Do Door Sweeps Keep Water Out? [Solved]

Last updated on October 21, 2023

Yes, door sweeps can keep water out and from entering your home under the door if the gap is too big. Here’s how.

You should check your local building codes regarding waterproofing requirements for exterior doors. In most places, you need some sort of weather-resistant barrier around the perimeter of the door (typically at least 2″ thick) and possibly even inside the frame of the door itself. This may include caulking around the edges of the sill plate, caulk around the threshold, a door sweep, etc.

A door sweep may also be needed in bathroom doors to prevent any water from leaking into other rooms through the floor. While the bathroom floor is usually tiled, it is not the case with adjustment rooms where water can cause damage.

A door sweep is a simple solution designed to prevent water from entering through the under-the-door gap. That’s all it does. If you don’t like how it looks, you can always paint it over.

A door sweep works by creating a wedge shape across the bottom edge of the door. When the door is closed, the sweep provides the seal. Other benefits of such seals are soundproofing, thermal insulation, and the prevention of insect intrusion.

Exterior Door Inspection for Water Leaks

The answer depends on where you live. Some jurisdictions require a weatherstrip or other type of sealant around the entire perimeter of the door. Others only require this around the top half of the door.

In either case, if you have any doubts about whether your door needs a sealant, ask your local building inspector. They will be able to tell you exactly what’s needed.

How do you know if your door is leaking? If you’re looking to purchase a new door, you may want to consider buying a door sweep. This handy tool can help prevent moisture from getting inside your home.

A door sweep is a device used to seal up the gap between the door and its frame. The purpose of this device is to prevent moisture from entering through the door.

Door Sweeps to Stop Water from Entering

Exterior doors should be inspected for leaks before being used. Doors installed below generous roof overhang are usually safe, but doors exposed in our climate are not trustworthy. Anyone can notice an obvious leakage, but a more nuanced understanding of the exterior door installation helps me see how the door may perform when I leave the inspection. Future problems can be spotted and prevented if you know what to watch out for.

Consider these types of door sweeps that can help prevent water from entering your home through the bottom gap of the door.

Magnetic Door Sweep

This is an example of a door draft stopper meant for use with exterior metal doors. They’re an excellent fit for high-security building exteriors, as well as commercial buildings.

Automatic Door Bottoms

These door bottoms work much like magnetic door sweeps, except they are attached directly to the bottom of the door. They close automatically as the door is closed shut.

Weatherstripping

There are many different weatherstrips available, including those made specifically for exterior doors. Weatherstripping is often sold pre-installed on doors, which makes them very convenient.

Rubber Sweep

The door sweep is made out of rubber, and it doesn’t allow water inside. It’s designed to be used in wet climates, but it’ll work anywhere. It’s usually made with a U shape that blocks both sides of your doors and works like a gasket, and it insulates twice as much as other types of sweeps.

Installing and Maintaining a Door Sweep to Keep Water Out

Exterior door sweeps should always be installed to the outside of the door. Snow, dirt, and pests collect under the door and cause problems. A strip-style door sweep with an adhesive back is the easiest to install. Peel off the backing and apply the sweep to the door. Drive some screws into the door if you use a strip-style door sweep.

Under-door sweeps can often be slid under your door quickly. Sometimes you’ll need to remove the door from its hinges to install them. When a door sweep breaks, bends, or gets damaged, replacing it is as easy as taking out the old one and putting in a new one.

You can check if your door is leaking by moving a candle or incense around the door from the outside. If the smoke moves very swiftly, it means that there is a draft.

If you find that your door is leaking, then you might want to think about installing a weatherstrip around the whole door. Weatherstrips are strips of rubber that go around the edges of the door. They stop rainwater from coming in and stop cold air from escaping. You can buy weatherstripping at most hardware stores.

Caulking

If you don’t have access to a weatherstrip, you could try using caulk instead. Caulk is like glue – it stops things from going together. But unlike glue, caulking won’t dry out and crack.

Caulking is best used along the bottom edge of the door. Make sure that you put enough to go all the way around the door. Once you’ve done this, ensure that you wipe away any excess caulk.

Caulking will only work if you clean the area where you’re applying it. Otherwise, the caulk will sit there and look ugly.

Silicone Spray

If you’d instead not use caulk, you could try using a silicone spray. These sprays are designed to stop water from seeping through cracks and holes. Silicone sprays come in different strengths. Some are stronger than others.

The strongest ones can seal up small gaps. However, these sprays are expensive and aren’t cheap to replace.

FAQ

Why does my door leak when it rains?

A door leaks when it’s not sealed correctly. The seals may be broken and need fixing. The gap under the door may be too large. Consider adding a door sweep to stop water from entering your home under the door.

What happens when I leave my door open for too long?

Rainwater can leak in through the gap between the door and the frame. You should close the door whenever you leave the house to prevent this.

How often should I change my door sweeps?

Ideally, every year. If you live in an area with heavy rainfall, then you’ll probably want to change your door sweeps more frequently.

Do door sweeps keep water from entering?

Yes, door sweeps can keep water from entering. They stop rainwater from leaking through the gaps.

Recap