Insulating around drafty doors

[FeralFemale]

While caulking around our back door, my dh discovered that there was a TON of cold air pouring in from the top of our door between the door and the door jam. There is a big gap.

What would be the best way to take care of this?

Any other advice for easy ways to insulate? We already do the plastic film over windows and the silicone foam in other gaps.

I was thinking of hanging a thick curtain over the inside of the doors.

(we live in northeastern Minnesota)

[Bearfootfarm]

What would be the best way to take care of this?

Weatherstripping

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...stripping.html

[BaronsMom]

I was just adding some foam insulation strips to the top of my back door. It is adhesive on one side and foam on the other. Only problem I have is my doorway is also crooked so I need to get another size thickness. I have at least a 1/2" gap at the top of my door (yikes!).

I caulked everywhere I could around this door - in the past I have sealed the door completely with plastic AND hung a heavy drape. When desperate I've also used a flannel blanket and hung it from the top of the door. I also have weatherstripping at the bottom of the door.

This year, I'm getting a storm door and putting it on - this exterior door has never had a storm door in front of it, I hope it helps.

Good luck - it isn't easy. And my best solution would be a new exterior door which I just can't afford right now - so storm door first.

[Pat]

Our front door was leaking air badly... when we put tile down (to replace carpet) in the living room I took the molding off around the door and found the open space.

I'd suggest taking the molding off, find the space and use the foaming agent to fill it in. You can't fill a space without know exactly what your filling in. Sounds like a little more work than you want, but well worth it.

Pat

[tamsam]

For doors that isn't going to be used often you can fold newspaper and insert between the door and door facing. I have one upstairs door that stays sealed this way year round. And if you need to open it in a hurry it opens right up. Sam

[Old Vet]

If the gap is big enough the only thing to do is to replace the door. If it is 1/2 inch or less then use weather striping or use a larger piece of molding at the top of the door. All your door is supposed to do is to come into contact with the molding all around and cut out the air from coming in or out. Since yours don't you can put a larger piece of wood at the top and all around and let the door just come into contact with it. The best way to do this is to close the door and put the wood up against the door and fasten it to the jamb. You do this every time you replace the door.