Your front door is meant to protect your home against the blustery winds, harsh snow and awful rain that the winter weather brings, however if your door is reaching the end of its lifespan or it’s not fitted perfectly, you may actually find more problems arising.
Tackling these problems before it’s too late is important for both the protection of your home, and the safety of you within it too. A broken door can become an easy entrance for a burglar. Below are five of the most common problems that arise at your doorstep during the winter
Frozen Lock
Water can very easily seep into the lock of your door and once the temperature drops, it’s likely that this will freeze within the lock and therefore compromise your home security. The easiest solution when this happens is to use a hairdryer to melt the water away. Don’t try to pour hot water in the lock as the moisture can cause rusting inside.
A Sticky Door
Wooden doors are the most vulnerable during winter, as they expand and contract in size due to the changes in temperature and humidity. If you find that your front door is starting to stick, there are a few different fixes to try. Firstly, check the hinges as it may mean a screw has come loose. Tighten any loose screws and ensure hinges are in place.
Appearance Change
If the weather is harsh enough, you may find it damages the exterior of your door very easily and therefore changes the appearance of it. You may find that the weather has faded or discoloured the door or broken the wood or uPVC on it. Although this will only damage the cosmetic side of the door, it’s still something you will want to fix. After all, your front door is the first impression a visitor will have of your house.
Wood Rot
Rotting around the door frame is incredibly common in winter, as the combination of wind, rain, hail and snow can make the wood become soft and damp and therefore rot. Rotting to your door is not just a cosmetic issue, as it can actually affect the structure and stability of the door, it may also invite in some unwanted termites to your home.
Drafts
If you’re starting to notice a cold draft when passing your front door, it may be time to replace it as it means somewhere amongst the door frame is a large gap that is letting in the cold air from outside. Not only can this make your home uncomfortable, but it also means your energy bills will creep up, as you turn up the heating to cater for the cold.
If you find that any of the above problems are arising with your front door, or you think it’s time to replace yours before they do, we suggest getting in touch with us. We’ll be more than happy to help you make the right decision.