Stopping water from coming through your door often involves identifying and fixing gaps or damaged seals where water can enter.
Water leaks around doors are a common issue, typically caused by failing seals that are exposed to the weather. Addressing these points of entry is key to keeping your home dry.
Check Your Caulking
One of the most frequent culprits for water leaks is damaged or missing weatherproof caulking around the outside of your door frame. This sealant acts as a barrier, preventing water from seeping in between the frame and the wall.
- Why it matters: Even a small hole or crack in the weatherproof caulking will let water leak inside.
- How to check: Inspect the caulking around the entire outside perimeter of the door frame. Look closely for any visible cracks, gaps, or areas where the sealant has pulled away from the frame or the wall.
- How to fix: If you do find an issue, your door needs to be re-caulked.
- First, you need to remove the old, damaged sealant. Use pliers to pull off the old sealant. A utility knife or scraper can also help with this step.
- Clean the area thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris.
- Apply new exterior-grade caulk following the product instructions, ensuring a continuous, watertight seal around the frame.
Inspect Other Seal Points
Beyond the caulking, several other components contribute to a door's watertight seal.
- Weatherstripping: This material runs along the sides and top of the door frame, creating a seal when the door is closed. Check if it's compressed, torn, or missing. Replace worn weatherstripping.
- Door Sweep (Bottom Seal): Located at the bottom of the door, this seal prevents water and drafts from coming under the door. Ensure it makes good contact with the threshold when the door is closed and isn't damaged. Adjust or replace if necessary.
- Threshold: The piece installed on the floor under the door must be properly installed and sealed to prevent water from pooling or seeping underneath.
- Door Frame: Check the frame itself for any cracks or rot, which could also allow water entry.
By systematically checking and repairing these vulnerable points, particularly focusing on the exterior caulking as a primary barrier, you can effectively stop water from coming through your door.
