Cold draft under an exterior door
Urgency
1/5
Honest verdict: you can likely DIY this$0–$300Typical repair cost
Likely causes, most common first
- Worn or missing door sweep
- Threshold out of adjustment (many adjust with 4 screws)
- Weatherstripping compressed flat after years of closings
Do this right now
- Dollar-bill test around the full perimeter: where it slides out freely, seal there
- New sweep + adjusted threshold + fresh weatherstrip: under $60 in parts, an afternoon
DIY or call a pro?
Solid DIY. Call when the door itself is warped, the frame is rotted at the sill (probe with a screwdriver), or you want the whole door replaced before the next Chicagoland January.
Planning this project?
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