As the mornings and evenings turn chilly, the cold draft seeping in from around the front door feels noticeably stronger. The culprit is usually the weatherstripping attached to the door frame, which has worn out and developed gaps. Inspecting and replacing it before winter deepens will save on heating costs and make your home much cozier.
First, check for signs that replacement is needed.
1) If light leaks in, there is already a gap. Close the door during the day and look at the edge of the door from the inside, or at night, have one person shine a flashlight from the outside and check if light is leaking from the inside.
2) Feel the wind with your hands. If you slowly place your hand around a closed door on a cold day and feel the air moving, it means the door is not sealed properly.
3) Press the ingredients. If it does not spring back when pressed and released, remains flattened, or cracks and hardens, it has reached the end of its lifespan.
Replacement Order — Half a weekend is enough
1) Remove the old material completely. You must thoroughly wipe away any remaining adhesive residue after scraping with a scraper for the new material to adhere properly.
2) Please restock twice and cut once. It is important to measure the length of the door frame and cut it precisely with scissors or a utility knife without any extra length.
3) Peel them off little by little and press firmly to stick them on. For adhesive products, do not peel off the protective film all at once; instead, peel off only the section to be applied and press evenly all the way to the end.
4) For the bottom of the door, please refer to the door sweep separately. Since the gap at the bottom of the door is where the most wind enters and exits, it is highly effective to inspect and replace the sweep that is secured with screws at the bottom of the door.
Choosing Ingredients and Precautions
Adhesive foam tape is inexpensive and easy to apply, but it typically has a short lifespan of about 1 to 3 years. Silicone or EPDM rubber products are slightly more expensive, but they often last for over 5 years. Also, if the door itself sags or is warped, preventing the leaf from touching the frame, simply replacing the draft stopper will not prevent drafts from continuing to enter. In such cases, please check the hinges and door alignment first.
The cost of materials is minimal, with a roll of basic foam tape costing just a few dollars. This weekend, start by slowly running your hand around the perimeter of the door.
Source: Fix My Door Now Ottawa 'Weatherstripping — Door Seal & Draft Repair''
http://fixmydoornowottawa.ca/weatherstripping-ottawa
Window Hardware Direct 'A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Install Door Weatherstripping''
https://windowhardwaredirect.com/blogs/news/a-step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-install-door-weatherstripping-for-maximum-energy-efficiency
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