The door of a home is where we let in and welcome family and friends. Unfortunately, it’s also where we let in air leaks, insects and moisture. Unlike loved ones, these can come into the home through doors even when they’re closed.
The older the home, the more likely it is that you have a door (or a few) that could benefit from being properly sealed. Installing a Q-Lon door seal is a quick and cost-effective way to solve these problems, save energy, and ultimately lower energy bills.
Passing the Test
A door’s weather seal can wear out over time, causing cold and costly drafts to flow into your home. A simple way to check if your doors have this problem is through a sight test.
While the sun is out, if you can see light coming in through the door when it is closed, you definitely have an air leak on your hands.
If you notice moisture at the door when it rains, it needs to be sealed. If by chance you catch an insect trying to sneak into the home, the door needs to be sealed.
Sealing Gaps
Q-Lon is designed specifically to be used on the top and sides of doors. It seals gaps that measure up to 1/2″ in size. If your air leak is smaller, no worries.
Installing a Q-Lon weatherstrip is beneficial for a number of reasons:
- Seals up to ½” gaps. Sealing air leaks from the door can reduce home energy loss up to 11%.
- Reduces energy loss and eases the burden on the heating/cooling systems, thus lowering bills.
- Limits unwanted air exchanges in the home and provides more control over home temperatures.
- Acts as both a sealant and a door stop.
- Fits standard doors, but can be cut to fit smaller doors.
A Q-Lon door seal is made up of polyethylene-clad urethane foam, and contains a special backing for use on specific door types. The exact one you’ll need depends on what the door you’re sealing is made up of:
- Metal doors – Use the aluminum Q-Lon weatherstrip.
- Wood doors – Use the wooden Q-Lon weatherstrip.
- Vinyl – Use the vinyl (PVC) Q-Lon weathertrip. This is the most commonly used type for residential doors.
Comfort and Savings
If you left the oven door open while baking, it would take considerably longer to reach the right temperature. The same concept can be applied to all doors.
When inside air leaks out, and outside air comes in, regulating the temperature becomes increasingly difficult. Installing a Q-Lon door seal gives you back some of that control. It does so without you having to spend hundreds, or even over a thousand, on a replacement door.
The material is industrial-grade, strong enough to seal gaps for years, and costs under $13 a piece. Installing this weatherstrip lets you start realizing savings without having to reach into your savings to get it done.
Weatherproofing doors with a Q-Lon weatherstrip is an easy, inexpensive way to save on energy costs for your home.
I have a Marvin patio (garden ) door.Hinged and opens inward on left side. The wether stripping has the name q-Lon it.I would like to replace weather stripping .The weather stripping also has a vinyl thre-eights inches in width, going now the middle.