When a Florida homeowner uses a low-pressure garden hose to clean a vinyl siding, the doors’ inner weatherstripping often shows its current state: old broken or missing weatherstripping. Open air rushes in creating a draft, causing the air-conditioner to run longer. An hour or less later, you can replace the weatherstripping yourself for not much money.
The first indication that the weatherstripping needs replacing is a draft. You should feel a breeze while the door is shut, or feel a gap with larger drafts. Look for a crack or missing area in the seal. If you have existing problems with the door frame warping or the door itself being warped the cause might also be structural, which requires contacting a licensed contractor. Check for cracks and larger drafts with your finger whilst the door is shut.
Take off the outer door’s existing weatherstripping. Cut alongside the edge of the jamb with a utility knife, then pull off the old weatherstripping. Clean the area removing dust and adhesive residue. Get the length needed for the jamb, and add extra length. Cut the new weather stripping to suit, then slide and set into position, keeping it pressed down on the jamb. Make sure everything fits firmly; you may adjust pieces to tighten it on.
This job takes about fifteen to thirty minutes and the standard kit under twenty dollars. With no licenses, permits, or days with a contractor it very much fits in line of handyman safe.
Florida's climate requires energy efficiency. Good inner door sealing relieves air conditioning loads and cost of usage. Also a good seal won’t permit added moisture to infiltrate room interiors, anti-mold growth on things like ceilings and walls.
A siding clean up and this weatherstrip replacement means two maintenance jobs for one trip and done cleaner and faster.
A word of caution: remember to clean the surrounding vinyl siding using a low pressure hose in cold water with some mild soap to not damage panels!! After rinsing check cracks and gaps in the door jamb with a draft problem in the weather stripping needing to possibly be assessed and repaired by a licensed professional if big damage is apparent.
To summarize: replacing interior weather stripping hopefully is a safe, easy, worth every penny done thing for yourself or door repair together with a contractor if needed!
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