Door seals

Low-cost/no-cost option

Try using a simple door 'snake' or 'sausage'. This old-fashioned version of a draught excluder is a stuffed, upholstered cylinder laid down at the base of the door to completely block the gap between the bottom adge of the door and the floor. A well-weighted door snake can be just as effective as the more sophisticated (and more expensive) hardware options. Make your own-or head to the local school fete!

Sweep seals

For door bottoms are flexible seals mounted to eather the bottom edge or the back face of the door. They are most effective when used along with a metal strip that screw into place on the sill (call the 'threshold plate'). When the flexible material meets the threshold plate, the gap is sealed. For inward- or outword-opening hinged doors, screen doors and security doors, you can use sweep seals that have either vertical rubber blades or synthetic bruches. For sliding doors, choose the kind with synthetic brushes , as the rubber blades can interfere with the door's sliding action.

Rolling seals

Rolling seals are door-lenght cylinders covered in a textured or furry materials that are fixed to the door with brackets or hooks. The motion of the door prompt the rolling action of the cylinder. Rolling seals aren't recommeded for internal doors, but are great for internal doors, especially those surrounded by carpet. Use them on doors that separate heated zones, for example on the hallway door that leads from heated living spaces to the unheated bedrooms.

Automatic door bottom seals

Are simple mechanical devices desingn to lift as the door is opened, and then drop again as the door is closed. Spring-loaded devices can be slotted into the bottom edge of the door or fixed to the back face of the door. Cam-activated devices which flip clear when the door is opened and swing shut again when the door is closed can only be fitted to the back face.