How to Install a Door Sweep
Installing a door sweep is a quick and easy way to minimize lost heating and air conditioning caused by large gaps between a door and the floor. The installation project is fairly simple and can save your household significant amounts of money as well as help the environment by enabling your home to conserve more energy. To start, purchase a standard door sweep, which can be found at most local hardware stores. They often come in one large size and can be cut with vinyl scissors or a hacksaw capable of cutting metal.
Once you have the door sweep, measure the size of the door, and cut the sweep to match the measurements taken. The most effective way to install the sweep is by lining it up so that the vinyl seal on the door sweep is lightly touching the threshold or floor. Be careful not to have the seal too low, because it will cause the door to drag, which will wear down the door sweep. Ideally, it will lightly rest on the floor when the door is in the closed position, but not inhibit the fluid motion of the door's hinges.
The sweep will have holes for screws. With the door closed, mark where the holes line up on the door with a pencil. Using the fresh marks on the door, make holes with a drill. These pilot holes will next be used to secure the door sweep to the door. Once the sweep is lined up, attach it to the door using screws and the drilled holes. The final step before completely tightening the screws should be confirming that the seal on the sweep is lightly resting on the threshold of the door. Once everything is in line, tighten the screws. The project itself is very simple and an easy way to improve your home's efficiency!
