Not only is it a nuisance, but water coming in from under a door can be potentially damaging for your home.
This can happen whenever there is an opening between the inside and outside of your house as it makes it possible for water to get in. However, there are several solutions to prevent this from happening.
You can use different types of sealing to stop water leakage in doors. If the sealing has deteriorated over time, you can replace it or use another method to stop the water from coming in.
Plus, it may be worth considering whether your door is properly installed and if there is adequate caulking on the door frame.
If you want to find out the possible causes behind water leakage, and some simple ways to fix the issue, keep reading this article.
Causes Of Water Leakage On A Door Frame
1. Where Is The Water Coming From?
The first thing to do before even looking at your door is to find out where the source of the water is coming from.
If the cause is because of a broken gutter that is spilling out directly above the door, then the cause is likely to be that with a simple fix.
Sometimes it’s not at simple as that to find where the water is coming from, but it’s important to check if there’s anything you can do to stop the water before working on your door.
2. Inadequate Caulking On The Door
Caulking the doors, especially exterior ones is an important step in protecting your home from weather changes and elements.
It keeps air drafts at bay, makes your home more comfortable, and also lowers the energy cost by preventing air leaks.
It also stops water from permeating through the door. The caulking has to be done on the door frame to prevent the possibility of leakage.
You may want to check where the leak is coming from. To do this, you can use a burning candle and hold it near a closed door.
Move the candle around the door frame, and check the point where the flame starts to flicker. This will indicate where the leak is.
3. Incorrect Door Installation
It’s not usually easy to tell when your door has been installed incorrectly. However, there are some signs like creaking sounds, difficulty in closing or opening the door, a door opening or closing by itself, as well as water leakages.
An improperly installed door can have cracks between the wall and door frame which increases the airflow.
To fix the issue, you can either get the door repaired or completely replaced. A professional would be able to do the job best.
So, how can you decide whether the door should be repaired or replaced?
This can be a complex job that will require professionals. But before you go ahead, you need to make a sound decision.
Should you repair or replace the door? Go through the following factors before you decide:
- Consider the cost of repair and compare it to the replacement. Of course, a repair should be cheaper. However, the cost of a repair will vary depending on how badly installed the door is. If the price difference isn’t that great, you should simply opt for a replacement for better results.
- If the repaired door will have higher maintenance costs than necessary, installing a new door may be more cost-effective in the long term.
- Upgrading the door may be a good idea if you are planning to sell your home soon as this will add to its value.
How To Improve Your Door Seal To Prevent Water From Leaking
Things You Will Need
- Household cleaner, dish soap, or TSP
- Putty knife
- Utility knife
- Caulking gun
- Outdoor caulk
- Rubber mallet
- Screwdriver
- Bottom weatherstrip or door sweep
You can follow these steps to improve your door seal and make it more effective for preventing water leaks:
- Start by washing the door and door frame using any household cleaner of your choice. It is essential to remove any dirt or residue to help sealants adhere to the door properly.
- Use a putty knife and a utility knife to remove the existing caulking from the door frame. Try to get all the caulk out without damaging your door. Then, wipe it with a damp cloth to remove any remaining caulk residue. You can also use some rubbing alcohol to clean the gap that had the caulk. Now let it dry.
- Insert the new caulk into your caulking gun. Run a thin line of caulk along the doorframe. To make a straight line, you can apply some painter’s tape along the doorframe. You can use paintable caulk if you want it to match the color of your doorframe later. Then, smooth out the line using your wet finger. This is our favorite caulk and caulking gun.
- Next, remove the old weatherstrip or door sweep from the bottom of your door. You will need a screwdriver to remove the door sweep. The weatherstripping can be removed by prying the screwdriver.
- Next, cut the door sweep according to the size and attach the door sweep or weatherstrip to the bottom of the door. It is ideal to use the same application method as before.
- The door sweep can be attached using screws. You can apply the weatherstrip by applying some caulk on the bottom of the door on the inside. Then, apply the caulk on the weatherstrip on the side that has barbed seals.
- Next, insert the barbed seals into the small grooves on the door’s bottom. You can set them into place by using a rubber mallet on the weatherstrip.
- Then, you can install the door back in its frame.
- Also replace the top and side weatherstripping to make the door completely water-proof. You can also use self-adhesive weatherstripping which easily sticks on the door sides like tape.
More tips for sealing the door effectively
You should now test if the door is still leaking. For this, you should wait for it to rain and then check it out.
Other methods you can use to test the seal include lighting a candle or incense and moving it around the door.
You should be standing inside when you do this. If the smoke starts moving very suddenly, this means an air draft is still present (you may also notice your door shaking by itself).
Conclusion
Water leaks as well as cold and hot air seeping in can make your house uncomfortable and disrupt your peace.
Now you know detecting and solving the issue is very easy. Just remember to get the correct products, especially the sealant, if you want to find a long-lasting solution.
One example is silicone acrylic sealant which can be used on surfaces that are prone to water exposure.
We hope this article was helpful and informative for you. Best of luck!
