FAQs

How do you measure for a storm door?

From the outside of the house, measure the width of the opening in three places. Measure from the inside edge of the exterior door molding. Measure the height of the opening in two places, from header to sill. Take these dimensions to your local Loxcreen dealer and select the proper door size.

How do you measure for a storm window?

Loxcreen storm windows fit flush against the blind stop on the outside of your prime window. From the outside, measure the horizontal opening at top and bottom, using the smallest dimension. Next, measure the vertical opening in two places, using the smallest dimension. When ordering, give width in the full 1", 1/4", 1/2" or 3/4". Give height on the full inch or 1/2". The storm window will be reduced by 1/8" to fit window opening.

What is the difference between a two-track and three-track storm window?

The name gives a clue. The two-track storm window has two tracks. The first track holds the top non-sliding glass panel and the bottom non-sliding screen panel. The second track holds the bottom glass panel which slides. All glass and screen panels are removable. The three-track window has three tracks. All three panels slide (2 glass, 1 screen), allowing ventilation from the top or bottom of the window.

I have an odd size door. Can you help me?

Yes. However, many door openings can be modified for a standard size door by using furring strips. If a special door is needed, we manufacture special sizes in several models. Depending on the size and model, the door may be built with acrylic rather than tempered glass.

How does a storm window function?
A good storm window fits over the entire prime window frame and insulates by adding air space. A good storm window fits snugly. The addition of a storm window results in an overall lower U-value for the window, meaning that heat conduction (and thus heat loss or gain) has been reduced. Storm windows not only insulate the glass in the prime window, they also help reduce the amount of air leakage around the perimeter of the prime window. Adding a storm window to a single-glazed window cuts heat loss or gain roughly in half. Adding one to a double-glazed prime window reduces heat loss or gain by about a third.

What are the advantages of adding a storm door?
Much like the storm window, a storm door fits over and protects your prime door, enhancing the appearance of your home and providing important insulation in the winter and summer. A storm door and your prime door act in tandem to create a dead air space between the doors. This reduces heat loss in the winter and heat gain in summer, lowering your energy costs.

Tips to help you save energy

• Weatherstrip. Seal cracks around doors and windows to stop air leakage.
• Insulate. This is one of the most important single steps you can take. In addition to using windows with insulating glass and thermal breaks in their frames, be sure you have at least four inches of fiberglass insulation in your walls (rated R-11) and six inches in your ceiling (4-19).
• Keep doors closed as much as possible.
• Keep drapes closed on sunny windows in summer; on shaded windows and at night in the winter.
• Keep you thermostat at 68 degrees in winter (even lower at night). For each degree below 72 degrees you set your thermostat, you'll save 3% on your heating bill. Consider using a "clock type" thermostat that automatically lowers the temperature at night. Use an electric blanket instead of heating the whole house.
• Keep heating and cooling unit filters clean
• Do not heat or cool unused rooms. Close them off.
• Cut appliance use in summer as much as possible. Be sure clothes dryers are vented to the outside. Always turn off appliances and lights when not in use.
• Keep your attic vented. Attics can reach very hot temperatures in summer. Consider installing an attic vent fan to flush hot air.
• Fix leaking hot water faucets. One drop per second leaking from a faucet wastes 650 gallons of water a year - as well as the energy used to heat it.
• Use fluorescent lights where possible. They produce about four times as much light for the same amount of electricity as incandescent bulbs.