Sunday, November 29, 2015

Winterize Your House, Restore Your Car With Rubber Weather Stripping

By Marci Nielsen


As people keep their cars longer and get their homes ready for winter, they need to know how to renew seals around doors and windows that may have degraded over the years. Rubber weather stripping for both house and auto are just what the handyman ordered to keep the elements out of your personal space. Different products designed to keep wind, water, snow, dust, and noise out are available for you to 'do it yourself'.

People who live in northern places like Middletown, NY, know that winter is no time to have leaky windows or doors that let cold air into cozy places. Sitting in a draft is never comfortable when you're trying to watch TV. Failure to weatherproof your home can raise your energy bills significantly and make life a lot more uncomfortable.

Cars come with weatherstripping around the windshield, the side and rear windows, the trunk, and the sunroof if they have one. You can tell if window seals are getting worn if you hear whistling sounds as you drive. Another clue is when you find stuff in the backseat or the trunk wet after a car wash. Of course, if the sunroof drips on you every time it rains, you'll already know the problem.

Automobile factory weatherstripping is usually pretty good for years of driving. However, weather and general wear and tear can degrade it. Maybe you hit a deer and your insurance company coughs up for repairs, including a new paint job. You may find that your sunroof works less easily and is less weatherproof than it was. The same may go for seals around doors and windows. Paint and other chemicals can damage the seals, so be careful with cleaning products, too.

For the home, there are rubber foam strips that come in various widths and thicknesses. This kind of protection is sold in rolls and has adhesive on one side. All you have to do is cut it to fit and press it into place around and under doors and anywhere else that cold air can get in. It's easy to remove for the summer, although those with air conditioning might need it year-round.

Replacement weather stripping for autos is sold like any other car part. You order a specific strip for the make, model, and year of your car. Ordering this way should give you an exact match, but you need to compare the new strips carefully with the old before removing the old strips, just to be sure.

When manufacturers advertise 'rubber' strips or foam, they're probably not talking about the rubber that comes from trees in South America. The more modern material has a mineral base rather than the carbon one that plant-derived materials have. Silicone rubber is supposed to be more durable, withstand high temperatures better, and be more chemical resistant than the old-fashioned kind.

Like any other scary do-it-yourself chore, you'll find a lot of how-to sites and videos on replacing weatherstripping. You have to be careful, but it really isn't all that hard to restore your automobile weatherproofing or to seal your home tightly against the elements. Check out the different kinds of seals (like channel or bulb) and find the perfect one for the job you have.




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