Most primary entry doors are efficient these days, but creating the extra dead air space by adding a storm door will further reduce energy loss through the door.

Storm doors or combination storm/screen doors can save energy in almost any home. Most primary entry doors are efficient these days, but creating the extra dead air space by adding a storm door will further reduce energy loss through the door.

Installing a storm door will also reduce the amount of outdoor air that leaks indoors. Even though the storm door may not have the same level of weather stripping as the primary door, just breaking the direct force of the wind will reduce its pressure and leakage. Also, by protecting the primary door from harsh weather conditions and direct sun, the primary door weather stripping will hold up many years longer.

Before you go out and buy your storm doors, make sure your existing primary entry doors are in good condition. Installing a storm door over an old, uninsulated, leaky front or back door will help some, but you would be better off just replacing the primary door. Check and repair the weather stripping on your existing doors to make them relatively airtight before proceeding with the installation of storm doors.

Combination storm/screen doors are likely your best option for year-round energy savings. These will block cold winter winds and allow for ventilation in the summer. Some of the designs are very secure, with deadbolt- type latches, so you need not be concerned about leaving your primary entry door open for ventilation.

Since combination storm/screen doors generally have quite a lot of glass/screen area, the insulation level of the core of the door is not as important as with storm doors with less glass. The primary features to look for in combination doors are strong construction materials and good-quality weather stripping and workmanship. In particular, check the corner construction design and how well the glass panels fit. Twist the door to get a relative sense of its rigidity under the force of the wind.

To be most efficient, the storm door should fit as close to the primary door as possible. Inspect the door entrance frame and trim, and determine the proper door size to fit in close. If the dead air space between the primary and storm door is too wide, it is no longer a dead air space. Cold-to-hot convection air currents can form inside the wide gap.

For your front door, you might consider an ornate solid wood combination door with a reasonable amount of decorative glass. The best and strongest ones use true mortise-and-tenon joints at the rails and stiles. You can order them from the factory with a natural wood surface to be stained or primed. Brass-plated decorative hinges can add a classy touch to the door. Less ornate ones are durable and ideal for a back door. Consider installing heavy 23-gauge stainless steel screen in the back for durability and security.

Ornate steel and wrought iron doors also look good on the front, while providing substantial security. These come with deadbolt-type locks and double vault pins that secure it into the frame. These are also available as double doors or with sidelights. The sidelights are locked in place so they can be removed if more open area is needed when moving large objects in or out.

Another decorative option for the front is a door made of a composite of crushed rock and fiberglass. These are a full 1-inch thick and because they are molded, there are no seams or screws. The color and grained finish are molded into the door so scratches are not very noticeable. These are also effective for back doors, which children can give quite a beating.

Standard foam or particleboard-filled aluminum skin doors are the most common and reasonably priced. You will find these at most home center stores and you can install them yourself. Simple designs are generally the best option for back doors.

High-style models with decorative stained, floral art or leaded glass are available for the front door. A self-storing model with two sliding glass panes provides the best ventilation. By lowering the top glass pane a little and raising the bottom one, effective low-to-high air ventilation flow is created.

The following companies offer storm/screen doors: Cumberland Woodcraft, (800) 367-1884, Web site ; Emco Specialties, (800) 933-3626, Web site ; Homeguard Industries, (800) 525-1885, Web site ; Pella, (800) 328-6596, www.pella.com ; and Sugarcreek Industries, (800) 669-4711, Web site.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Michigan Country Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit Dulley’s Web site.