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During the winter months, your front door can quietly become one of the biggest problem areas in your home. Issues that are easy to ignore the rest of the year suddenly become obvious when cold air starts creeping in. But how do you know if your front door is actually failing you — and whether it’s time to repair or replace it?
Here are some key signs to look for.
Feel a Draft? Start With the Gaps
One of the first things homeowners should check is the exterior of the door, especially around the frame. If you can see light coming through around the edges, there’s a strong chance air is coming through too.
These gaps often develop over time as doors settle or shift. In other cases, the issue may be worn weatherstripping or compression seals. Most doors have seals designed to keep air out, but those seals can rip, tear, or pull loose as the door ages.
If the door itself is still straight and properly aligned, replacing the seals may be an option. However, if the door or frame is no longer plumb or straight and the gap can’t be eliminated, air will continue flowing in or out of the house — which is especially noticeable in winter.
Winter Makes the Problem Easier to Spot
While air leaks affect your home year-round, they’re much easier to detect during cold weather. In the summer, it’s hard to stand outside and feel cooled air escaping. In winter, however, walking past your front door and feeling cold air inside the house is a clear and immediate sign that something isn’t working as it should.
Consider the Age and Condition of the Door
Once gaps and drafts are noticeable, it’s worth stepping back and asking a few bigger questions:
- How old is the door?
- Do you like the way it looks?
- Is it still functioning well overall?
Many homes built in the 1980s and 1990s still have their original front doors. These doors often lack proper insulation, aren’t thermally broken, and may have been painted multiple times. Hardware may be worn out, and efficiency is usually far below modern standards.
At that point, repeatedly trying to fix seals or improve performance often isn’t worth it. Replacing the door can be the more practical solution.
Watch for Exterior Damage and Rot
Another important sign to look for is damage on the outside of the door or frame. Rotted wood — especially near the bottom or top corners of the frame — is a serious concern.
Winter can make these problems worse. Water can enter small gaps, freeze, and cause further separation and deterioration. After winter, homeowners often notice issues that existed before but were made significantly worse by cold temperatures.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Address It
If you notice problems during the winter, it’s best to address them sooner rather than later. Waiting another year can allow water intrusion to continue, which can lead to much bigger issues.
In many cases, water entering through a failing door doesn’t stop at the surface. It can reach the subfloor, rot flooring materials, and in severe situations even damage joists. What starts as a door replacement can quickly turn into a much larger — and more expensive — repair project.
Choose an Energy-Efficient Replacement
When it is time to replace your front door, energy efficiency should be a top priority. Modern steel and fiberglass doors are typically thermally broken and offer much better insulation performance than older models.
Upgrading to a well-insulated, properly installed door can help improve comfort, reduce drafts, and prevent the kinds of moisture-related issues that winter tends to expose.
Ready to explore your options with Presidential Exteriors? Schedule a free estimate for a front door replacement and see how a new front door can boost your home’s comfort and efficiency this winter.