A Beginner's Guide to Weatherstripping - Second Nature

Drafts and air leaks exist in about every home in America. The edges of windows and doors are the primary enablers for this air outside your home to get inside your home and vice versa. Drafts may not seem like a major issue, but over time they can really drive up your power bill as conditioned air escapes, and they can introduce lots of foreign pollutants from outside into your home. In short, it's something worth fixing, especially since it usually takes about five minutes and 20 dollars to do so.

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So how do you actually accomplish this task? With the magic of weatherstripping. Weatherstripping is basically strips of materials that you adhere to doors and windows. These materials, if installed correctly, seal the edges of doors and windows when they're closed, preventing the movement of air any nasty stuff in the air.

Pro Tip: Weatherstripping is commonly associated with wintertime, but it's just as valuable in the summer as it is in the cold months.

How do I know if I need weatherstripping

The first step in identifying where your home needs weatherstripping is to test for air leaks in places that are most vulnerable. There are a handful of do-it-yourself options for this, or you can hire a professional to conduct an energy audit. A professional energy auditor will give you precise answers to where you need weatherstripping, in addition to other useful information.

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If you wish to opt for the DIY versions, there are a couple ways to test for insufficient seals.

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The flashlight test

This requires two people and it needs to be at night. So grab a friend, child, or spouse, promise to buy them a bottle of wine for their help (unless your children are helping—please do not buy wine for your children), and get to work.

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The test, which works best for doors, is pretty simple. One person takes a flashlight outside once it's completely dark out. Close the door behind them and have them shine the light all around the door and surrounding areas. If you can see light coming through at any point, that's a point where you have an insufficient seal and should consider adding weatherstripping.

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The moisture test

The moisture test only requires one person and can be done at any time of day, but it's helpful if it's done on a cold day. If you're looking to save money this summer, you may want to pick a different test.

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The moisture test is also pretty simple. Wet your hand with some room temperature water and then feel your way around the edges of the door or window. The moisture will cause your hand to feel cold if it comes in contact with air from the outside (again, this only works on a cold day). If it feels cool, go ahead and add some weatherstripping.

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The dollar bill test

This test is specific to doors and requires the use of a single dollar bill. Open your door and place a dollar bill in between the door jamb and the door itself, then close the door. Grab the bill and try to pull it out. If it slides out easily, time for some weatherstripping.

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The smoke test

The final test you can try for a draft in your home is what we'll call the smoke test. This involves lighting a candle or match and holding it behind your door or window. Watch the smoke carefully for changes in how it moves. If incoming air effects the smoke stream, it's a good bet you're losing money and warm/cool air through a draft. Time to do some weatherstripping.

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The different varieties of weatherstripping

Who knew weatherstripping could be this complicated? It turns out there are a ton of different kinds of weatherstripping, some of which perform better in certain situations than others. We're going to simplify this down as much as possible.

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There are several different varieties to pick from. We did some research for you, and hopefully, this can help you become a weatherstripping expert—or just learn what you need to make an informed decision.

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V-Seal

V-Seal is probably the most common type of weatherstripping that is used within the home. Its name comes from the V shape that it takes when you fold it down the middle, which allows it to line the inside edges of window and door frames. It can come with adhesive backing for easy installation, or it can come without one and requires nailing in. If installed correctly, V-Seal can be among the most durable weatherstripping options.

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Felt

Inexpensive and less durable, felt is sort of the "old news" of the weather stripping community. It's sold in rolls and can be installed stand-alone or with a metal strip for reinforcement. It's useful in doorways where it is affixed or nailed to the door jamb. That way, when the door closes, it compresses the material and blocks out air. It's important to note that felt does not work well in high moisture conditions. Felt is known as the cheapest and one of the easiest options.

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Door Sweep

The type of weatherstripping best designed to seal out air coming in from underneath the door is what is known as the door sweep. Drafts usually exist at the bottom of doors facing outdoors, which is why this type of weatherstripping exists. You'll often find two options: a metal or plastic strip that you screw into the bottom of the door and a brush, or piece of nylon that extends to the floor (the sweep). If installed correctly, this will cover the entire space beneath the door. Some versions actually slide onto the bottom of the door instead of being nailed into the bottom of the door.

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Foam Tape

Foam Tape is sort of like of felt except slightly more advanced. While the application is very similar, foam is of higher quality than felt. It usually comes with an adhesive backing for easy installation. Also like felt, it's one of the less durable options and should not be installed in high moisture areas.

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Rubber tubing

This type of weatherstripping may have a variety of different names, but its construction is rubber with adhesive backing. Installation is similar to that of foam tape. Still, the rubber will last longer and is not as vulnerable in moist conditions. It can also provide waterproofing in addition to fighting off air leaks.

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Outlet Gaskets

One place you might not expect to find an air leak is at your outlets and light switches, but surprisingly, these areas can be just as vulnerable to drafts as your doors and windows. Luckily, covers that seal up these places are cheap and take only a minute to install. It's as simple as removing the plastic covering from the outlet or switch, inserting the foam gasket behind it (make sure you punch out the holes first), and then reinstall the cover. That's it. That's literally it. You should be able to do your entire house for under $20.

