During the winter weather, your front door takes charge of guarding your house against the winter elements. As such, it’s time to start winterizing your drafty front and patio doors. In this article, trusted door and roofing contractor TJ Exteriors Inc. will teach you how to do it.
Why Winterize Your Doors?
Winterizing doors and sealing any air leaks helps reduce a homeowner’s energy costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy reports, up to 30% of your energy use can be wasted because of unsealed doors and windows. Thus, sealing air leaks is an excellent way to start your winterization.
Below are some of the ways to winterize your drafty front and patio doors:
Check if there are gaps on top – If you notice significant gaps, the best way to fix it is to rip out the old door and reinstall it. It may require minor adjustments and trim.
Replace the door’s weatherstripping and put a vinyl sweep – Door and siding replacement experts say that since a complete door installation can be expensive, you should consider the replacement of the door’s weatherstripping and install a vinyl sweep on the bottom of the door.
Look for air leaks – To locate the air leaks during the day, close the exterior door and while you’re inside the house, find some traces of sunlight on the doorframe. If there’s light seeping through, there’s an air leak.
Seal – You can seal the leaks by filling the visible cracks and holes with caulk. You can also put weather stripping around the doorframe. Another option is to add a draft guard between the bottom of the door and the threshold. Lastly, always make sure to lock the deadbolt when closing the door.
Being ready for winter is a good way to kickstart the holiday season. In case you need an experienced contractor for exterior remodeling, turn to TJ Exteriors Inc. Call us at (952) 448-4312 or fill out our contact form to get a free project estimate.
