Ask House Spouse · Doors & Windows · Weatherstripping & Drafts
How do I stop drafts around my front door?
Short answer
Replace the door sweep first (the strip along the bottom) — it's the single biggest source of PNW cold air infiltration. Then run a lit candle around the perimeter on a windy day: any flicker is a leak. Foam weatherstripping in the jamb takes 20 minutes and fixes the top and sides.
Bottom sweep = biggest win
The rubber or vinyl strip along the bottom of the door compresses over years and stops sealing. A universal replacement sweep is $12–$25 and takes 15 minutes with a Phillips screwdriver. This alone can drop a heating bill 3–5% in an older home.
Jamb weatherstripping
Peel-and-stick V-strip or foam weatherstripping in the door jamb closes the perimeter. Clean the surface with rubbing alcohol first — the wet PNW season fouls adhesive if it's dusty.
The candle test
On a windy afternoon, hold a lit candle 6 inches from the door frame and slowly trace the perimeter. The flame will flicker where air is coming through. This works better than any infrared tool a homeowner is likely to own.
What we see on Home Health Assessments
Around 74% of PNW roofs we assess show active moss establishment — accelerates shingle wear by an estimated 3–5 years if untreated.
Caught early on assessment: $220–$650 · Left until failure: $3,500–$22,000
Based on real experience across Snohomish and King County, doors & windows issues like this are among the ones homeowners most often miss until they become expensive. Our Home Health Assessment catches them early — while they're still a maintenance item, not a repair.
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Where we handle this
We answer this question on real Home Health Assessments across Snohomish and King County.
Related questions
Doors & Windows · Weatherstripping & Drafts
Why are my windows foggy between the panes?
Fog between the two panes of a sealed insulated window means the seal has failed and moisture is trapped inside. The glass unit (called an IGU) can be replaced without replacing the whole window frame — usually $150–$400 per unit. It won't fix itself and it won't get better.
PNW Seasonal · Fall Rain Prep
What should I do to prepare my house before the PNW rainy season?
Six items, mid-October: clean gutters and downspouts, check and extend downspout runouts, seal any exterior wood cracks with caulk, verify the sump pump works (if you have one), swap furnace filter, and test every smoke and CO detector. This routine takes half a day and prevents 90% of the wet-season damage we get called for.