When I first moved into my old house, it was winter. Every time I walked by my front or my back door, I felt a draft.
One way to fix this was to install a door sweep at the bottom of each door. I used to be able to see daylight under the doors, but now I have fixed that. This is easy to do and there is a great how-to video on Avista’s website that walks through each step.
But door sweeps still weren’t enough. I also installed a gasket around my front door frame. This was so easy: just peel and stick. It’s taken care of the drafts I felt near the doorknob.
I also have a collection of ‘door snakes’ (draft stoppers). I have one that attaches to my door using Velcro. When I open the door and leave, the ‘snake’ comes with the door, so cold air isn’t sneaking in when I’m not home. I also have a couple that my mother made me with some old scraps of fabric and dried beans. They are heavy enough to stay in place when the wind blows.
Finally, last year I realized that my back door was leaking cold air. The door is very thin and I shiver when I stand next to it.
I found the best remedy for this: a curtain that I attach to the back door using Velcro. It blocks a window, so during the summer months, I take the curtain down. During winter, when it’s dark outside anyway, it helps a lot to have the curtain in place.
There are so many tips and do-it-yourself projects on Avista’s website that are easy to do—you don’t have to be especially handy to do them before the cold weather sets in. See what you can do to stop drafts this winter.
Lisa, an Avista customer, bought her 1910 house because she loved the old-world character, some of which doesn’t make her house very energy efficient. Lisa is sharing her experience on taking some simple do-it-yourself improvements to inspire others to do the same. You’ll find her stories right here every Tuesday morning.