Should A Door Sweep Be Installed On The Inside Or Outside?

If cold drafts are coming into your home through a gap underneath the door, then you are probably looking for solutions to remedy the problem. Beyond the discomfort that such cold drafts can cause, they also pose the added problem of decreasing your home's energy efficiency. One method for insulating your doors is to install a door sweep. In addition to keeping cold air from entering a home, door sweeps offer additional benefits. They can also prevent dirt, leaves, and debris from coming into the home and can even limit how much noise from the outside can enter your space. Moreover, you can even help keep spiders out of the house with this door addition.

Before you install a door sweep, you may be wondering whether it should be fitted on the inside or outside of the door. Fortunately, there is a simple answer. You should always install a door sweep on the outside of a door. Installing the sweep in this manner will allow it to better do its job. With the sweep on the outside — not inside — of a door, it will help push debris out instead of pulling it in or letting it accumulate beneath the door.

It's important to note that there is more than one type of door sweep on the market. If you're looking to install a door sweep on an exterior door, you might want to consider one made from aluminum and vinyl. These sweeps are designed to be attached to the base of a door with screws. They utilize a vinyl strip that serves to fill the gap at the base of the door and keep pests, debris, and cold drafts out. Other mounted options have tightly packed bristles that fill the gap beneath a door. You can also find magnetic door sweeps that use strong magnets and a metal strip to seal the gap beneath a door.

To weather strip your doors and keep the cold out with a door sweep, you'll need to install it properly. The method will vary based on the model you choose — but remember that you'll always want to install it on the outside of the door. For many, you'll need to start by trimming the door sweep to match the width of your door. Once cut to fit, you will need to drill holes in the door for models that are secured using screws. Other models have a peel-and-stick backing, allowing them to be installed without the need to drill any holes in the door. In many cases, you'll be able to install the sweep with the door still in place, though you might find that you need to remove the hinges and take the door down if you can't get the right angle to get the sweep in place properly.