If your pet uses a dog door, heat loss through the opening during winter can happen. It can be an issue. It can not only put your household at an uncomfortable temperature, but it can also spike your energy bills. With that, an insulated dog door flap is a must.
In this article, you will know how to weatherproof a dog flap, some best dog doors you can try, how to prevent air from going through dog flaps. Plus the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about weatherproof dog doors.
How to Weatherproof a Dog Flap
Consider winterizing your dog door if you currently have one and don’t want to replace it. These easy techniques can help your dog door perform better in the winter:
- You can use silicone caulks to close any air holes or gaps. It is one of the best choices since most silicone caulks are highly resistant to weather, temperature, water, and chemicals, making them versatile for indoor and outdoor use.
- According to the U.S Department of Energy, weatherstripping or attaching seals around an entryway door to fill in the gaps around the pet door frame can also help to maintain the heat in your house during winter and keep the cool air inside during summer.
- Incorporating magnets at the bottom part of your door makes the flaps stay in place. Thus avoiding air from going in.
- Lastly, use curtain material made of industrial plastic to reinforce fragile door flaps. Adding a second door flap also helps since it adds a layer of protection.
Best Dog Doors for Winter
Let us now talk about some of the best dog doors for winter that you can try.
Magnetic Seal
When your dog door is not in use, it is effectively sealed shut with high-quality magnetic weatherstripping. It prevents the warm air in your house from escaping.
Endura Flap Pet Door for Single Flap Doors
For exterior doors, interior doors, condos, dog houses, dog kennels, dog doors, gates, and ramps, the Endura Flap Pet Door for Single Flap Doors is ideal. Furthermore, it comes in different sizes that can fit a large dog, including small, medium, large, and XL pet doors.
The Endura Door Mount Pet Door has small and large pet door magnets that can be removed from the dog door flap to accommodate smaller pets without sacrificing the extreme weather dog door protection quality. The doggy door may be matched to your home’s decor with the frame colors of White, Tan, and Black.
Last but not least, Endura dog door magnets offer adjustable strength for teaching hesitant animals and for keeping the dog door sealed against winds of up to 50 mph and temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. This insulated dog door is more energy efficient than typical dog door products, making it more weatherproof than any other extremely tough plastic dog door design.
However, there are some complaints regarding the product’s weight. According to some pet owners, their small dogs find it too hard to push the door flap open because it is too hard or heavy. Aside from that, this dog flap might not be the best choice for heavy chewers.
Pros
- Comes with a weather protection
- Keeps the door sealed against strong winds and harsh temperatures
Cons
- Might not be the best choice for heavy chewers
- It can be too heavy for small dogs
Rubber or Plastic Flap
The rubber of plastic is the standard pet door flap that can flex and bend to your pet’s back when they enter their dog door. Plastic, vinyl, and rubber are just a few of the materials that may be used to create the flaps. Flexible door flaps are made to be pushed open with ease.
PetSafe Extreme Weather Door
The PetSafe Extreme Weather Door is a unique three-flap mechanism that claims to be 3.5 times more energy efficient than other single-flap doors. Due to its ability to keep warm and cool air inside your home, this dog flap is ideal for hot and cold climates.
Additionally, a snap-on closing panel enables you to prevent your pet from using the pet door. Use an additional closing panel, which is sold separately, on the exterior to provide further weather protection. Furthermore, it comes with instructions, a cutting template, and installation hardware for a simple DIY project.
On the other hand, the problem with this product is its durability issues. Based on buyer reviews, this product cannot withstand strong storms or dog chewing. In addition, some pet owners also complained about how it can be too hard to assemble.
Pros
- Claims to be 3.5 times more efficient
- Comes with a snap-on closing panel
- Has a unique three-flap mechanism feature
Cons
- Durability issues
- It can be hard to assemble
How to Prevent Doggie Doors From Letting the Air In?
Air going through dog doors can cause a lot of problems. So, it is crucial to understand how to prevent it from happening. Therefore, below are some of the preventive measures you can take:
- You might not even require a replacement pet door to stop drafts coming in via the pet door, depending on how your home is set up. For instance, in many older homes, the back door is situated between the dining room and kitchen and can be divided from those two rooms by doors. If you wish to use your pet door during the winter months and have a similarly designed home, just make sure that the proper doors are shut when the pet door is in use, so the drafts are limited around the rear door area. During the winter, your heating costs will probably still go up a little bit, but not significantly.
- While this might not be convenient for your dog, temporarily closing the pet door will lessen the pet door drafts in winter. Anytime your dog doesn’t require it or is spending the day with you outside, you may cover the doggy door.
- If the dog door keeps getting drafty despite all the preventative measures you took, maybe it is time to also consider other dog door products. There are dog doors that are specially made to withstand harsh weather. Plus, a durable and sturdy pet door is least likely to be drafty or let air in.
Weatherproof a Dog Flap: FAQs
Here are some of the answers to the most frequently asked questions about weatherproofing a dog flap:
As previously mentioned, you can seal the dog door flap in different ways. First, you can add magnets at the bottom of the door so it stays in one place. Secondly, you can also use silicon caulks and curtain materials made from industrial plastic. And lastly, weatherstripping also seals a dog door flap.
Weatherproof dog flaps are considered the most energy-efficient dog doors since it ensures that cold air will not go inside the house. As mentioned, an example of this would be the Endura Flap Pet Door for Single Flap Doors and PetSafe Extreme Weather Door.
Dog doors made with high-quality materials will not let cold air inside your home. Moreover, learning how to make your dog door weatherproof or winter-ready also minimizes the chances of cold air going inside or heat loss.
Use all of the weatherstripping and supplies that came with your door to insulate your dog door. A top-notch pet door won’t need to be supplemented with additional insulation.
Dog flaps not made to withstand cold or harsh climates can be draughty or flimsy at times. With that, investing in a dog door specially made for certain seasons is a must.
In conclusion, insulated dog door flaps are crucial primarily if your home is located in an area that experiences harsh climates from time to time. Moreover, if you want to ensure that your dog’s door flap will not cause any surge in your bills, better make it weatherproof to avoid the cold air from getting inside your house.
And lastly, we recommend investing in high-quality and durable dog doors for winter since some dog flaps are not made to withstand harsh weather.