As the days grow shorter and colder, there is plenty of motivation to prepare your home for winter. Winterizing your doors means ensuring everything is ready and waiting for those frosty conditions. It is essential to living in an area that regularly experiences freezing temperatures.
What is Winterizing?
Winterizing is the process of preparing your home against its harsh outdoor environment. In addition to protecting your home, winterizing will help you save money by preventing expensive repairs. During winter, your HVAC system works longer hours than usual to keep you comfortable inside. There are many ways to avoid damage and still reduce your utility bills.
Winterizing your home’s door is a simple process that you can complete in just a few hours. There are parts to winterizing your home’s entrance, such as cleaning, caulking, and weather-stripping. Although it may be nice to relax for a few hours after completing this project, reviewing your work will help ensure you have done everything possible to protect your family from the cold air seeping through cracks and windows.
In the wintertime, many people focus on how to make their homes more comfortable. Some more noticeable changes are on the outside, like insulation and sealing up their home, while others go a little deeper. One thing that you should do to many homes is winterize their doors. Not only will this make your home more comfortable and prevent any bitterly cold drafts from coming in when you’re not expecting them, but it will also help make your door look better for less money.
Ways to Winterize Your Home’s Door
1: Cleaning
Cleaning your home’s door is an essential step to winterizing it. It is a crucial step if any cracks or seals in the door need fixing. You can door sweep by using a wire brush and paint thinner to get rid of old mineral deposits build up. Make sure you wear safety glasses when using this method, and let some time for the cleaning solution work before entering your house for the day. It is also essential to clean off your door after a rain storm. Just be careful removing any accumulated dirt and grime. If you use a power washer, keep the nozzle about 2-3ft from your door. It can prevent damage to the paint and hardware.
2: Sealing
Many of today’s doors are already equipped with sealants to help winterize them. However, you may need to purchase some adhesive if yours has dried out or is not doing its job anymore. There are a few different types of seals you can use. The first is a foam rubber. It is a good choice as it is easy to install and can be purchased in most hardware stores. The other type you can use is weather stripping. These are available for all doors and work better than foam. You do need some skill with tools to install this type. It is essential to check the sealant on your door once a year. You can do this by peeling the glue off one side of your door. Look for splits or holes. These need to be repaired before winter comes around again.
3: Caulking
Caulking your home’s door will help prevent air leaks from coming in. Caulk is used to fill in any cracks or holes in the door, so the cold air can’t go into your home. You can purchase Caulk at any home improvement store, but if you’re not taking care of this project, you can also get it at any hardware store. There are several types of Caulk: silicone, acrylic, and fiberglass. The one you choose will depend on what type of job you are doing. Silicone is best for floors, and fiberglass is excellent to use in the bathroom. Acrylic caulk can go in any area, so it’s more flexible than the other two types of Caulk. Once you have chosen your Caulk, you can use it to fill in any cracks or holes in your door. Make sure you apply the caulking to the whole surface. The best way is to use the Caulk with a small trowel or putty knife and then smooth it out with a paint roller. Be sure it is completely smooth before moving on to the next area.
4: Weather-stripping
Weather-stripping fills cracks in the door, keeping air out and creating seals. You can use foam weather-stripping for a non-permanent fix or get steel weather-stripping. It will hold up better than the foam but will cost more. Weather-stripping is easy to install, especially if you have a handy husband. It’s highly recommended that you put the strip on after caulking and before Caulk, as paint thinner may eat away at the metal strip. It can be a frustrating experience, but it allows you to do the caulking before sanding and priming.
5: Reinforcing
If you have a good lock and door, consider reinforcing it. Every home needs sturdy doors that are properly aligned and windows to protect the inhabitants. However, if your door is old or damaged, it may need some help. You can do it with inexpensive products that reinforce any damage from years of wear and tear. For example, there are pressure-treated brackets that you can screw into an existing frame to strengthen it.
6: Waterproofing
Waterproofing your home’s door will help to prevent any water from penetrating your door and causing some damage. You can do this with a small, caulking-type foam product you can pick up at any hardware store. It is then applied over the door’s frame using a trowel, brush, or putty knife. The foam expands as it comes in contact with water and hardens when it dries. You can also use this foam to cover around the door frame to help protect it from moisture.
7: Gaskets
Gaskets are one of the most straightforward solutions for winterizing your door. They are small, attractive, and fit between your door frame and siding, creating an airtight cover. These are great for doors with a good seals but need just a little reinforcement to make them airtight and weatherproof.
8: Draft stoppers
Another of the more straightforward solutions, draft stoppers, is a simple way to help save energy and keep your heat inside. You can use a foam or rubber door sealant and stick it on the edge of your door where it meets the frame. It will create a barrier between warm air inside your home and cold air outside so that you can keep as much heat as possible. You can also buy some metal trim to fit underneath the door. Draft guard are available with hooks and straps to attach to the door frame. These metal plates will provide over the flanges and channels, creating a tight seal that stops warm air from escaping. It is often a better option than foam or rubber because the foam will expand without problems and harden on its own, while metal seals can be bought in different sizes depending on your door size.
These steps are all it takes to winterize your door. You will save money on energy and friction from air coming in. These steps also make it easier to clean your door and keep it looking good for years to come. It’s important to remember that the more work you put in on this project, the better your results will be.
