The weather’s gotten cold outside. But it shouldn’t be cold inside the house! If you’re feeling a draft, it may be because your doors aren’t correctly sealed. That means you should weatherproof doors for the winter months.

Because doors come in all shapes, styles and sizes, the way you weatherproof them may vary slightly.

Here are the easiest ways to weatherproof different types of doors:

Weatherproofing Exterior Doors

  • Look for gaps. Do a visual check to look for light coming in around the door. This will indicate an air gap.
  • Weatherstrip.

With the door closed, take measurements of the top and side of the door from the outside and cut adhesive-backed plastic/polymer weatherstripping to these lengths.

Install weatherstripping by pushing it against the door to make a snug seal and adhering it to the outside frame.

Start at the top and work your way around. Use a putty knife to help push weatherstripping into the corners.

Related: How to Weatherstrip a Door

Weatherproofing Sliding Glass Doors

  • Clean the tracks. The first thing is to make sure the tracks are clean. Vacuum them out and wipe them down with a clean, damp cloth.
  • Seal the channels. Cut to size and install adhesive-backed rubber compression strips to seal the channels. Installation of compression strips will also help secure the sash of your sliding glass door and create an air-proof seal.
  • Weatherstrip. Apply a weatherstripping seal in the gap between the sliding glass doors.
  • Install window insulation.

If you still feel cold, add an extra layer of insulation by installing plastic/polymer window insulation across the doors using double-sided tape.

Heat the plastic with a hair dryer to shrink it slightly for a tight fit.

Related: The Best Way to Weatherproof a Sliding Door

Weatherproofing Double Doors or French Doors

Because French or double doors have more seams, they can have more areas where air leakage can occur. Here’s how to weatherproof them for the winter months.

  • Adjust the doors. Check to make sure that each of the two doors is hung in correct alignment. Over time, they can tend to sag or pull against their hinges. Adjust them if necessary.
  • Install weatherstripping. Around the door frame where the doors touch, remove any old weatherstripping and install adhesive-backed weatherstripping strips cut to size.
  • Fill the door gap. Where the two doors come together, ensure that the insulated molding securely touches.
  • Check for gaps in window panes. Over time, the seal around the glass panels can loosen, creating air gaps. Fill cracks with caulk.
  • Install a door sweep. If your double or French doors do not have a door sweep, install one on each door. If one door is merely decorative and does not open, you should only need to do the door that swings open.

Other Considerations

Before you begin the weatherproofing process, take a moment to make sure that the door has not fallen out of alignment. This would create gaps that let air flow into the house.

Realign the door prior to installing weatherproofing.

If you have an older door, or one that sticks, you may need to plane the edges of the door in order to create a tighter, more efficient seal.

In addition, you may want to cut a channel or groove in the bottom of an older door for installing a sweep.

Re-install the door before inserting the sweep and adjust the sweep so that no light shows between the threshold and the sweep when the door is closed.

Nailed-on weatherstripping can also be used instead of adhesive-backed types.

Related: How to Make Your Doors Draft-Free with Weatherstripping

Let Illinado Home Solutions Weatherproof Your Doors for the Winter Months If you’re not handy around the house, call Illinado Home Solutions. We specialize in all types of handyman projects just like weatherproofing doors for the winter months. If you’re in the Northern Virginia area and want to be warm this winter, contact us today.

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