Weather stripping is the addition of seals on the openings of your doors and windows. This process protects any unwanted items from getting into your homes, such as rain and insects. It’s also necessary to keep the air inside your home.
A weather strip for windows or the jamb of the door typically consists of an adhesive-backed foam. For the threshold of a door, a rubber sweep can be installed with adhesive or screws.
Weather stripping is beneficial in reducing energy costs during both super-hot super-cold months. If your house isn’t equipped with proper weather stripping, you’re essentially letting money slip under your doors and your home windows. Air leaks can make up to 40% of a home’s heating and cooling losses without adequate weather stripping, according to Home Advisor.
A lot of people don’t realize that having proper weather stripping is important and don’t usually think to change out the stripping in their house.
You should look at maintaining your weather stripping on your doors and windows when:
- You can feel a very noticeable draft under your doors. You can typically tell if there is a draft by placing your foot or your hand near the bottom of the door.
- Your energy bill is unexpectedly higher than normal.
- You can feel unwanted moisture on your walls or near the insulation in the house.
- You don’t feel a difference when you change the temperature on your thermostat.
These four things are very evident signs that it’s time to replace the weather stripping in your home. The stripping under your doors is used to a lot more wear and tear than any other weather stripping in the rest of your house. To keep the air inside your home to stay in your house, it’s best to inspect the stripping once a year.
The best way to check on your weather stripping is to take a lighter or a candle, and hold it roughly an inch from the stripping. Move the light back and forth around the stripping. If you see any wind or airflow, it’s time to replace your weather stripping.
Need more information about energy-efficient improvements for your home? Window World TX for a free, virtual consultation on energy-efficient windows and doors. Just fill out the form on our home page.
