How to replace exterior door weather stripping before winter

EasyFix How to replace exterior door weather stripping before winter Sealing air leaks, adding insulation can cut annual home energy bills up to 10%, Energy Star says By Tanja Babich , Blanca Rios Tuesday, November 10, 2026 1:10PM DIY Playbook's Casey Finn shows how to replace weather stripping on an exterior door to help block drafts and improve efficiency. CHICAGO (WLS) -- As temperatures start to drop, one of the easiest ways to keep cold air outside where it belongs is by checking your weather stripping. DIY Playbook's Casey Finn showed ABC7's Tanja Babich how to replace worn weather stripping around an exterior door. The simple low-cost project can help reduce drafts and improve your home's energy efficiency. According to the federal ENERGY STAR program, sealing air leaks and adding insulation can save homeowners up to 10% on annual energy bills. Simple fixes include installing weather stripping on doors and caulking around windows Over time, weather stripping can crack, flatten or wear down, allowing cold air to seep inside. Finn recommends inspecting it every few years and replacing it if you notice drafts or can see light around the edges of the door. The good news? It's a beginner-friendly DIY project. Most weather stripping simply pulls out of a channel around the door frame and can be replaced with a matching product from your local hardware store. Finn recommends taking a piece of the old weather stripping with you when shopping to make sure you purchase the correct replacement. After measuring and trimming the new material to size, the replacement strip slides into the groove around the door frame. Finn and Babich also added door corner seals, adhesive-backed pieces designed to help block air leaks near the bottom corners of the door. Morgan Park High School students to walk out after football team staff changes 2 hours ago Hegseth dismisses impeachment effort as 'political spectacle' 8 minutes ago Chicago-area father dies shortly after ICE's deportation process to Pakistan The final step: making sure the door still closes properly. The project took just a few minutes and requires only basic tools, making it an easy weekend home maintenance task before winter arrives. Tips from Casey Finn -Replace weather stripping when you notice drafts or see light around your door. -Bring a piece of the old weather stripping to the hardware store to ensure a proper match. -Trim new weather stripping to fit before installing. -Add door corner seals for extra protection against cold air. -Install weather stripping when outdoor temperatures are above 40 degrees for the best adhesion. Learn More For a full step-by-step guide to replacing exterior door weather stripping, visit DIY Playbook . Report a correction or typo Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved. Related Topics HOME & GARDEN CHICAGO EASYFIX GOOD HOUSEKEEPING HOME REPAIRS COLD WINTER WINTER WEATHER ENERGY HEAT BILLS NATURAL GAS HOBBIES & INTERESTS TOOL SET HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF U.S. & WORLD What do all those power drill settings mean? Acrylic latex caulk 101: How to fill gaps in trim and baseboards How to fill nail holes and touch up your walls like a pro How to find your home's water, electrical and gas shutoffs Watch Live ON NOW Morgan Park HS students to walk out after football team staff changes 2 hours ago Defiant Hegseth blasts impeachment effort as 'spectacle,' puts 'target' on troops 8 minutes ago Local father dies shortly after ICE's deportation process to Pakistan ETHS mourning student killed in crash involving Chicago Tribune truck 7 minutes ago Home invasion, sex assault survivor says it took CPD 4 hours to arrive University of Mississippi officials condemn alleged racist taunts in doorbell video 2 hours ago Sen. Duckworth wants VA to identify toxic threats before veterans get sick 8 minutes ago T. Cullen Davis, oil tycoon acquitted in murder trial, has died at 93 40 minutes ago