cold in from mail slot

**qweezyq** · 01-02-2013, 11:22 AM

We have a mail slot in our front door, which has a flap on it, but it is letting in a lot of cold air. Any suggestions? I have though of installing a glass door in front of it, but any other ideas out there?

**Eastcoast** · 01-02-2013, 11:28 AM

Does it have an interior flap as well, I have seen some that have both an exterior and interior flap.

**paul100** · 01-02-2013, 09:39 PM

Most of all the newer mailslots do have two flaps. You can get some self stick weather strip and put it behind the flap.

**qweezyq** · 01-03-2013, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by paul100

Most of all the newer mailslots do have two flaps. You can get some self stick weather strip and put it behind the flap.

Actually if you look on Home Depots page you would be suprised that it seems they are all one flap.

I am thinking I may make my own rubber flap to put inside. Not sure how I will attach it. I dont think adhesive will last too long. Will have to see if there is enough room on the screw to screw it to the frame.

**qweezyq** · 01-03-2013, 09:22 AM

I am probably going to end up throwing down the few hundred bucks to install a storm door.

**billy ross** · 01-03-2013, 09:26 AM

I like storm doors, but they're a maintenance headache. Unless you actually want to have a storm door (and I've installed them in my own home because I like to have them them, despite their hassles), I'd try to weatherize the mailslot first. First I'd buy one for the inside and install it - I've done this in the past and it's worked well. Second I'd replace or at least reinstall the one on the outside, taking care that it make a good seal both against the door and also that the slot closes properly. The combination of the last two is generally enough to take care of it.

**Eastcoast** · 01-03-2013, 09:58 AM

Looks like you need the Draft Dodger son!

North America's Best Insulated Mail Slot - The Draft Dodger™ Insulated Mail Slot

It always amazes me the sheer number of specialty manufactured products that are out there, how many of these things are these guys selling?

Anyway, this looks like the insulated mail slot to end all mail slots, it even has some type of draft reducing internal brush setup. It's in the $50 dollar range and I feel certain that you'll be the first on your block to own...The Draft Dodger!

**qweezyq** · 01-03-2013, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by billy ross

I like storm doors, but they're a maintenance headache. Unless you actually want to have a storm door (and I've installed them in my own home because I like to have them them, despite their hassles), I'd try to weatherize the mailslot first. First I'd buy one for the inside and install it - I've done this in the past and it's worked well. Second I'd replace or at least reinstall the one on the outside, taking care that it make a good seal both against the door and also that the slot closes properly. The combination of the last two is generally enough to take care of it.

First thanks to East coast for the draft dodger idea.... that may be the way to go. I really need to decide to go with the 50 dollar draft dodger idea or spend a couple hundred more and get a storm door, which I am sure will insulate better while giving me the option to leave my front door open in nice days while keeping bugs out and my dog in. Curious why the storm doors are maintenance headaches? I should add, the door is recessed and under a covered area about 3 feet deep, so weather should not be a big issue with the door. I was looking at an anderson door at HD that seemed to be pretty good quality.

thanks

**Neb** · 01-03-2013, 10:51 AM

After several Netflix movies got chewed up by my dog, I sealed off the mail slot and got a large, locked mailbox and bolted it up outside the house. That solved the draft problems too.

**qweezyq** · 01-03-2013, 10:56 AM

thanks

**DavidT** · 01-03-2013, 10:57 AM

In the old country, we used to use these things Brievenbusborstel Bruin . Basically a 'brush' that keeps some of the draft out. Was better than nothing.

**Naveen** · 01-03-2013, 11:13 AM

I have this problem too. I'm gonna have to take a look at the Draft Dodger. Luckily I have a vestibule, so that really does 90% of the work. What a difference when the vestibule door is left open!

**qweezyq** · 01-03-2013, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Naveen

I have this problem too. I'm gonna have to take a look at the Draft Dodger. Luckily I have a vestibule, so that really does 90% of the work. What a difference when the vestibule door is left open!

I have an open love affair with vestibules. especially beautifully tiled ones with etched glass doors. I am very jealous I don't have one.

**dcss1205** · 01-03-2013, 06:31 PM

Thumb tack a large piece of heavy cloth creating a curtain.
This is analogous to what you do to a drafty window.
Even with a new storm door this should still be installed.

**AsYouWere** · 01-03-2013, 07:25 PM

Fill it with spray foam with both sides plated over.

Hang a basket on door for mail afterwards, or....

Get a new insulated door and mailbox.

**billy ross** · 01-03-2013, 07:42 PM

"The winds of March that make my heart a dancer"...

Also treat storm doors like nice, stiff sails, ripping them out or careless hands and off if the hinges. Then..

"Something there is that doesn't love a wall"...

Also applies to storm door screens.

We have full view painted poplar storm doors, five of them. Every Spring it's out with five panes of glass and in with five panes of screens, one of which is invariably rescreened for that year. Then the weather swells and shrinks them, and they drag on the thresholds. Still, I love the fresh air and the sunlight. Just this year I had to buy another new one because I couldn't figure out how to replace the broken glass pane otherwise. Got it done just in time for the winter.

Originally Posted by qweezyq

First thanks to East coast for the draft dodger idea.... that may be the way to go. I really need to decide to go with the 50 dollar draft dodger idea or spend a couple hundred more and get a storm door, which I am sure will insulate better while giving me the option to leave my front door open in nice days while keeping bugs out and my dog in. Curious why the storm doors are maintenance headaches? I should add, the door is recessed and under a covered area about 3 feet deep, so weather should not be a big issue with the door. I was looking at an anderson door at HD that seemed to be pretty good quality.

thanks

**wooglin** · 01-09-2013, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Eastcoast

Looks like you need the Draft Dodger son!

North America's Best Insulated Mail Slot - The Draft Dodger™ Insulated Mail Slot

It always amazes me the sheer number of specialty manufactured products that are out there, how many of these things are these guys selling?

Anyway, this looks like the insulated mail slot to end all mail slots, it even has some type of draft reducing internal brush setup. It's in the $50 dollar range and I feel certain that you'll be the first on your block to own...The Draft Dodger!

I have the Draft Dodger installed in my front door. I searched long & hard to find it. I couldn't believe there was no one in USA making something like this. Draft Dodger comes from Canada. It has 2 features - the interior and/or the exterior has a gasket AND a magnetic catch/closure. Secondly, there are the brushes top & bottom inside the slot. The problem with the brushes? The mail man does not love to push mail thru them. If you have enough mail & it is stiff enough, he/she can easily push it thru the brushes. However if there is only one or 2 #10 envelopes, they fold up inside the slot.
After a few months, the top set of brushes broke off my slot due to the mailman pushing too much thru. I have not replaced it yet and mail comes inside a bit better. But my mail seldom gets all the way inside to the floor - probably because my slot is so low on the door. The brushes hold it back a bit, the inside flap is always pushed half open and occasionally the front flap too which of course defeats the purpose of the draft dodging purpose. If your slot is high enough (as USPS actually requires), you shouldn't have this issue.

**bobvila** · 01-13-2013, 02:16 PM

i've used this for years and been happy:
Product Information

if you have a metal door they just send you a sheet of almost refrigerator magnet material which is attached across the top and seals against the door. if you have a wood door they send an additional sheet of adhesive backed material which attracts the magnet. the plus side is you can use any exterior mail slot (or keep your existing). the down side is that occasionally the mail man won't push hard enough when it is only a flimsy item (such as a single letter or when menus get dropped off) and it gets stuck in the middle. but overall it works well and stops drafts, especially since i have a single door directly exposed to the weather (no storm door)