When it comes cutting down on drafts and reducing energy loss, sealing the gaps around the perimeters of doors and windows is critically important. Though these gaps may seem somewhat insignificant, they can add up to serious energy loss. For example, a narrow 1/4-inch gap beneath a conventional entry door is equal in size to a 3-inch-square hole in your door. Just imagine the cold that could blast through such a hole on a cold winter day.

Applying weatherstrip to a door can be just as important as weatherstripping a window. When a door is closed, expensively heated or cooled air can seep out between the door and its jambs and top, and, even more significantly, beneath the door's bottom edge.

You can receive a significant payback in both comfort and energy savings by sealing these gaps.

In this section, you will find do-it-yourself information for buying, installing, and maintaining weatherstripping materials for doors. For more about weatherstripping, see Window Weatherstripping.