The Home Component You Should Be Replacing At Least Every 3 Years

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When it's time to clean the gutters and replace the HVAC filters again, you might swear you just did it. From checking your smoke detectors to blowing out the sprinkler system, a lot of chores are annual, while others have to do with how long the materials last. Weatherstripping is one of those materials that seems like it should last longer, but it actually needs to be replaced every three years. If that hasn't happened in a while, it could explain why your entry is so breezy in the winter.

Weatherstripping is a wear item that takes a lot more punishment than most people realize. If you do some quick napkin math, you could easily get up into thousands of open-close cycles every year, and even more if you have a large household and pets. While door hinges and locks are tested to as many as a million cycles, weatherstripping degrades faster because it's made to compress and spring back every time. After all those openings and closings, it loses the spring. 

Some doors get used more than others, and there are a lot of different types of weatherstripping. Entry doors get the most use, so those are the seals that wear out the fastest and they're the spot where it matters most to have the right weatherstripping material for the job. Among the common foam types, the most durable ones are made from vinyl foam or neoprene sponge.

To stay on top of your weatherstripping, add it to your home maintenance checklist. Twice a year, in the spring and the fall, check it to make sure it's in good condition. Look for visible signs like cracks and missing sections, and don't be afraid to poke at it to see how it's holding up, especially since some types of foam start to crumble when they get old. Weatherstripping can also get flattened, which means air is able to get through. With the door closed, you can test the seal by sliding a dollar bill along the weatherstripping. If it goes through, there's no seal.

The peel-and-stick vinyl V-type weatherstripping is among the most common. A few feet is all you need to replace yours, and that's enough to do one door. Start by pulling off the old weatherstripping, then use rubbing alcohol to clean up the dust, grime, and adhesive residues. Make sure everything is dry before you install the new weatherstripping, and press it firmly into place. If you'd rather not replace it every few years, you can upgrade to a better style, like the Yuntau Screw On Door Weather Stripping Kit, which is a rigid metal strip with a tube gasket that's screwed in place. It costs more than regular foam stripping at $48.99 for a five-piece kit that covers one door, but it is rated to last closer to five to 10 years.