Fall invaders and drafts
Best weatherstripping for pests
The best weatherstripping for pests is new material on a door or window that no longer meets the stop. Brown marmorated stink bug, Asian lady beetle, and Boxelder bug overwinter in the same leaks that waste heat. Mice use those leaks too when the gap is large enough. Buy the profile that matches the gap you can see, and buy a door sweep if the daylight is at the floor, not at the jamb.
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Best for jambs and sashes: Door and window weatherstripping. Replace crushed foam. A thicker strip that keeps the door from latching is the wrong size. The door has to close and the gap has to disappear.
Compare the picks
| Role | Tool | Best for | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for jambs and sashes | Door and window weatherstripping | Doors and windows that leak at the stop | Hardware |
| Best for the sill | Door sweep / garage threshold seal | Daylight at the floor | Hardware |
| Best for trim joints | Exterior sealant for gaps and joints | Utility penetrations and settled casing | Hardware |
Which one to buy
Hardware
Door and window weatherstripping
Best for jambs and sashes — Replace crushed foam. A thicker strip that keeps the door from latching is the wrong size. The door has to close and the gap has to disappear.
Hardware
Door sweep / garage threshold seal
Best for the sill — Weatherstripping does not fix the bottom of the door. If the paper slides under the slab, you need a sweep.
Hardware
Exterior sealant for gaps and joints
Best for trim joints — Caulk the joint that is not a moving door. Do not caulk a weep hole. Stink bugs use the crack. Water uses the weep.
Buy it before the sunny wall fills up
Boxelder bugs and brown marmorated stink bugs mass on south and west walls in fall, then walk into the attic through the same trim gaps all winter. Sealing in October beats vacuuming them off the curtains in January. A fogger in the living room does not treat the siding. Vacuum the ones already in, and do not crush a pile of stink bugs on a rug.
Common questions
What weatherstripping keeps stink bugs out?
Whatever closes the actual leak: door stops, window sashes, and caulk at trim. There is not a scented strip that repels them if the gap remains.
Does weatherstripping stop mice?
It stops mice at a jamb gap a pencil fits through. It does not stop a rat under a garage door. Pair it with a sweep and mesh where the hole is larger.
Should I seal in the fall or the spring?
Before the insects congregate, which is late summer into fall for the classic wall invaders. Spring is when you notice you did not.