Maintaining a tight seal around your door can help keep unwanted air, pests, light, and water from entering your home. A tight seal can also help you save money on your energy bill year-round.

Weatherstrips, or the soft and flexible material placed in the door jamb and header, are easy to install and can have a big impact on your door’s performance, wicking moisture, and sealing your door system. But how do you know if your door is in need of new weatherstrips?

We have put together a list of common symptoms of poor weatherstripping to help you diagnosis an improperly working door.

1. You can see light around your closed door panel.

If you can see light and gaps around your outside door, it is a good indication that your weatherstripping needs to be replaced.These gaps could be costing you extra on your energy bill by allowing heated and conditioned air to escape your home.

2. Water is leaking into your home.

If you have noticed moisture around your door or door jamb, your weatherstripping isn’t doing its job. This excess moisture could lead to mold or rot-related damage to your door or the inside of your home.

3. Your current weatherstripping has become bent, flattened, or cracked.

When weatherstrips begin to age, the material may bend, tear, or become so compressed that the strip no longer seals. This may lead to gaps between your door and the door frame that cause unwanted air drafts and water leaks.

The right weatherstrip should provide consistent compression around your door, which results in a long-lasting seal. In addition to providing your home with protection from outside elements, weatherstripping also increases the energy efficiency of your home. By eliminating the opportunity for your conditioned and heated air to escape your home, and outside air to enter it, you’ll save money on your energy bill.

Installing the right weatherstripping is simple and quick. In six easy steps, our weatherstrip project guide will show you how to remove your current weatherstripping and install new weatherstrips to your door jamb and header.