How do I stop the draft on the side of my door?

Having a draft along the sides of your door can be annoying and make your home feel drafty. Thankfully, there are several easy ways to stop the draft and keep the warm air in during the winter or cool air in during the summer. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common reasons why you might have a draft near your door, and what you can do to remedy the situation.

Why Do I Have a Draft Near My Door?

There are a few main culprits when it comes to a drafty door:

• Poor door installation: If the door was not properly installed and sealed within the door frame, air gaps can occur along the sides, top, or bottom.
• Warping: Wooden doors can warp or change shape over time, especially if exposed to moisture. This allows air to pass through new gaps.
• Age and wear: Doors and weatherstripping degrade over time. Seals become less effective at blocking drafts.
• Poor insulation: Lack of proper insulation in the walls around the door can make it easier for air to infiltrate through.

In most cases, the main source of the draft is the gap between the door and the frame rather than coming through the door itself. Even tiny gaps of 1/8 inch or less can allow noticeable airflow and energy loss. The larger the gap, the bigger the draft. The goal is to fill these gaps to prevent air from passing through.

Quick Fixes for a Drafty Door

If you need a fast solution, here are some quick fixes for a drafty door:

• Add weatherstripping – Self-adhesive foam or rubber weatherstripping can be applied to seal gaps around doors. Look for any visible light between the door and frame to find the source of the draft.
• Use a draft stopper – These fabric tubes filled with weighted pellets or sand can be placed in front of doors to block the gap at the bottom. They come in various lengths.
• Install a door sweep – Door sweeps made of vinyl, brush, or felt slide onto the bottom of the door to seal the gap between the door and threshold or floor.
• Add caulk – Caulk can temporarily seal any cracks and gaps around the door frame, although it is not a permanent solution.
• Use insulation film – Plastic film insulation kits provide a transparent barrier that clings to frames and windows with double-sided tape. These are easy to install and remove.

While these solutions may help reduce the draft, they are typically temporary fixes that will need to be replaced over time. For the best long-term solution, additional sealing, weatherstripping, or repairs may be needed.

Sealing the Door Frame

One of the best ways to permanently solve a drafty door is to seal the door frame and threshold. This involves caulking and weatherstripping all around the frame so that air cannot pass through any cracks or gaps.

Here are the key steps to sealing the door frame:

1. Clean the frame thoroughly with a multi-purpose cleaner to remove dirt and debris. Let it dry completely.
2. Inspect the frame closely and locate any gaps and cracks. Pay attention to the top, sides, bottom, and threshold.
3. Apply painter’s tape along the frame edges to protect the surrounding wall from excess caulk. Apply tape to any painted frame surfaces you want to protect.
4. Load caulk into a caulk gun and seal all cracks and gaps around the frame with a steady bead of silicone caulk. Smooth the caulk with a putty knife or finger.
5. Allow the caulk to fully cure and dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically 24-48 hours.
6. Carefully remove the painter’s tape to reveal crisp caulk lines.
7. Install high quality weatherstripping along all edges and the threshold. Make sure it creates an effective seal.

Take your time applying the caulk and weatherstripping. The tighter the seal, the better it will perform. Clean up any excess caulk immediately and reapply if any gaps remain.

Adjusting or Replacing the Door

If sealing the existing door frame does not solve the problem, you may need to adjust the door or install a new one:

• Adjust the door in the frame – Make sure the hinges are tightly secured. Adjusting the strike plate or adding additional shims can improve the fit of a slightly warped door.
• Plane or sand a warped wooden door – Removing a thin layer along the uneven side can flatten a warped door and improve its seal.
• Install a new pre-hung door – Replacing the entire door and frame will provide a freshly sealed barrier. This is more labor intensive but ensures a perfect fit.

For the best energy efficiency, choose an insulated fiberglass or steel door with a high R-value, low U-factor, and properly installed weatherstripping.

Installing Door Draft Stoppers

Installing dedicated draft stoppers is an easy way to seal air leaks specific to doors. They come in many designs such as door sweeps that fit along the bottom, structured seals that adhere around the frame, and even complete draft stopper kits.

