samedi 28 novembre 2015

About Rubber Weather Stripping For Home And Auto

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'.

Especially in cold winter areas like Middletown, NY, keeping air, rain, or snow out of sealed spaces is important. In a home, leaky windows and doors are major energy drains. Drafts can make life miserable on windy days when you're trying to relax.

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.

Although factory seals usually last for years, they can be degraded if your car sits outside in both heat and cold. If you get a new paint job, your car might look great but your sunroof might not work as well. Cleaning chemicals can damage the seals around doors and windows.

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.

For your car, you order specific stripping just like any other car part. Even when ordering online, you'll need make and model information for your automobile. Even though this should get you the exact type you need, how-to sites advise closely comparing it with what is already on your car. Be certain they match before removing the old and installing the new.

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.

There are how-to videos and sites online to tell you the best ways to install the seals you need. You'll need to be familiar with the types (like channel seals or bulb seals), the configuration, and the adhesive that works best for the new, as well as the correct solvent to remove old adhesive.




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