Air can pass through gaps in your door, creating drafts.This will make your home less comfortable to be in and will reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment.It's quick to seal a door.If you want to do it, you need to determine where your air leaks are and cover them with weather stripping.Before enjoying the benefits of a sealed door, you need to make sure that your door can still open and close easily.
Step 1: Make sure the hinges on your door are tightened.
The door should be lifted by the knob.The hinges are likely to be loose if you can move it upward.The screws holding the hinges in place can be tightened with a screwdriver.The door can shift due to loose hinges.Take a few minutes to tighten all of the hardware because of this.The wood in the hole is stripped out if the hinge screws spin but won't tighten.To dig into wood that is not damaged, you will need to replace the screws with longer ones.If there is a lot of wood damage, you may need to fill the holes with wood plugs and re-drive the new screws into those plugs.
Step 2: Check the weather stripping.
The weather stripping on your door might have damaged it.You can check it by running your hand around the perimeter of the door.Feel the air coming in between the door and frame.If you feel air coming in, mark it with a pencil or piece of painter's tape.If you can feel a draft while checking areas that already have weather stripping, you will need to replace it with a new seal.
Step 3: The areas that need to be sealed must be cleaned.
Old weather stripping can be removed by peeling or sliding it away.The door frame and the edges of the door should be wiped with a damp rag.Attach your new weather stripping securely with this.To remove debris from the door and door frame, drag the edge of a paint scraper along the top, bottom, and sides.The bottom of the door frame is the threshold.If there are grooves along the threshold, you can use a nail to remove gunk from there.Run a damp rag along the threshold and door frame to make sure they are clean.
Step 4: New weather stripping can be bought at a hardware store.
You have to decide which weather stripping you want to use.For the top and sides of your door, wrapped foam weather stripping is a good choice.It's easier to seal doors with wooden weather stripping than it is with metal, making it a good choice for someone who has never done it before.A metal door sweep with a flexible vinyl flap is more durable.A metal door sweep with a flexible vinyl flap is easy to install, as the metal piece is screwed down and the vinyl is inserted into it.More advanced options include storm-proof seals and roller door seals, such as brush or auto-lift vinyl seals that attach to the bottom of roller doors.Most weather stripping kits only contain weatherstripping for the top and sides of the door.A separate door sweep is required.If the carpet is higher than the threshold, door sweeps won't work.When door sweeps don't work, use flexible bulb weather stripping.The threshold is under the door.
Step 5: Take a look at the sides of the door frame.
Measure along the top of the frame with a tape measure.Measure along both sides of the frame with a tape measure.The door frame and not the door itself will need to be measured for the top and sides.To get a tight seal, you will need to know the length of each side of the weather stripping, which is why you have to measure it.
Step 6: Take the bottom of the door and measure.
Measure the bottom of the door with a tape measure.The bottom seal is different from the top and side seals in that you need to measure the door itself.As you take this measurement, make sure to face the inside of the door.Weather stripping will be applied to this surface.
Step 7: The weather stripping needs to be marked with those measurements.
You can measure out the length of the door using a tape measure.You can tell the length of the door sweep by looking at it.Use a sharp pencil or marker to mark each length.Make sure the lines are clear and sharp.When using a weather stripping kit, there are two long pieces for sides and one short piece for the top.Make sure to draw your top measurement and side measurement on the short piece.
Step 8: The weather stripping needs to be trimmed to a size.
The marks you just measured are the weather stripping.Ensure a tight seal by keeping your cuts clean.To fit the top piece of weather stripping, you'll need to make sure that the ends of the side pieces are the same angle.You don't have to angle the bottom end of your side pieces.You will need a hacksaw or similar tool to cut metal or wood portions, but the foam and vinyl portions can be cut using sharp scissors.Use one hand to hold the metal or wood and the other to see through it.Slowly, you cut it in a straight line.
Step 9: Place the top piece of weather stripping in place.
The top piece of weather stripping should be on the top of the door frame.Make sure you nail it into place.To hold the weather stripping in place, hammer the nails.You should add the side pieces before you finish driving the nails.The seal must be installed along the door frame.Use nails that are not larger than 3.75 cm.Place the nails from one side to the other.The nails should be at least 12 inches apart.
Step 10: Put your side pieces in place.
The weather stripping should be positioned along the sides of the door frame.The side pieces need to fit onto the door frame instead of the actual door and the foam should fill the gap.Attach the side pieces to the door frame with a hammer and nails.If the top angle doesn't fit into the weather stripping, file it down.If you want to fine- tune these top angles, you can use a metal file, sandpaper, or sanding belt.Make small adjustments and check the fit.As with the top piece of weather stripping, use 1/2 inch nails and place them from either end.The nails should be at least 12 inches apart.
Step 11: Test the seal.
To make sure the weather stripping seals are done properly, open and close the door several times.Feel the areas you marked to make sure the weather stripping is doing its job.As the door closes, the weather stripping must be completely seal against it.The placement of your weather stripping needs to be adjusted to get a proper seal.
Step 12: The nails must be set to hold the weather stripping in place.
Once the weather stripping is done, you can finish hammering in the nails.After hammering in the nails, check the seal again.To make sure the seal holds, open and close the door.
Step 13: The door sweep needs to be in the right position.
Don't put the door in place yet, but place it along the bottom edge.The door sweep must touch the top of the threshold, but it should not rub against it.There are screw holes in metal door sweeps.Use a pencil or marker to mark the holes on your door.After removing the door sweep, drill pilot holes into the marked portions.The threshold has vinyl door sweeps instead of the door.The threshold should be aligned with one end of the strip.Press the flanges, which are the edges of the strip, into the grooves.
Step 14: The door sweep needs to be attached.
Push the door against the threshold.The screws should be inserted into the pilot holes.The sweep should be put in place with a screwdriver.Put a wood tapping block over the weather stripping when using a door sweep.To drive the weatherstripping deep into the grooves of the threshold, strike the block with your hammer.
Step 15: The seal must be tested once more.
To test the bottom seal, open and close the door.Once the sides, top, and bottom portions are installed, the process is complete.The door should be sealed.