Frustration doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling when, after you have made double sure that your entire house is covered, blocked, insulated, heater on, or
fireplace blazing, kids warm, etc., some strange cold air just breezes into the house unannounced like it owns the place.
Neither does it sufficiently describe the feeling when, after you have decked yourself in the loosest garb you can find on a sweltering summer day, you feel the rush of a gentle breeze. Except that this one feels like it’s fresh from the oven. And the last time you checked, the
air conditioner was still on. What gives?!
When they coined the saying that great things come in small packages, they were not lying. The small portal under your mighty door is “small” enough to wreak havoc of gargantuan proportions in your mansion. Okay maybe that’s a bit exaggerated, but those little spaces are like portals for little imps— namely, unwanted hot and cold air— to waltz in of their own accord.
Since we can’t possibly make our doors sit directly on the floor (or it’s bye bye to our expensive
rug/carpet as the case may be), we will have to look elsewhere for a solution. That solution presents itself in the form of a lowly under door draft stopper (pun very much intended).
The under door draft stopper may seem quite synonymous to the proverbial underdog in appearance and attributes, but you bet that this thing does its job and does it well. You can’t afford not to have one in your home. They might be so easy to overlook, but these things can save you tons! Tons of energy! Tons of money! And tons of frustration!
Whether it’s summer or winter, you don’t have to put up with unwanted guests (you’re correct, if you read guests as air) in your home. Keep them out, and keep your sanity and happiness in. The under door draft stopper will help you.
Price
A good and durable under door draft stopper that’s affordable isn’t impossible to find and neither is a cheap under door draft stopper. Both are ubiquitous. So, if they are both ubiquitous, then wisdom demands that you stick to something that will pay off in the end, namely a good under door draft stopper that costs a little bit more. Those cheap ones will eventually turn expensive when you have to change them every so often. So how much will a good one cost? Anything that falls within the range of $15 to $30 is a good figure to have in mind. Normally, aesthetics, length, and other tidbits will, understandably, cause you to retain or spare a few more bucks as the case may be.
Features
The trick to spotting a good under door draft stopper is more a thing of common sense than an esoteric pattern privy only to a certain privileged few. We’re pretty sure you already have a few of them in your head. So, at the risk of revealing what’s already an open secret, let us examine some features to look out for in a good under door draft stopper:
- Material
- Filling
- Aesthetics
- Cleaning
- Length
- Extras
We’ll briefly describe these features below.
Construction and Design
Perhaps the first thing to check on when picking an under door draft stopper is the material from which its covering is made. Some coverings might be made of suede, corduroy, polyester fleece (oh so fluffy!), or even natural materials for nature lovers.
Really, it depends on what you love. But then again, you really want to place functionality over aesthetics. You should be aiming for a draft stopper whose material is tough enough to absorb whatever is coming. Plus, it has to be tough enough to withstand tears or ripping, or else money is lost.
Another feature that contributes significantly to the absorbing power of a draft stopper is, of course, the filling. Materials of choice are usually poly fiber or polyester. Of the two stuffing materials, poly fiber is the heavier one. Keep that in mind.
The aesthetics of your draft stopper is a decision that’s entirely up to you to make. Many draft stoppers come in mouth-dropping designs, intricate embroidery, and stunning needlework. Some stoppers even come with beautiful wordings. You can treat your visitors to a happy welcome and goodbye with these pieces in your home.
Draft stoppers don’t have to be dull and drab because of their work; they can actually spice up your home and add a little something to your home décor. A good idea would be to pick out something that goes with the theme of your interior. Like something natural if you have a largely wooden interior.
Another thing to look out for is the size of your draft stopper. A standard door is about 32 feet in width (yea, thank us later). So you should be looking at something a little over 32 feet in length. It should not be too long or too short. This is to ensure full coverage.
Your draft stopper should have bulk, but not so much that it begins to impede the free flow of traffic. Get something that’s just right. We know it sounds a little complex but you don’t need to walk around with measuring instruments. Just estimate what you think would work best.
Performance and Ease of Use
You do not need to “know” how to use a draft stopper but you might just need to know a little about cleaning and maintenance. You have to be especially careful about the tidiness of your stopper. As with everything that “lives” on the floor/ground, there is that huge tendency of encountering mildew somewhere along the way. So, your stopper should be cleaned every other day.
Usually, for most stoppers, laundry will mean removing the cover cloth and throwing it into the wash. Some others will survive with an occasional pat down. Whatever the case, let your situation and simple common sense direct you. You definitely will know what to do when it comes time to clean your stopper.
There are a few extras that brands throw in to make your draft even more functional. Some might add a little handle to help in storage. This way, your draft stopper never really leaves the door. You know how little things like that have the knack for disappearing to outer space at the exact moment we need them, only to appear right before our eyes several days after—when we’ve probably given up and gotten a new one.
Some draft stoppers are actually absorbent enough to “swallow” sound. So, if you’re looking for something for your studio, or your confidential board room, or something like that, you can check out those specific types. A few manufacturers carry some of these options.
The best draft stopper for you depends on different factors. For instance, if you need a draft stopper that can serve as a soundproofer, you will want a different one than someone who needs a draft stopper with natural materials for filling. Whatever your preference, we trust that you will find the exact one that meets your needs as you read through the following individual reviews, especially since you’re now armed with info from our guide.
We believe that you now have sufficient information to make your purchase decision. Go on and buy your draft stopper of choice.
