Which type of weather stripping should I use for old windows and doors?
Older houses often have windows and doors that no longer seal properly because the rubber gets dry and worn out. Choosing between options like foam, brush, or replacement seals can be confusing when trying to fix drafts and restore a proper fit.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1using magnetic strips like a refrigerator door
- 2using the rubber stuff with the adhesive back instead of foam
- 3Trying to use a heat gun to straighten out dents in the rubber seal
- 4Look on top of the door or check weather stripping for a maker stamp
- 5Check the maker website for details
- 6Replace it with a different type of door sweep available online or at a hardware store rather than an identical match
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Haven't tried to see whether a heat gun could straighten out the dent in the window seal, but all the rubber is getting dry anyway so would prefer replacing it if possible.”source ↗
“Our house is pretty old, the windows and doors are not properly sealing anymore. Is there a better type of weather stripping for each? Foam vs brush or something else?”source ↗
“Hello! I need help identifying the replacement for this door sweep. I really can’t figure out what to replace it with. No model or SKU anywhere on the door.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Upper floor window screens popping out of frames
- 4How to clean the inside of a double pane window
- 9How to replace a broken glass pane yourself
- 3Washing machine leaking from the door seal even after replacing gasket
- 2How to seal window gaps around an air conditioner against insects
- 4How to seal a gap under a glass door