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Weatherstripping is one of the easiest and most useful do-it-yourself tasks for your home. It's relatively inexpensive, can take only a handful of minutes to install, and will leave you knowing you made your home healthier and more efficient with this quick and easy DIY project.

What is Weatherstripping?

Defined, weatherstripping is a strip of rubber or other material used to seal the edges of a door or window against the cold; however, weatherstripping has a variety of applications and protects you from more than a chilly breeze.

Weatherstripping is an essential tool that guards your investment from mold, dust, dirt, grime, draft and pests, and keeps your air conditioning/heat inside.

The weatherstripping and rubber parts we produce here at Steele are manufactured from EPDM rubber. EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) was developed in the s to meet the increasing demand for innovation in manufacturing. EPDM essentially mirrors the physical properties of natural rubber and adds the important function of UV resistance.

Due to its extreme weather, UV, and Ozone resistance, EPDM is the perfect weatherstripping compound to produce all of our parts out of. We also back all of our parts with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

How is Weatherstripping Applied?

There are multiple ways to apply weatherstripping from glue-on, push-on and adhesive backed strips. Not every application will work for all projects so it’s important to consider your project’s unique needs before purchasing a weatherstrip.

What is the difference between Auto, RV and Marine Weatherstripping?

• Automotive seals are determined by the make, model & year of your car
• RV & Marine seals are mostly universal, as they have a variety of applications. However, select parts can have specific fitment based on year and make.

To expand a little more on those:

Automotive weatherstripping is determined by your car’s unique make, model and year. This is both convenient and inconvenient at times. How so? Depending on the type of car you have, you might not find what you’re looking for. This typically means that no one else has asked for that seal, or that there isn’t a high enough demand to produce those parts. If you’re looking for a kit, or all the seals for your particular make and model car, you can use a parts finder like the one of the Steele Rubber site. For example, say I’m looking for the seals for a Camaro Hardtop.

However, if you don’t see the parts you’re looking for, we recommend looking at our Universal line. If you’re doing a custom project like a hot rod or street rod, check out our Street Rod line! If we can’t produce what you need, we reach out to other companies in the industry to help you find what you’re looking for.

RV weatherstripping is vastly universal because RV manufacturers would often use what seals they had on hand. Which could result in two of the same year, make, and model RVs having different seals on them. Our RV parts are categorized by the seal’s location. For example, doors and compartments, A/C gasket, windows, and slide outs. Just because a seal is located in one category, doesn’t mean you can’t use it in another application.

In our marine line, you will find parts specific for boats like rub rails. As well as a variety of parts also included in our RV line. The main characteristic that distinguishes marine parts from the RV parts is that these seals are tested to withstand fresh and saltwater conditions.

Basic Weatherstripping Terminology

Gasket – A shaped piece or ring of rubber that fills the space between 2 or more surfaces, generally to prevent leaks. A gasket typically fills the space between the glass and metal channel of the RV.

Edge Trim – Designed to cover rough edges. Used around doors and other applications that require a cover for an edge.

Insert Trim – Insert trim rubber is the perfect replacement to the original vinyl seal. Most vinyl tends to crack and let water in the track which causes mildew. Our insert trim is manufactured from dense, 100% EPDM rubber, making it UV and weather resistant. It is designed to fit & lock in the metal track found on many RV and Toy Haulers.

T-Rubber – These seals can be used in just about any application where rubber is held in place with a track or channel. Many RV screen doors and shower doors utilize T-rubber seals.

Push-On – Push-on seals refer to how they are installed. These seals are designed to stop leaks, drafts, reduce noise and ensure a secure fit. These types of seals mostly consist of a rubber bulb attached to push-on type insert trim that has an integrated steel core. The result is a long lasting seal that is easy to install and requires no glue or adhesive to install.

Peel-N-Stick – Another type based on installation. These seals feature a 3M double-sided adhesive backing which offers quick and easy installation. Our Peel-N-Stick seals are superior to other parts with double-sided tape for a few reasons: We exclusively use 3M tape, we heat-apply the backing to our parts in-house during the manufacturing process, and because the heat-applying process permanently bonds the rubber seal and tape together.

Sponge Rubber – There are 2 types of sponge rubber, closed cell and open cell. EPDM rubber seals are typically closed cell sponge rubber. These seals are flexible, weather and UV resistant and can withstand pressure for long periods of time without losing their shape. Sponge rubber can be molded or extruded. Closed cell is ideal because it also does not absorb water like open cell designs. Our sponge rubber is closed cell. This is achieved by a salt-bath curing process.

Dense Rubber – Dense rubber can be extruded or molded and is cured using intense heat to achieve a solid structure. These seals feature greater resistance to impacts, abrasion and wear. This type of rubber is commonly found in window applications, and as a replacement for vinyl or plastic seals.

Extrusion – The extrusion process, as explained on our facility tours, is just like pushing Play-Doh through a toy mold. Dies (the shape we want the extrusion to be) are placed at the beginning of the extruder. Then, the proprietary EPDM rubber compound is forced through that die and “cured” to keep its shape. Dense rubber cures with dry heat, while sponge rubber extrusions are sent through a molten salt bath that makes the rubber expand into the squishy rubber we all know and love.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Weather Strip Manufacturers. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.