Door mail slots

DaveC · 02-09-15, 03:22 PM

I have a mail slot going through the wall next to my front door and there's a pretty strong draft coming from it that I want to fix. There is a metal flap on the outside of the wall and nothing on the inside. I can even see daylight in the corners of the slot.

I'm tempted to cover the mail slot and have a normal mail box outside, but before I do that, any tips on how to make these more efficient?

PS, just moved into a new home and glad I found this web site! I have a feeling I'll be here often

where2 · 02-09-15, 09:26 PM

Welcome to our hangout!

How much space do you have between the outer flap and the retaining ring on your mail slot? We'll need to determine which types of insulation might be feasible based on the allowable spacing.

Ideally, something like vinyl flap with a magnetic trim mounted on the inside may be your best bet. What I'm envisioning, I could build for less than $10 with a small scrap of vinyl from the remnant bin at my local fabric store, and some magnetic tape.

DaveC · 02-09-15, 10:12 PM

Attached a few pictures for what it looks like and to show some of the gaps all around the flap.

The flap is spring loaded, so it does stay shut when closed. Think I just need to add some type of weather stripping around it and that would do the trick? Although a new magnetic flap like you described might be better, since the mailman did leave it all the way open once last week by accident.

Thanks for the feedback!!

Quest · 02-09-15, 11:37 PM

here in Canada we are blessed with ideas and some companies would actually go far enough to make something out of ideas.

This one is called "draft dodger" mail slot, and Rona has it.

Mail Slot | RONA

http://dhdtvspecialtyhardwarestore.ca/welcome.html

I bought one and installed @ my parent's door (which, the original metal flap thingy just let drafts through like crazy)...and it worked beautifully.

Yeah, a bit costly but works (2 flaps: one on the outside; one on the inside. Must lift the outside alu flap in order to slip mail into the inside).

Quest

ecomodded · 02-11-15, 01:37 AM

That Draft dodger has a annoying web site ,I gave up searching for a full picture of it.

But I like the premise.

My house had a mail slot next to the Door, I blocked it off and put up a traditional mail box on a post.
Although its near the street it holds most of my packages keeping them off the doorstep and out of sight.

I installed a mail slot for a neighbor she had me install one of the vision block ones 1 foot from the ground, to make it completely impossible to see anything.

Now the mailman has to bend way over to drop off mail .. lol .. poor guy

Zwerius · 02-11-15, 03:39 PM

I have a similar problem.
Overhere in Holland we have on the indoor side of the mailopening a kind of brush system, consisting of two brushes: one on the top and one in front of the lower half of the opening.
For examples look over here:https://www.google.nl/search?q=briev...A&ved=0CCIQsAQ

I even have added an extra flap on the inside (similar to the RONA mentioned before) and still a lot of air leaks in (despite of balanced ventilation with heat recovery).
I've made an infrared picture from the inside of the house: De brievenbus - geen energierekening meer: energieneutraal woonhuis fam. Kriegsman Ootmarsum

So, I'm still curious for possible improvements...

Daox · 03-19-15, 01:07 PM

Did you ever figure something out Dave?

Fornax · 03-19-15, 05:14 PM

Just a thought:

With future (current?) upgrades to your home you will be airsealing and insulating it. You need ventilation for sure so we'll asume a ballanced HRV. Now -if- there is an imballance it should be underpressure (to prevent moistproblems in cold weather) so it makes sense to predict the points of infiltration.

If you know where the cold air will be allowed to enter your home you can take measures to prevent drought and discomfort.

/gr

02-09-15, 03:22 PM	#1
DaveC Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Toronto Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Door mail slots I have a mail slot going through the wall next to my front door and there's a pretty strong draft coming from it that I want to fix. There is a metal flap on the outside of the wall and nothing on the inside. I can even see daylight in the corners of the slot. I'm tempted to cover the mail slot and have a normal mail box outside, but before I do that, any tips on how to make these more efficient? PS, just moved into a new home and glad I found this web site! I have a feeling I'll be here often

02-09-15, 10:12 PM	#3
DaveC Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Toronto Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Attached a few pictures for what it looks like and to show some of the gaps all around the flap. The flap is spring loaded, so it does stay shut when closed. Think I just need to add some type of weather stripping around it and that would do the trick? Although a new magnetic flap like you described might be better, since the mailman did leave it all the way open once last week by accident. Thanks for the feedback!! Attached Thumbnails

02-11-15, 01:37 AM	#5
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	That Draft dodger has a annoying web site ,I gave up searching for a full picture of it. But I like the premise. My house had a mail slot next to the Door, I blocked it off and put up a traditional mail box on a post. Although its near the street it holds most of my packages keeping them off the doorstep and out of sight. I installed a mail slot for a neighbor she had me install one of the vision block ones 1 foot from the ground, to make it completely impossible to see anything. Now the mailman has to bend way over to drop off mail .. lol .. poor guy __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-19-15, 01:07 PM	#7
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Did you ever figure something out Dave? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-09-15, 09:26 PM	#2
where2 DIY Geek Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 401 Thanks: 74 Thanked 83 Times in 73 Posts	Welcome to our hangout! How much space do you have between the outer flap and the retaining ring on your mail slot? We'll need to determine which types of insulation might be feasible based on the allowable spacing. Ideally, something like vinyl flap with a magnetic trim mounted on the inside may be your best bet. What I'm envisioning, I could build for less than $10 with a small scrap of vinyl from the remnant bin at my local fabric store, and some magnetic tape.

02-09-15, 11:37 PM	#4
Quest Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 109 Thanks: 13 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	here in Canada we are blessed with ideas and some companies would actually go far enough to make something out of ideas. This one is called "draft dodger" mail slot, and Rona has it. Mail Slot \| RONA http://dhdtvspecialtyhardwarestore.ca/welcome.html I bought one and installed @ my parent's door (which, the original metal flap thingy just let drafts through like crazy)...and it worked beautifully. Yeah, a bit costly but works (2 flaps: one on the outside; one on the inside. Must lift the outside alu flap in order to slip mail into the inside). Quest

02-11-15, 03:39 PM	#6
Zwerius Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 70 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 14 Posts	I have a similar problem. Overhere in Holland we have on the indoor side of the mailopening a kind of brush system, consisting of two brushes: one on the top and one in front of the lower half of the opening. For examples look over here:https://www.google.nl/search?q=briev...A&ved=0CCIQsAQ I even have added an extra flap on the inside (similar to the RONA mentioned before) and still a lot of air leaks in (despite of balanced ventilation with heat recovery). I've made an infrared picture from the inside of the house: De brievenbus - geen energierekening meer: energieneutraal woonhuis fam. Kriegsman Ootmarsum So, I'm still curious for possible improvements...

03-19-15, 05:14 PM	#8
Fornax Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Beuningen (Gld), the Netherlands Posts: 64 Thanks: 4 Thanked 19 Times in 16 Posts	Just a thought: With future (current?) upgrades to your home you will be airsealing and insulating it. You need ventilation for sure so we'll asume a ballanced HRV. Now -if- there is an imballance it should be underpressure (to prevent moistproblems in cold weather) so it makes sense to predict the points of infiltration. If you know where the cold air will be allowed to enter your home you can take measures to prevent drought and discomfort. /gr