Drafty Mail Slot

Installation instructions for an Elite Model DraftDodger™ Insulated Mail Slot. Mail slots help to keep you out of the rain and the cold. The mail carrier drops the mail right into your house, and you can pick up your mail without putting on your shoes. The disadvantage of having a mail slot is that it also allows warm or cold-conditioned air out and a small amount of noise in.

The Mail Slot Sleeve was developed to cover The Mail Slot Sleeve was developed to cover the edges of exterior door openings and prevent mail from falling into hollow core doors. Made from stainless steel for maximum durability and performance, the Mail Slot Sleeve is compatible with all Gibraltar Mail Slots. A draft free mail slot – a central vac sweep door – a counter top garbage trap: Three of the most useful SLOTS you have ever seen. Slots are simply small passageways through something. In this segment we looked at three very nifty Slots — all completely different. The counter top. Overview FHC Draft-Free Mail Slots are designed to cut drafts, reduce outside noise and odors, and offer increased security against break-ins & identity theft. Both the exterior and interior flaps open to 135 degrees for easy access. Durable nylon torsion rods keep both flaps tightly shut.

Watertown Housing Authority:

During our energy performance contract with Ameresco Inc, the housing authority completed over three million dollars in energy upgrades. New boilers, toilets, lighting, thermostats, windows and even cogeneration (heat power) systems for domestic hot water were installed.

One major issue at one of our 31 building – 168 apartment developments was the front door mail slots in existing metal, insulated doors. On days when the outside temperature dropped below 25 degrees the draft created by the mail slots eliminated the efficiencies of the new heating boilers dropping space temperatures in the apartments below the minimum health code requirements. Our options were to increase boiler supply temperatures and sacrifice energy savings or find a solution to the mail slots acceptable to the local post office.

Your insulated mail slot saved the day!! After proper installation by my staff the draft issue was totally eliminated allowing the new high efficiency boilers to do what they were designed to do…provide comfort to our residents at the most cost effective setting.

Thank you for a great product!

Brian Costello
Assistant Director
Watertown Housing Authority

Recommended by Jon Eakes – Host of HGTV Canada & DIY Network’s “Just
Ask Jon Eakes”

“At long last, someone has invented a cold climate mail slot! Now you can have
mail privacy, energy efficiency and the elimination of those uncomfortable cold air drafts!”
Ask Jon Eakes
www.joneakes.com:

A draft free mail slot – a central vac sweep door – a counter top garbage trap: Three of the most useful SLOTS you have ever seen. Slots are simply small passageways through something. In this segment we looked at three very nifty Slots — all completely different.

The counter top …

Central vacuum cleaners …

How about a through door mail slot that does not give you cold drafts? The Draft Dodger has two gasketed and spring loaded doors, one on each side of the door to really keep out the cold air. It even has brushes to block the cold air if someone left a letter in the middle of the slot rather than pushing it all the way through. And the double doors helps increase security for the door, you can’t reach through from the outside easily. You can purchase this great device from the DHDTV Specialty Hardware Store.

When you are cutting slots there are some tips to make the job easier. Check out the next to last picture above. If your slot will show, that is there is no flange to cover the edges like with the counter top butcher block, you will need to drill your blade holes well inside of the slot outline and then go back with the jig saw and clean out the corners square
after you cut the slot. However, if you have a flange, like on both the Vac Sweep and the Draft Dodger, drill the holes
centred right at the corners of the slot. This will actually give you clearance for the corners of the insert as well as make the cutting job quicker and easier.

When cutting on a surface that you do not want to scratch, cut out a piece of construction paper slightly larger than the slot. Place this over the work and have the jig saw ride on this protective covering. You will have no scratch marks on
that newly painted door.

Jon Eakes – Home Improvement Expert / Lecturer / TV Host

100 DIY Home Projects for Under $100

We’ve rounded up our favorite budget ideas to inspire your next DIY home improvement project.
By

You don’t need a large budget to give your home a noticeable boost. Whether you’re looking for functional fixes, to enhance visual appeal, or just a small refresh—there are a number of ways to update your home cheaply and easily.

The editors of This Old House share their favorite home projects you can do yourself on a budget.

Seal for Delivery

How to do it: Swap in an insulated mail slot to keep out weather and muffle noise.
Estimated cost: Polished aluminum Draft Dodger insulated mail slot, about $45;
(available at) The Official DraftDodger™ Insulated Mail Slot Store (formerly DHDTV Specialty Hardware)

Featured in the October 2009 issue of This Old House Magazine – “100 DIY
Upgrades for Under $100: Exterior and Entry” and on-line at www.ThisOldHouse.com

This Old House Magazine, “100 DIY Upgrades for Under $100: Exterior and
Entry“, www.ThisOldHouse.com, Jon Eakes, HGTV Canada & DIY Network trade names, trade symbols and images are the sole property and trademarks of This Old House, Jon Eakes, HGTV Canada & DIY Network respectively

This week, while looking through Avista’s DIY Home Energy Savings Tips, one item stood out to me. “Find and plug draft leaks.” This is advice not only for the winter months, but in the summer, when we are trying so hard to keep the house cool while the temperature reaches 100 degrees outside.

My old 1910 house leaks like a sieve, and this is an ongoing project for me. A couple of weeks ago, I placed gaskets inside my electrical outlets and light switches. Before that, I installed door sweeps along the bottom of my front and back doors.

We moved into my house in January 2019. It was cold outside, and we kept feeling a large draft near the stairs.

Baldwin Brass Mail Slot

It was the mail slot on the wall next to the front door. One tiny metal flap that taps against the house when it’s windy is doing a fairly poor job of keeping out the drafts.

Our initial solution was to stuff paper towels in the slot. But after the mail comes, if we’re not home that doesn’t do us much good, since the paper towels and the mail are now on the floor.

I’ve been looking for something to cover this with since we moved in. I’ve checked hardware stores and searched on the internet, but I haven’t really found a good cover for these. I finally found something online that I hope will work.

Drafty Mail Slot Tool

It’s a mail bag. Its made from quite thick material, so I’m pretty sure it can keep out the drafts. I placed two Velcro strips above and below the mail slot. Then I attached the bag. Super easy solution—It didn’t even require me to use any tools.

This solution is also pretty handy, since it collects the mail in a bag instead of all over the floor.

Drafty Mail Slot Game

Lisa, an Avista customer, bought her 1910 house because she loved the old-world character, some of which doesn’t make her house very energy efficient. Lisa is sharing her experience on taking some simple do-it-yourself improvements to inspire others to do the same. You’ll find her stories right here every Tuesday morning.