashlight to See if Light Seeps in Around the Door

Another way is to get another person to help you, wait until it gets dark outside, turn off the lights in your house, and then shine a flashlight around the perimeter of the door from the outside. If your partner in this task (a person standing inside your home) sees the light coming in, that means air can come in too.

2. Your Door is Letting in Insects

If you have a pest problem in your home, one place you should look for the cause is the doors. If a door is not sealed and fitted properly in its frame, it could be an entryway for bugs. If bugs can come in, you can bet you have drafts too, which is one of the ways you might be losing money on your energy bills.

3. There is Moisture Between Panes of Glass

There are many window options for entry doors and it’s just as important for these to be properly installed and energy-efficient. If your door has a window with a double pane of glass, look for moisture, mildew, and mold.

If you see moisture, it means your door has been compromised and you should think about getting a new one. Moisture between window panes is one of the visible signs of drafty windows and it holds true for the glass in your doors as well.

4. The Door Has Visible Damage

If your door has been around for a while and is made of wood, it may be weathered or cracked. It may also be warped, or the hinges may be loose. If your door shows any of these signs of wear and damage, it means the structural integrity of the door may be compromised. Upgrading to fiberglass entry doors can solve a lot of these problems and prevent them in the future.

If you do see damage, loose hinges, etc., the door isn’t doing its job as a secure barrier against intruders. Loose hinges or cracks, especially, can make a door easier to force open. Not only is this a security issue for your home, but it also makes your home less energy-efficient and the visible damage is one of the things that can hurt your home value.

5. It’s Hard to Open and Close

Functional issues are also signs your door needs to be replaced. If your door is hard to open and close, it’s a sign that something is wrong. If you have an outdated wood door, you could be dealing with some moisture issues, cracks, warping, etc. Regardless of the type of entry door, if it’s not opening or closing smoothly or sitting right in the frame, it could be a sign that it wasn’t installed properly.

It could also be one of the signs of structural damage you should not ignore, especially if you also see cracks or leveling issues in other areas of your home. No matter the reason behind it, if your door is difficult to use, it’s important to get it looked at and to be prepared to replace it if that is what’s needed.

Get New Doors For Your Home With Zephyr Thomas

These are all big reasons to replace your doors. If you think it’s time to replace any of the doors in your home, look no further than Zephyr Thomas Home Improvement. Our ProVia entry doors, storm doors, and patio doors all meet the high standards of the ENERGY STAR program.

Replacing patio doors when they need to be replaced can help increase patio door security, and the same applies to other doors of your home. Getting a replacement door from Zephyr Thomas can help save you money in heating and cooling costs – and increase the security of your home. Contact us at 717-399-4708 to start a free quote or come by the showroom to see some door options in person!