There's been a real draft coming in since autumn, even though the door is only 5 years old. I've already felt around everywhere with my hand, but I can't find where it's leaking. Can I replace the seal myself or do I need a professional?
It was the same for me - the seal just became porous after years, even though the door was still relatively new. The problem is often that the leaky spot isn't that obvious when you feel around for it with your hand; sometimes it helps to hold a flashlight from outside in the evening and see where light comes through. Replacing the seal itself is actually doable - you just need to pull out the old one and glue in a new foam or rubber seal - you can get them cheap at the hardware store. But if the frame is warped or the door doesn't sit properly anymore, then it gets trickier and you'll probably need someone who can adjust it properly.
You can swap out the weatherstripping yourself - it's really not that hard. But first you should pinpoint exactly where the draft is coming from, otherwise you'll just be guessing. Try it in the evening with a flashlight: stand outside and have someone inside turn the lights on and off. The light shining through shows you precisely where it's leaking. Or hold a lit candle or lighter around the door frame - the flame will flicker immediately when there's air coming through.
Often it's not the weatherstripping itself, but the frame that's warped. Check if the door is still hanging properly on its hinges or if it's sitting slightly crooked. If the door's 5 years old and only now it's drafty, the house settling could be to blame. Swapping the weatherstripping strip itself isn't a problem - just pull out the old one (sometimes you have to scrape a bit), clean out the groove, and glue a new one in. There are ready-made weatherstripping profiles in different sizes, you just need to know which format you need. Just measure it or bring the old piece with you to the hardware store.
The tricky part: sometimes the misalignment is only in the bottom section, and the top of the door still seals fine. Then you might need a bottom seal - a brush or rubber strip that gets installed at the bottom of the door. That's more involved because the door has to come out, but it's doable. If you're not comfortable with it or the door is really hanging crooked on its hinges, have someone take a look - sometimes an adjustment to the hinges is the quicker fix.
Professional sealing systems usually last 10-15 years, then things get critical. In your case, after 5 years that's more likely pointing to a installation error or material defect rather than wear and tear. The main thing: before you start tinkering around, you really need to know where the draft's coming from. Some people only check the rubber profiles all around, but often the problem's actually with the door frame itself - it can warp or the door might not be sitting properly in the frame anymore.
Best approach is to work with a candle or lighter (carefully, of course) and slowly move the flame around the entire door. Wherever the flame flickers, that's your draft spot. Often it's the top corners or the side near the handle. If you only see small cracks in the rubber, you can replace the seal yourself - it's really doable and costs almost nothing. But heads up: if the door's warped or the frame is crooked, a new seal won't help. In that case, I'd honestly say a carpenter should swing by to check whether the door's hanging properly. Sometimes just a small adjustment to the hinges is enough, and boom - problem solved.
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