Close the door to the basement to conserve heat and energy costs. Heat naturally rises from the lower levels of a house upward, but a draft through an opened basement door cuts right into the warmth of the main floor.
You should keep all doors and some windows closed to retain heat in the building, otherwise, you will be wasting money keeping it warm. When you open the door to an air conditioned room in the summer, are you letting cold air out or hot air in? Cold air is heavier than warm air.
It can be tempting to slam the doors and hope the cool air builds up in the areas where you want it, but the fact is that modern air conditioning units are designed as whole-house systems. So when you shut that door, you're only making it much harder for your system to cool your home.
If you have a finished basement, you don't need to block the view with a door. However, you may want a door to prevent accidental falls down the stairs and onto the concrete floor.
Because basements aren't generally super hard to get into. And considering that they are under the house breaking a window and getting in can happen without somebody inside noticing. So.. it locks from inside of the house so nobody can get inside of the house.
Close the door to the basement to conserve heat and energy costs. Heat naturally rises from the lower levels of a house upward, but a draft through an opened basement door cuts right into the warmth of the main floor.
Home and garage doors should always be locked. Almost 50% of burglars enter homes and property through unlocked doors and windows. Use your locks. Never leave keys outdoors.
Bulkhead doors are the most popular although you can opt for a standing door depending on how frequently the basement will be accessed. You can talk to your contractor to find the best type of door to suit your basement.
If you'd like to brighten your basement, consider a sliding glass or French door. While less secure than a metal door, there are still excellent options for security and energy efficiency. They also provide a welcoming exit to a patio or outdoor lawn area.
A basement door at a basement interior stairway, where the basement does NOT open to the exterior, should NOT have a lockset. A basement door at a basement interior stairway, where the basement does open to the exterior, should have a lockset which is lockable fron the interior of the residence.
In general, it is usually OK to close vents in a basement. It is on the main floor that you probably do not want to close any vents. Your furnace fan is moving cool air in the summer months. If you reduce the number of exit points for the cool air, your furnace fan can no longer move as much air.
Closing doors disrupts the airflow and makes the system work harder than it should which can lead to higher energy bills and lower indoor air quality. Therefore it is crucial to keep the doors open to ensure proper airflow and avoid pressure imbalances.
If your basement is humid and filled with stale air, natural ventilation is one solution for creating fresh airflow. This method reduces moisture and saves energy. Just open up your windows and doors to let in some fresh air.
Here's what will happen if you get the timing wrong. When you open basement windows in the summer, you're letting in more warm and humid air. This air will cause condensation and worsen the conditions down there. Imagine sipping a cold beverage on a sweltering hot day.
An open stairwell to the basement is a giant whirlpool of cool air. This cooler heavier air from the floor above settles into and pools at the lowest point, the finished basement! Run your furnace fan in the “On” position. Now the air is always circulating and mixing throughout your home.
The minimum width of each door opening shall be sufficient for the occupant load thereof and shall provide a clear width of not less than 32 inches (813 mm). Clear openings of doorways with swinging doors shall be measured between the face of the door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees (1.57 rad).
When it comes to energy efficiency, fiberglass exterior doors are one of the best options on the market. Fiberglass exterior doors are manufactured with a solid polyurethane foam core that insulates the door against extreme temperatures.
A trapdoor is a sliding or hinged door, flush with the surface of a floor, roof, or ceiling, or in the stage of a theatre. A trap door to a basement in a house is a common use.
Homes in high-visibility places, like on corner lots, are far less likely to be broken into. There are simply too many potential ways to be seen. But townhomes, houses in the middle of the block, or houses in a cul-de-sac are much better targets.
Your attic is not likely to be visited by a burglar because they are usually hard to find and access. So, it is always a good idea to store valuables in attic storage containers. As an extra safety precaution make sure to mark them with labels like “winter clothes” or “old shoes” to throw a burglar off of your scent.
Hedges and plants - Prickly bushes and hedges around a garden can act as a deterrent to a burglar. Lighting and driveways - Get an outdoor light with a sensor that comes on when someone's around and don't underestimate the deterrent of a gravel drive. It makes quite a noise when walked on and can deter burglars.