Short answer
To fix a drafty door, close it on a dollar bill. If it slides out easily, the seal is worn. Most exterior doors have foam or rubber weatherstripping pushed into a groove in the frame. Pull the old strip out, clean the groove and press a new one in by hand. Then check the door sweep at the bottom and the threshold.
How to replace the weatherstripping on a door
1Cold air sneaks in around the door
You feel it near the edges, or see daylight around the door. The weatherstripping got flat, cracked or torn.
Read all the steps
- Cold air sneaks in around the door. You feel it near the edges, or see daylight around the door. The weatherstripping got flat, cracked or torn.
- Do the dollar bill test. Close the door on a dollar bill in a few spots. If it slides out with no drag, the seal is not touching the door there.
- Pull out the old strip. Open the door and pull the old strip out of its groove in the frame. Take a piece to the store so you buy the same shape.
- Press the new strip into the groove. Start at a top corner and press the strip into the groove with your fingers, working down. Cut it to length with scissors.
- Check the sweep at the bottom. Daylight under the door? Replace the door sweep, or raise the adjustable threshold with its screws until the sweep touches it.
- Still not fixed? Call a handyman Especially if: the door is warped, so it touches the seal at one corner and not the other.
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If your frame has no groove
Older doors often have no groove. Use adhesive foam tape or a V-shaped vinyl strip on the doorstop instead. Clean the surface with rubbing alcohol first so it sticks.
What not to do
- Do not caulk or tape a door shut for the winter: it is a way out in a fire.
- Do not pick a seal so thick that the door no longer closes. Test-close it before you finish.
- Do not caulk the moving parts. Caulk goes on gaps that do not move, like between the frame and the wall.
When to call a handyman
- The door is warped, so it touches the seal at one corner and not the other.
- Water comes in under the door when it rains.
- The door won't latch after you put in the new weatherstripping.
- The frame or the threshold is soft or rotten.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my door weatherstripping needs replacing?
Close the door on a dollar bill. If it slides out easily, or you see daylight around the door, the seal is worn. Flat, cracked or torn strips also need replacing.
What kind of weatherstripping do I need for my door?
Most newer exterior doors use foam or rubber strips with a fin that pushes into a groove in the frame. Pull out a piece and take it to the store to match it.
Can I replace door weatherstripping myself?
Yes. The push-in kind pulls out and presses in by hand, and one door takes about 30 minutes. You only need scissors.
Why is there a draft under my door?
The door sweep is worn or the threshold sits too low. Replace the sweep, or turn the screws on an adjustable threshold to raise it until it meets the sweep.
How long does weatherstripping last?
Usually several years, less on a door that gets a lot of sun or use. Check it every fall, before the cold weather.