Inexpensive Tips to Winterize Your Doors: 2025

3 min readUpdated Feb. 27, 2025Erin HynesDoor
Entry doors can help seal in warmth to improve energy efficiency in your home

Sealing air leaks around exterior doors is one of the best ways to minimize your energy costs during winter. Fortunately, you need only a few low-cost items to detect and seal air leaks. When you’re unable to seal off severe air leaks in an exterior door, you’ll likely need to replace the entire door and its frame.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Winterizing doors in your house and sealing air leaks around exterior doors is one of the best ways to minimize your energy costs.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy reports that up to 30% of your energy use can escape through unsealed doors and windows.
  • Professional door replacement may be necessary if you live in an older house.

When temperatures drop each winter, it's time again to crank up the heat.

Firing up the furnace, pellet stove, space heaters, or whatever works best in your home raises your energy bills, and if you’re like most people, you’d prefer to pay as little as possible.

Winterizing doors in your house and sealing air leaks around exterior doors is one of the best ways to minimize your energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that up to 30% of your energy use can escape through unsealed doors and windows. Fortunately, you need only a few low-cost items to detect and seal air leaks. Professional door replacement may be necessary if you live in an older house, but chances are you can improve your home’s energy efficiency on your own with a little DIY winterization.

How to Detect Air Leaks Around Exterior Doors

You can seal every door in the house, but it’s worth taking the time to locate the draftiest areas first so you can close those gaps and begin to save energy right away. Here are four ways to find leaks around doors.

  • During the day, close the exterior door completely and, from inside the house, look all around the doorframe for traces of sunlight. If you can see light, you have air leaks.
  • Have somebody shine a flashlight on one side of the doorframe at night while you watch for light beams passing through the seal.
  • Pass a lit candle or incense stick around the door edges. Existing air leaks will make the flame flicker or the smoke move in the direction of the draft.
  • Place a damp hand over suspected leaks to detect a cool breeze.

How to Seal Air Leaks Around Doors

If your test reveals a leak, use these methods techniques to help trap warm air inside your home:

  • Fill all visible cracks and holes with caulk. Be sure to check for openings on the inside and outside of the doorframe. Allow enough time for the caulk to dry, and reapply as needed.
  • Apply weather stripping around the doorframe. Periodically check that you can close the door all the way. Note that you may need to apply extra weather stripping where leaks are wider.
  • Add a draft guard between the bottom of the door and the threshold. If you prefer, you can also roll up a towel and place it at the base of your door for the same effect.
  • Anytime you close the door, lock the deadbolt to strengthen the door’s seal.

Now that you know how to winterize your doors, be sure to also inspect your windows for air leaks. Call on a local professional if you need help with a home energy assessment or when the time comes to replace your windows or update to brand-new, energy-efficient entry doors. Until then, stay cozy.

Winterizing your doors helps keep warm air in and cold air out—equally important for protecting rooms that house your washer, dryer, and dishwasher. Caulking, draft stoppers, and insulation strips reduce energy use. If your appliances still underperform, Sears Home Services stands by with who to call for dishwasher repair to ensure no energy goes to waste in the kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why focus on doors for winterizing?
Drafts around frames let cold air in and warm air out, hiking heating bills. Check door seals and thresholds to maintain energy efficiency.
Which cheap fixes help?
Weatherstripping, door sweeps, and caulking gaps. Sears Home Services notes these simple steps can drastically reduce drafts.
Are door sweeps easy to install?
Yes, cut to size and screw or stick them on. Service providers offer professional fitting if you’re unsure about threshold adjustments.
Should I replace an entire door?
Only if it’s severely warped or damaged. A service provider can assess whether a new insulated door is more cost-effective long-term.

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Glossary Terms

A dishwasher gasket is a flexible seal that prevents water from leaking out of the dishwasher door during operation. It's crucial for maintaining the appliance's efficiency and preventing water damage.

A dishwasher impeller is a rotating component within the dishwasher's pump that circulates water throughout the unit during a wash cycle, ensuring efficient cleaning by spraying water at high pressure.

A dishwasher sump is located at the bottom of the dishwasher, serving as a collection point for water during the wash cycle. It houses the main pump and filter, facilitating the recirculation and drainage of water, essential for the cleaning process.

A dishwasher turbidity sensor is an advanced feature that measures the level of food particles and debris in the water, allowing the dishwasher to adjust the wash cycle length and water usage for optimal cleaning efficiency.

Common Appliance Symptoms

The most common reasons your Kenmore Elite refrigerator stopped working are a locked compressor, damaged evaporator or a defective electronic control board.

The most common reasons your Maytag refrigerator stopped working are a locked compressor, damaged evaporator or a defective electronic control board.

The most common reasons your Bosch dishwasher has no heat are a defective electronic control board, clogged water valve or a broken detergent dispenser.

The most common reasons your Kenmore Elite microwave has no power are a bad thermostat, malfunctioning electronic control board or a broken switch.

The most common reasons your Kenmore refrigerator is noisy are a faulty ice maker assembly, defective electronic control board or a locked compressor.

The most common reasons your LG freezer is leaking water are a clogged drain tube, cracked water tubing or a bad evaporator.