Cold air sneaking in under the front door makes a room feel chilly and makes your heating or cooling work harder. It’s one of the easiest drafts to fix, and the parts are cheap.

Find the Leak

Close the door and look at the bottom from inside. If you can see daylight under it, you’ve found your draft. On a windy day you can also feel it by running your hand along the bottom edge.

Quick Fix: A Draft Stopper

A fabric draft stopper, sometimes called a draft snake, lies along the bottom of the door. It works right away and needs no tools. The downside is that you have to move it every time you open the door.

Better Fix: Install a Door Sweep

A door sweep is a strip of metal or plastic with a rubber or brush edge that attaches to the bottom of the door and seals the gap every time the door closes.

What You’ll Need

• A door sweep sized for your door (screw-on types hold up best)
• Tape measure
• Hacksaw or utility knife to cut it to length
• Drill and screwdriver
• Pencil

Steps

1. Measure the width of the door and cut the sweep to match.

2. Position it on the inside face of the closed door so the seal just touches the threshold. Too low and the door will drag; too high and it won’t seal.

3. Mark the screw holes with a pencil, drill small pilot holes, and screw the sweep on.

4. Test it. Open and close the door a few times. It should close smoothly, with no daylight showing underneath.

Check the Threshold Too

Some thresholds, the strip on the floor under the door, have adjustment screws. Raising the threshold slightly can close a gap without any new parts.

Don’t Stop at the Bottom

Drafts also come in around the sides and top of the door and around windows. My guide walks you through weatherproofing your windows and doors, step by step.

Get the full guide: How to Weatherproof Windows and Doors by Hank Palmer, on Amazon