How The Winter Weather May Affect Your Entry Door

In anticipation of winter, it’s vital to make specific preparations for your home, especially for your entry door. During the cold weather, ice often forms on various structures of our homes. Entry doors bear the brunt of the harsh weather and can lose their durability, regardless of their material. So, knowing how the winter weather may affect your doors and what signs to look for is essential. This article will discuss four ways winter may jeopardize your entry doors.

Mold Growth

Although mold is usually more associated with warm summers, your home will risk harboring mold during winter without proper attention. Mold grows when moisture rests on cold surfaces. Combine the warmth from your heating systems and the cold from winter weather, and you can have severe mold growth. Although you may be unable to prevent mold from growing in corners around your door, you can avoid permanent damage by looking out for it. Any traces of mold growth should be wiped promptly with a mold cleaner. You should also ensure that your home is well-ventilated. 

Shrinkage

Doors respond differently to changes in temperature. For instance, during the summer, the heat causes expansion, mainly when wooden doors absorb moisture. Conversely, winter causes shrinkage due to the lack of humidity and dryness in the atmosphere. When doors shrink, they become smaller. The result is that they may need to fit the door frame more nicely than they used to. Thus, you may notice gaps around the door’s hinges or beneath it. These gaps could attract pests for warmth into your home or cause drafts.

Peeling & Fading

Winter is harsh on all doors, regardless of whether the door is made of wood, steel, or iron. Typically, most doors have a layer of paint or color to give them a polished and aesthetically pleasing look. This layer also serves as a layer of protection that shields the door from extreme heat or cold. Unfortunately, most entry doors face their fair share of snow storms in the winter. When exposed to snow and the harsh temperatures that winter is known for, doors begin to look faded or peeled. You may see a crack or two around the edges of wooden doors.

Ice Blockage

This often happens when snow accumulates in corners around your door. This buildup can stiffen your entry doors, making them hard to open or shut. It could even cause damage to your door. While it may be hard to prevent snow buildup on your door during winter, you can avoid further damage by scraping off the buildup frequently.

Contact Seacoast Replacement Windows For Door Installations In New Hampshire

The safest way to safeguard your entry doors from rust or damage during winter is to pay attention to them. This includes your garage doors and fire escape. Routine checks help forestall further damage and keep your doors in good condition through winter. It helps to wipe down your doors or spray protective coating occasionally. Seacoast Replacement Windows is available to handle your door maintainer needs during winter. They are just a call away. We serve New Hampshire with all of your door and window replacement needs. Contact us here or give us a call at (800) 693-1307 to schedule your window and door replacement.