There are many different ways to block door drafts. You can replace the entire door or the metal threshold on the bottom. But these methods can be rather costly. A more economical way is to use a draft stopper, commonly called a door snake. Their sole purpose is to block drafts from entering the home.
Identifying the source needs to be done before implementing measures to block door drafts. All doors should be checked, including the front and back entrance doors, sliding glass patio doors, closet doors, basement doors, attic doors and doors to the garage. To do a quick check, place your hand under a closed door and feel for air coming through.
When you block door drafts, you will notice that your energy bills are less. That’s because your home’s heating and air conditioning systems are not working more to compensate for the drafts coming in. Drafts change a room’s temperature, so the heating and air systems have to continually work to maintain the set temperature. That means you will be paying more because they are working more. By blocking door drafts, you can save between 10% and 25% on your energy bill.
A draft is a current of air that flows in between the space under doors. This usually occurs when there is not a tight seal on a door because it has settled with age or was not properly installed. A draft is common where the door meets the metal threshold, which also conducts cold air. You can inexpensively block door drafts by adding insulated protection to the bottom of the door.
The primary objective in any home should be to block door drafts in order to stop the outdoor air from coming inside. This goal is even more important during cold weather since freezing air seeping in under the door makes the home colder, causing you to set the thermostat higher. That means you will be using more heat, thus increasing your costs. The same holds true in warm months when hot air comes in from under the door. The temperature inside begins heating up, causing you to increase the speed of your cooling system. That results in higher operating costs. The goal is to have an energy efficient home where a desired temperature is set and maintained. If there are drafts coming in from doors, energy efficiency cannot be realized.
The use of a draft stopper is one beneficial and affordable way to block door drafts. It fits snugly under the open spaces below the door and can be removed as needed and cleaned. Draft stoppers are inexpensive, so you can use them under all the doors where drafts can be felt.
There are many different types of draft stoppers. But in order to effectively block door drafts, it needs to be constructed of insulating material. The exterior should be made of a strong polypropylene material. The interior should have proven insulating fill, such as oil-dry material or finely ground corn cob, and be flexible to maneuver tightly under the door.
Insulating your home against outdoor elements is important in order to block door drafts and save on your energy bill. There are efficient and affordable methods that work well to seal drafts below your doors. Short of replacing doors, draft stoppers are an example of one inexpensive solution. They are easy to install and maintain, and they have been proven to provide a tight seal to ward off drafts.
