You can lose a lot of heat through exterior doors. Weatherstripping will help minimize that loss. Open-cell foam weatherstripping (figure A) is soft and compresses easily. It has an adhesive backing for easy installation. Closed-cell weatherstripping (figure B) is more firm and offers better insulation. It too comes with an adhesive backing. It should be applied to the doorstop on the top and latch side, where the door strikes the stop (figure C), and to the doorjamb on the hinge side of the door casing so it won't be pinched when the door closes. Bronze weatherstripping (figure D) prevents drafts but doesn't provide much insulation. It has a beveled edge that presses against the door to form a tight seal when the door closes. Flexible EPDM rubber (figure E) is attached to the doorstop and provides a good seal against weather. However, it's difficult to install in a straight line. Fortunately, it's also available with an aluminum backing (figure F) that helps keep the rubber straight. If your doorstop is damaged, consider replacing it with a combination doorstop/weatherstrip (figure G). Use a flat bar to remove the old doorstop, cut the new doorstop to size, and nail it in place. After you install weatherstripping, you should install a door sweep (figure H) at the bottom of your door to prevent drafts.
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
