When Should You Replace Weatherstripping on Your Doors?

When maintaining your Kansas City home, weatherstripping might not be at the top of your to-do list, but it plays a crucial role in the functionality of your doors. Drafty, inefficient openings can lead to energy loss, increased costs and reduced comfort. Here’s what you need to know about weatherstripping and how to recognize when it’s time for a replacement.

What is Weatherstripping?

No matter how it looks or what it’s made of, the purpose of weatherstripping is to prevent air leaks. It’s likely your doors already have weatherstripping in one or more of the following ways:

• Foam tape: Installed along the inner edge of the door frame
• Metal or vinyl strips: Applied along the top and sides of the door
• Rubber gaskets: Positioned between the door and its jamb, including the top and/or bottom sections

Since energy-efficient door technology has evolved over the years, there may be newer weatherstripping materials that work even better for your home than what you currently have.

Why Should I Maintain My Door Weatherstripping?

Maintaining your door weatherstripping offers many home benefits:

• Energy efficiency: Properly done weatherstripping can lower your heating and cooling bills and support a more sustainable home.
• Comfort: Effective weatherstripping prevents drafts and noise that make homes uncomfortable. You’ll also be able to consistently keep your home at your desired temperature much more easily.
• Protection: High-performing weatherstripping stops dust, pests and weather from getting into your home. Otherwise, you may have to deal with stains or even moldy areas near your doorways due to moisture.

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Replace Weatherstripping on Your Doors?

You want to check your weatherstripping at least twice a year. Expert tip: It’s best to look for the following signs right before Kansas City’s winter and summer really take off.

You Notice Visible Damage to Your Weatherstripping

Watch out for wear and tear in the form of cracks, disintegrated parts or warped, misshapen materials.

You’re Feeling Drafts or Noticing Leaks

You’ll likely see any door leaks, but drafts may be hard to feel. You can check for drafts by looking at a closed door and seeing if any light comes through. You can also carefully move a lit candle or incense near a closed door and see if the smoke wavers.

Your Energy Bills Start to Rise

Look out for a sudden rise in energy costs that doesn’t seem to make sense based on your year-to-year trends. Another clear sign is always fighting with your thermostat to keep your home at the temperature you want it to be.

Replacing the Weatherstripping on Your Door

The general rule of replacement for door weatherstripping is every few years. How often you use a door can impact this, so entry doors will generally require more support than patio doors or French doors.

The process for replacing weatherstripping on your door typically involves:

1. Removing any old weatherstripping by hand, with the help of a putty knife and/or by using tools to remove any nails and/or screws.
2. Cleaning and drying the area where the new weatherstripping will go.
3. Getting your selected type of weatherstripping to the necessary size (if you’re using foam tape, you can use a tape measure and scissors to cut it).
4. Apply the weatherstripping (adhesive types can simply be peeled and stuck on, but other varieties will require screwing or nailing it into place).

Replacing weatherstripping is relatively easy, but what if new weatherstripping isn’t enough? If any of your doors are in too poor of condition, it’s time to consider a cost-efficient door replacement that will offer energy, cost and comfort benefits that new weatherstripping alone can’t.

Get Premium Door Weatherstripping with Window World of Kansas City

While it can be easy to overlook, door weatherstripping can keep your home feeling, working and even costing how it should. With Window World doors and windows, you have airtight weatherstripping on all sides and quality craftsmanship that stands the test of time. Schedule your free estimate and learn how you can improve your home today.