Whether it is winter or summer, you need to seal the air gaps between your door and door jamb. By sealing the drafts you can save money on your heating and cooling energy bills. The best way to weather strip is to seal the front of the door, the inside of the jambs and the bottom of the door. Weather strip door kits are usually available at your local hardware store.  Most often the weather strip is a thin metal with a flexible flap which is not time-consuming to install and provides year-round protection.

The weatherstripping around an entry door seals the inside of the house against air drafts, insects and, at times, driving rain. A properly sealed door can also save on heating and cooling costs. Over time, the weather stripping can dry, shrink and crack. The door and doorjamb can also swell, contract and distort due to changing weather conditions. These will create small gaps between the door and the seal and require a new seal to be installed.

How to Weather Strip a Door

Instructions

1. Open the door and remove the original weatherstripping. If the weatherstripping is the sticky-backed foam variety, peel it away by hand, then scrape away the glue remnants with the putty knife. If the weatherstripping is metal or vinyl-backed and screwed to the doorjambs, remove the screws, then remove the sections of weatherstripping.

2. Remove the new weatherstripping sections from the packaging. There are usually three pieces: one for the top and one each for the left and right jambs. The strips are composed of a flat, aluminum or vinyl piece with a molded channel for a rubber or foam insert to slide into. The flat section will screw to the jambs, and the rubber or foam part is what does the sealing against the door.

3. Measure the inside dimension, between the vertical jambs, above the door. Transfer this measurement to the top weather stripping piece and mark it with a black marking pen. The top piece has multiple screw holes, and there must be at least one screw hole close to each edge of the strip. Therefore, if the piece must be cut, make the marks so that a screw hole will be close to each edge, even if it means a little must be cut from both ends, not just one.

4. Pull the rubber or foam seal out from its groove, then cut the aluminum or vinyl flat strip with a hacksaw. Deburr the edges with a metal file. Reinsert the rubber or foam into the groove, then trim the excess with a utility knife.

5. Close the door and ensure it latches shut. Place the top strip along the upper jamb, with the rubber or foam touching the door. The rubber or foam should be slightly compressed. Screw the strip to the upper doorjamb using the screws supplied with the kit.

6. Measure the vertical dimensions of the left and right jambs. Transfer the measurements to the weatherstrips and mark them with a black marking pen. The tops of the vertical jambs are cut so they fit the curve of the top piece, so make the marks at the opposite end.

7. Remove the rubber or foam inserts, then cut the flat strips with a hacksaw and deburr with a metal file, just as you did for the top strip. Insert the rubber or foam into their respective channels, then trim the excess with a utility knife.

8. Place the strips against the vertical jambs with the rubber or foam slightly compressed against the door. Ensure the curved, factory-cut part at the top of each strip fits tightly against the curve of the top strip. Screw the strips to the jambs using the supplied screws.

9. Open and shut the door several times to test that it latches properly. Also check for gaps between the weatherstripping and the door. If there are gaps, loosen some of the screws as necessary and move the weatherstripping in or out to obtain a precise fit. The holes in the weatherstripping are slotted to accommodate this type of adjustment.

Another way to take care of weather stripping and air sealing.

Pick up the phone and call Aladdin Insulation and Home Improvements 678-528-7115.  We can take care of all your insulation needs and you cn still tell the neighbors you did it yourself. aladdinhomepros.com