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The Hidden Reason Your Doors Are Making Your House Cold (Fix It Before Winter!)

  • Writer: Wintur
    Wintur
  • Jun 25
  • 3 min read

Winters in Toronto can be brutal—snow, ice, and bone-chilling temperatures. Yet while many homeowners replace windows before the cold, they often overlook a critical culprit: poorly sealed or inefficient doors. Believe it or not, your entrances may be leaking far more heat than you realize.

Door and window upgrades can account for up to 35% of a home’s heat loss. Let’s dive into why your doors might be making your house cold and how you can fix it—especially before the next freeze.

1. The Invisible Heat Thief: Air Leaks Around Your Door

Even a 1/8″ gap under a door can let in as much cold air as a 2.5″ hole in your wall. Unfortunately, many homeowners:

  • Neglect worn-out weatherstripping

  • Ignore broken thresholds

  • Don’t replace sagging sweeps

✅ Quick Fixes:

  • Inspect and replace weatherstripping annually

  • Use foam tape or door sweeps where needed

  • Perform a candle or incense test to find drafts

2. What's Your Door Made Of? (Material Matters)

Not all doors are created equal, especially in harsh GTA winters.

Material comparison:

Material

Pros

Cons

Wood

Elegant, traditional style

Susceptible to warping, requires frequent maintenance

Vinyl

Budget-friendly, low maintenance

Thin, prone to bending and poor insulation

Aluminum

Durable, sleek, modern, thermally broken

Can cost more upfront—but pays off in performance and longevity

Pro Tip: Choose aluminum doors with high-performance cores and sloped thresholds for Canadian winters.

3. The Frame Is Just as Important (#4 Most People Overlook)

Even the best door slab can underperform if the frame is compromised:

  • Gaps between the frame and the walls

  • Misaligned jambs

  • Uneven thresholds

Pro Tip: Opt for CNC-machined frames—they’re precise to the millimeter, creating airtight seals. Perfectly custom fit = significantly fewer drafts.

4. Design Flaws That Waste Heat

Certain door styles and design choices can amplify heat loss:

  • Double door setups without a solid center seal

  • Low-quality glazing without Low‑E coatings

  • Glass-heavy entries lacking thermal breaks

  • Incompatible hardware (like tilt and turn hinges used improperly)

Recommendation: Use lift and slide mechanisms for large glass doors and ensure all glazing is thermally optimized.

5. Time for a Test: How to Check Your Door’s Thermal Performance

Do this easy DIY test before it’s too late:

  1. Turn off all heaters and fans

  2. Hold a candle/ incense near seams

  3. Watch for flickering or smoke movement

If air is moving, so is your heat—replace or seal the door before winter fully sets in.

6. The Solution: Weatherproof Doors Built for Toronto

A high-performance door should have:

  • Multi-layer insulation or foam core

  • Thermal break in the frame

  • Quality weatherstripping and thresholds

  • ENERGY STAR certification for Ontario Zone 2

  • Custom-built to fit via aluminium CNC service

These specs ensure your door matches the energy-efficient performance of aluminum windows and doors.

7. Go Further With Coordinated Design

Boost your home’s aesthetics and energy efficiency by pairing your door with modern window systems:

  • Slim-line aluminum windows

  • Curtain wall or lift and slide patio doors

  • Designer combinations with European windows and tilt and turn windows

These systems create visual harmony and maximize thermal performance.

8. Why Every GTA Homeowner Should Act Before Winter Hits

  • Heat loss from drafts can cost 20–30% more in heating bills

  • Feeling drafts in November? It’s probably too late to fix without paying more

  • High-end aluminum systems offer long-term ROI through efficiency and comfort


Final Takeaway

Doors aren’t just portals—they’re insulation lines. In Toronto, they deserve the same attention as windows. Upgrade to:

  • Thermally broken aluminum systems

  • Precision CNC-machined frames

  • Integrated weatherproofing

  • Optionally matched with premium window systems

You’ll seal out the cold, cut bills, and boost your home’s look—before the first frost.

Ready to stop leaks and chill before winter hits?

Wintur builds premium aluminum entry doors and matching window systems, engineered for thermal performance in the GTA. Our CNC machining services ensure perfect fit—not guesswork.

🔗 Get a free quote at Wintur.ca and stay warm all winter.

Modern windows. Expertly installed. Built for Toronto.

 
 
 

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