Draft stop access doors are an essential part of your HVAC system. They prevent airflow from one room to another, preventing cold air from entering a warm room or hot air from entering a cold room. If you’ve ever had to deal with a sudden blast of chilly air at night, you’ll know how critical stopping drafts are.
This simple but vital role that draft stop access doors play helps keep your home a comfortable place. If you want to justify the investment of getting a draft stop access door, this article is just for you.
How Drafts Happen
A draft occurs when there is a pressure difference between the inside and outside of your home. This pressure differential causes hotter air to rush through gaps, causing a cooling effect on the side with lower pressure.
These gaps can take the form of having an open window or even through the smallest crevice in your home. The main problem is that you can find these cracks in many places, such as your plumbing work, electrical wires, and ventilation system. With so many sources for air leaks to crop up, these can quickly combine to create a significant problem.
Effects of Proper Draft Control
With so many sources for outdoor air to leak through, is it even worth trying to patch them all up? Here are a few points on why having a draft-free building is worth it:
- Energy Savings
Drafts could prove disastrous if you left them uncontrolled, causing discomfort and making your heating/cooling system work harder. The added load on your ventilation system to maintain its set temperature drives up your energy costs by up to 20%.
In addition, the extra strain on your HVAC system may also reduce its lifespan. Not only will you have to maintain it more often, but you’ll also have to replace it sooner.
Properly sealing up all possible sources of drafts can not only make you more comfortable, but it’ll also save your ventilation system and your wallet.
- Better Air Quality
If you’ve ever had a significant flare-up of allergies in the spring and summer, it might be due to the outside air finding its way into your home. You may have your AC on during these months, so your indoors will be colder than outside. Hot air starts leaking in, bringing allergens like pollen inside your home.
Additionally, warm air leaking inside causes condensation due to contact with chillier surfaces. The resulting moisture build-up causes mold to develop and may even ruin your insulation.
With the proper protection systems to stop drafts, you’ll be more comfortable with the improved indoor air quality.
Draft Stop Access Doors
So, how does a Draft Stop Access Door help you with your problems?
- Gasket
Firstly, draft-stop doors typically feature a gasket between the door and its flange. Meaning you won’t have to deal with the natural air gap seen on other types of access doors.
- Automatic Panel Closer
Additionally, you may have had the problem of accidentally forgetting to close access doors during a job. Well, draft stop access doors come standard with an automatic panel closer guaranteeing that the access door doesn’t stay open longer than it needs to.
- Inside Panel Release
While automatic door closers are convenient, they present another problem of getting out of the attic or crawlspace once you complete the job. Thankfully, an internal latch release is present, so locking yourself in won’t be a worry.
- Various Lock Options
Lastly, draft stop access doors have a variety of locks available to them. They range from a knurled knob to a key-operated lock. So, whether you value quick access or better security, you’ll find a draft stop access door just right for you.
Draft Stop Access Doors Are a Convenient Solution
Today, having the appropriate measures to control drafts installed in your building is more important than ever. Draft Stop Access doors will not only make your home more comfortable, but they’ll also save you money in the long run.
