A door’s weather seal can wear out over time, causing cold and costly drafts to flow into your home. A simple way to check if your doors have this problem is through a sight test. While the sun is out, if you can see light coming in through the door when it is closed, you definitely have an air leak on your hands.
You could also use a smoke pencil to identify drafts and air leaks.
Installing a q-lon weatherstrip is beneficial for a number of reasons:
- Seals up to ½” gaps. Sealing air leaks from the door can reduce home energy loss up to 11%.
- Reduces energy loss eases the burden on the heating/cooling systems, thus lowering bills.
- Limits unwanted air exchanges in the home and provides more control over home temperatures.
- Acts as both a sealant and a door stop.
- Fits standard doors, but can be cut to fit smaller doors.
This type of door weatherstripping is comprised of polyethylene-clad urethane foam that remains flexible through temperatures as low as minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The foam is secured to an aluminum (metal/steel) or vinyl (PVC), carrier. The type of carrier that would be ideal for your home depends on the door that the weatherstrip will be installed on:
- Aluminum: Heavy duty carrier that is ideal for metal or wood doors.
- Vinyl: Suitable for use on doors that are not metal, steel, or wood.
Weatherproofing doors with a q-lon weatherstrip is an easy, inexpensive way to save on energy costs for your home.