Door bottom seal
Also called: door sweep, bottom weatherstrip
Quick answer: the door bottom seal is the strip along the bottom of a sliding panel that closes the gap above the sill. It is usually pile with a fin, or a flexible vinyl sweep. It works together with the drain holes in the sill to keep rain outside.
- Bottom seal, on the bottom rail, touching the sill
- Sill channel, where rain that gets past the panels collects
- Weep hole, a drain slot in the outside face of the sill
- Weep cover, a small flap that lets water out and keeps wind out
Water at the sill: what to check, in order
Most leaks under a sliding door start in the track, not the seal. Check the simple things first.
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Vacuum the trackDirt and leaves in the sill channel hold water and block the drains.
Safe to do yourself
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Clear and test the weep holesPush a soft wire through each one, then pour a cup of water in the track and watch it drain outside.
Safe to do yourself
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Look at the bottom sealTorn, flat or missing sections, or daylight under the closed panel, mean it needs replacing.
Take care: two people
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Still leaking after rainThe sill, the flashing under it, or a door that has settled out of line.
Call a pro
Fix it yourself or call a pro
- Safe yourselfVacuum the track, clear the weep holes and test them with a cup of water.
- Take careA new bottom seal usually means lifting the panel out of the track. Glass panels are heavy and tempered glass can shatter: two people at least, or call a pro.
- Call a proWater that still comes in with clear drains and a good seal, a cracked sill, or a bent track.
More on this: sliding door track repair for bent or damaged tracks.
Water or drafts under the door?
Select Sliding Doors replaces bottom seals and clears blocked sills as part of sliding door repair across Dallas-Fort Worth. Mon to Sat, 7am to 10pm.
Questions people ask
Why does water come in under my sliding door when it rains?
The most common cause is blocked weep holes, so the track fills and spills inside. A worn bottom seal, a damaged sill or a door that has settled out of line come next.
Can I caulk the gap under my sliding door?
Not the track or the weep holes. Caulk there traps water in the sill and makes leaks worse. The fix is a working seal and open drains.
Is the bottom seal part of the track?
No. The track is the metal ridge the rollers ride on. The seal is a strip on the panel that closes the gap above the sill. A bent track can still leave a gap the seal cannot close.
Related terms
Photo: own media library. Diagram: Select Sliding Doors.