Here are some of the most common types of door draft stoppers:

Type	Description	Location
Door bottom sweep	A sweep made of vinyl, brush, or felt that attaches to the bottom of the door	Bottom of door
Door shoe brush	A vinyl hinged brush that mounts to the bottom of the door	Bottom of door
Structured seal	A rigid strip seal that adheres around the door frame	Door frame edges
Corner seal pads	Small triangular pads for sealing door frame corners	Frame corners
Door sweep kit	Complete kits with sweeps, seals, and adhesives for all-around sealing	Entire door perimeter

Look for products made of durable materials like vinyl, rubber, felt, or brush that compress to block airflow. Installing a door draft stopper is as simple as sizing it properly, cleaning the door, and adhering the seals or sweeps into place. Kits provide everything needed for a complete seal.

Adding Interior or Exterior Storm Doors

Installing a secondary storm door in front of an exterior door provides an extra protective barrier. Storm doors come in many styles with features like ventilation screens, retractable glass panels, and solid or full-view construction.

Key benefits of adding a storm door include:

• Double protection against drafts
• Added insulation value
• Sound dampening
• More light into the home
• Enhanced curb appeal
• Lower energy costs

For indoor use, plastic magnetic storm doors simply cling onto the frame to seal out drafts coming through the main door. Make sure to select an appropriately sized storm door for your opening.

Checking for Leaks Around Electrical Outlets

Drafts near doors could also be coming from nearby electrical outlets or switches on the same wall. Outlets and switches can create small airflow paths into the wall cavity. Sealing around their edges can improve any draft issues in the area.

Here are some tips for sealing air leaks around electrical outlets:

• Turn off the power at the circuit breaker before doing any electrical work
• Remove the outlet or switch cover plate and inspect for gaps or cracks around the edges
• Seal any noticeable gaps with caulk. Use painter’s tape for clean lines.
• Alternative options are child safety plugs, foam gaskets, or weatherstripping pads to block gaps
• If there are larger gaps in the drywall behind the box, stuff them with insulation like fire-rated expanding foam before sealing
• Reinstall the cover plate securely

Sealing outlets and switches prevents air from traveling through walls and reduces energy loss. It’s a simple project that can improve comfort and efficiency room by room.

Adding Wall Insulation

Insufficient insulation in exterior walls is another potential cause of unwanted air infiltration near doors. Heat naturally transfers through less insulated areas and can draw cold outdoor air into the building.

Upgrading wall insulation provides better thermal performance, resulting in fewer drafts and energy savings. Recommended insulation levels for exterior walls are:

• R-13 to R-15 for standard 2×4 wood frame walls
• R-19 to R-21 for 2×6 framed walls

Adding insulation to existing finished walls can be challenging, but options include:

• Blown-in insulation added through holes drilled into the wall cavity
• Foam boards glued onto wall surfaces before finishing them with drywall
• Removable insulating wall panels
• Exterior insulating sheathing added to the outside of the wall

An energy audit of your home can help determine if wall insulation improvements would benefit drafts and energy efficiency.

Checking Windows Near Doors

Don’t forget to inspect windows close to the problematic door. Air leaks around windows can contribute to door drafts due to their proximity. Ensure windows are properly sealed and check for:

• Loose or missing caulk around frames
• Broken seals between glass panes
• Gaps in weatherstripping
• Cracked glass
• Warped or swollen window sashes

Sealing gaps around window frames and replacing old weatherstripping should help reduce drafts that aggravate door problems. For best results, consider upgrades like high efficiency windows or interior window insulation kits.

Conclusion

Unwanted drafts near exterior doors can make homes feel uncomfortable. But there are many affordable ways to stop the air leaks. Start by sealing door frames, adding weatherstripping, adjusting doors, or installing dedicated draft stoppers. For more stubborn drafts, consider adding storm doors, sealing nearby electrical outlets, upgrading insulation, or replacing old windows and doors.

Paying close attention to air sealing details around doors and taking proactive steps to block airflow can help keep warm or cool air in your home, lower energy waste, improve indoor air quality, and reduce annoying drafts. Just be patient and methodical in finding and sealing all possible gaps and cracks that may be letting air through.