New Door Insulation

FrankN1

I got a new door about 1.5 years ago. Just used a temperature gun to check the temperature read from inside and it's only 15C. This is a thick pallatio door with triple glazed panels.

Is it not for doors to lose so much heat? It's 9C but feels like 5C outside according to my app.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058355423/new-door-insulation

Doors and windows will lose heat at a much faster rate than walls, roofs and floors.

How much depends on the u-value of the door. Also depends on the internal external difference in temp

FrankN1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122244057#Comment_122244057

Would that be expected though from the temperatures I gave? It's a new door so that is a bit concerning.

mike_2009

Installed into an uninsulated opening it won't perform as well. What's the temp inside as a reference? If it's say 21oC that's only a 6 degree difference. What is your internal temp of the external wall in the hallway? Is the door temp taken at the edge or middle - any difference there? Is it taken near any glass in the door, again that can cause a variance. For the sq meter of the door vs the overall external wall area, it's not going to massively affect the temp of the house, windows will be a far bigger factor - is there a window in the hallway too? That could be dragging down the hallway temp if they are old….the door isn't the leading cause?

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122244150#Comment_122244150

There's no really way convert spot temps on a door to performance. There are just a lot of variables.

What is u-value of the door? was the heating on, how long had it been on, what was the internal temp? ie what was the temp difference. etc etc

FrankN1

So the wall is large and is an external wall. It's temperature at bottom is 16c and 17c in middle.

The hall temperature indoor is 18c.

The tiles temperature is 16c.

Just worried as the back door is much older and is 20c in the inside but that's because it's at the back away from the wind.

Overall goal is to identify what is making the hall cold and also if this door is good quality as I want to get a back door from the same company.

FrankN1

Would anyone have an idea? Thanks in advance.

MicktheMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122247460#Comment_122247460

Yes, plenty ideas. But none any way useful to you due to lack of information, information which comes from a detailed survey; spot temperatures of a door, wall and floor or whatever won't identify why your hall is cold.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122244368#Comment_122244368

There is 1-2 degrees difference between the door and the wall. That’s normal and not a big deal. A door simply won’t perform as well as a wall. The door doesn’t appear to be the issue.

They are all cool because the hall is cool. It could be due to a number of reasons;

The back is an extension build to a higher spec, less heating in the hall, supplementary heating in the back (ie a stove). Or it’s all the equal and it’s down to the prevailing wind.

If you want to know if the door is a good door check

It’s thermal resistance or u-value. Not it’s temperature.

mustyo

I've had similar experience. Have a Palladio door fitted since 2015. Slab of the door itself is strong due to bonded fibreglass shell construction, but leaks heat like sieve. Door slab dropped in temperature down to 8 C when outside around 4 C, up to -8 C delta with adjacent internal wall.

The U-value ratings advertised are technically impossible: "The door body itself achieves a U Value of 0.205. Combined U-Value is 0.64. The combined U-Value including the frame is 0.98."

The door is constructed without any internal foam or other insulation, just air cavities.

This means the slab itself will drastically underperform compared to modern glazing. One day I'll sit down and do a theoretical calculation…

I strongly doubt the manufacturer values for U-values are lab verified, and would love to see a certificate.

After 9 years the door slab was showing its age, and needed a repaint. I decided to try improve the thermal performance at the same time. Just completed a rather messy job of externally drilling 4 mm diameter holes in a pattern and filling the door slab with expanding foam. This is not to be done lightly, as the foam will ooze and any cleanup with solvent removers can damage/discolour the plastic faced facade of the door. Used window protection film over the whole slab to protect the surface. All door furniture and locks should to be removed as the foam will seep everywhere (learned this the hard way!). Plan to fill holes with epoxy and repaint external side to complete the job.

Immediate improvement in heat retention, now only a couple of degrees difference to the internal wall. Door slab measuring 13 -14 C with outside temperature 7 C.

Door also sounds softer, with sound dampened when closing.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122658512#Comment_122658512

Good to know. We have a front door like that and don't have the cash to replace at mo