Entry Door Leakage

One of the most overlooked items in a home that can cause a great amount of energy loss is the door that doesn't shut properly. Doors that do not shut properly let large amounts of elements to pass into your home, making your furnace or air conditioner work extra hard. When the home was built, this probably wasn't an issue. However, with settling, temperature changes drying out wood, lock sets not functioning properly - the door may no longer seal OK. This has nothing to do with the weatherstripping; weatherstripping is the band-aid. HZG recommends weatherstripping as a secondary (and cost efficient measure.)

Some doors need to be shaved; some doors need to be adjusted at the hinges; some doors need to have dead-bolts installed. If you have the capabilities of doing any of these, the door will shut better and less air leakage will occur. THEN add weatherstripping to give a better seal.

Test your door. When it's shut, pull the knob / handle. If there is any give, you have leakage. If you have to struggle to get the deadbolt to work; you have leakage. By the way, deadbolts should be able to be activated with a simple turn of the switch - not a hard turn (or having to lean into the door to get it to shut.)

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