For added insulation, consider using insulation film or thermal curtains. Insulation film is a transparent sheet that you apply to the glass surface of the patio door. By trapping a layer of air between the film and the glass, it adds another layer of protection. Temperature Regulation: Insulating an outdoor door helps keep the temperature inside more stable. During colder months, proper insulation prevents cold drafts from entering your living space, creating a cozier and more comfortable environment. When it’s hot outside, insulation can help keep your home cooler by stopping too much heat from getting in.

Installing door sweeps is an important step in sealing gaps around your doors, but adding draft stoppers takes it a step further. Draft stoppers are flexible strips that attach to the bottom of your doors, creating a tight seal when closed. They help prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping, reducing energy costs and increasing overall comfort. The most popular measure of energy efficiency in your home is the U-value. This describes how effective a material is as an insulator. The lower the value, the less heat is able to pass through a given area of material in a given amount of time. It’s typically measured in watts per metre squared. A standard double-glazed window will have a U-value of just under three. These DIY tips should help to solve the problem of air leaks around your glass doors. Of course, if your door has reached the end of its lifespan and requires replacement, it will save you time and frustration to price out a replacement door. Before you begin insulating your patio door, make sure you have all the required materials on hand. You’ll need:If you have bought off-the-shelf your builder can fit your doors for you —or you might choose to do this on a DIY basis. What Glazing Should I Choose for Patio Doors? Window treatments, such as plastic window film, are another great way to winterproof a sliding patio door. Plastic window film can add an extra layer of insulation to your patio doors, ensuring that you keep your morale up and your energy bills down. Caulk the exterior of the door If you’re looking for a way to extend your home out into your patio, and vice versa, then the traditional French door has a great deal to offer. They make a fantastic addition to the modern home and garden, neatly bridging the two and creating a single, cohesive space. French doors were first developed to allow French aristocrats to look out onto their estates, and to allow natural light to permeate the interior. Both virtues also apply to the modern French door, too. While bi-fold doors remain as popular as ever, we are also seeing a trend towards sliding doors over the last year,” says Matt Higgs, sales manager and co-owner of Kloeber. “Our lift and slide aluminium sliding doors allow larger panel sizes in wider widths, giving a maximised expanse of glazing when closed. French doors remain popular for small spaces and look just as good in a contemporary home as a traditional one.“ Caulk the exterior of the door - Exterior caulk can deteriorate over time. Increase the efficiency of your frame by removing any damaged caulk and carefully replacing it. Choose a high-quality window caulking rope and caulk gel to ensure your work lasts for years to come.

Portable draught excluders– A cost effective, simple solution to stop draughts getting in from underneath doors is to invest in a draught excluder! This can be moved when needed and can also provide a decorative element to the room. Aluminium, being a conductor, isn’t as thermally efficient as timber, but has the distinct advantage of slimmer sightlines and a powder-coated finish which will never have to be recoated — plus choosing thermally broken frames will overcome any heat loss issues,” says Matt Higgs. “Aluminium bi-fold door panels can be made wider than timber doors so can sometimes be more cost-effective due to needing fewer panels,” he adds. Most people refer to this strategy as old school, but many of us will agree that it is still effective. Plastic insulation uses shrink-wrap that shrinks when exposed to heat, making it easy to install yet messy. A typical installation of standard bi-folds will take a professional team a day, although more complicated or larger systems can take two or three. If you suspect your sliding glass door may be contributing to unwanted temperature fluctuations in your home, here are steps you can take to mitigate the loss of heat and energy. Five Ways to Winterize a Sliding Glass Patio DoorWooden French doors tend to be more efficient than their uPVC equivalents because the material is much denser. Heat, therefore, has a far more difficult time passing from one side of the material to the other. Insulating External French Doors Home Value: Insulated outdoor doors can also make your home worth more. Potential buyers often consider energy-efficient features when evaluating a property, so having well-insulated doors can be a selling point. This home makes the most of the view with sliding doors from Livingwood Window & Door Specialists (Image credit: Livingwood Window & Door Specialists) While sliding glass doors can provide you with all kinds of benefits in the summer, it’s important to keep them maintained so that they can bring just as much joy in the winter. Take a look at our other informative articles about sliding doors here:

Insulating a patio door is a crucial step toward creating a comfortable and energy-efficient living space. Patio doors often account for significant heat loss during colder months and can also let unwanted heat in during summer. Monitor indoor temperature: Over the next few days, pay attention to the indoor temperature near the patio door. You should observe a more consistent temperature and reduced energy consumption. Energy efficiency: By sealing the gaps at the bottom of your doors, door sweeps prevent warm or cool air from escaping, leading to increased energy efficiency. This can result in lower heating and cooling costs. Increased Energy Efficiency: Insulated blinds or shades create an additional barrier between the outdoor elements and your home, preventing cold air from seeping in and warm air from escaping. Timber: Timber patio doors are beautiful to look at and are certainly a fantastic option for those creating a traditional-style home or adding them to a period property.

Insulating a patio door is important for several reasons, mainly related to energy efficiency, comfort, and cost savings. Here’s why insulating a patio door is a good idea: Another important consequence of having an energy efficient home, however, is that it’ll save you money. The less heat escapes from your property, the less energy you’ll need to spend generating heat to replace it, and the lower your energy bills will be. French Doors: Although still often thought of as the reserve of traditional-style homes, French doors are actually available in plenty of designs (and materials, such as aluminium) that will also sit quite happily within a contemporary home. Curtains will prevent the warm air in the room from mixing with the cold air around the window, and thereby slow the transfer of heat from the interior of the building to the outside. This can only happen, however, if the curtains in question are drawn; make sure you do this when you aren’t in the room, and when it gets dark outside. How Do I Clean Patio Doors?