French Door Draught Proofing Kit | Draught Dodgers - How To

Draught Proof Your Home with our French Door Kits

Knowing how to insulate French doors can help you stay comfortable, whatever the weather. It’s also a great way to minimise your energy bills.

With everything you need in one place, the customised ecoMaster French Door Draught Proofing Kit provides the ideal solution - effective and easy to fit yourself.

First let’s look at the different mechanisms of French Doors:

Before we explain the sequence of operation, it is useful to understand the anatomy of a French Door:

What you will need:

* Measuring tape
* Pencil
* Miter box
* Sharp-bladed hacksaw
* Pair of scissors
* No. 2 Phillips screwdriver
* Hammer
* Alcohol wipes/ cleaning spray and microfibre cloth

Follow this sequence for a trouble free job:

1. Fit the Draught Dodgers to the perimeter. If your doors open inward, the Draught Dodgers go on the outside and if your doors open outwards they go on the inside.
2. Treat the centre gap between the two doors.
3. Treat the bottom of the doors.

Ensure you use the fitting packer when installing the Draught Dodgers for a perfect fit.

Thoroughly clean all surfaces to maximise bond strength of the components with your doors.

Fit the centre seal to the inside edge of the inactive door. This keeps it out of the way and you can see it working.

"How To" Installation Videos:

Check out our French Door Installation DIY videos showing how to install a French Door Kit. Super easy to follow, it features detailed, step-by-step instructions from our Technical Director, Maurice Beinat.

Click here This video explains why you might want to cut the top Draught Dodger into two pieces, the importance of testing and cleaning before fitting components, how to fit the French door astragal seal and the French door bottom seal seals.

Click this link to learn how to fit the Draught Dodgers to your door.

Type A - French Door Kit - Sill Threshold (outward opening door)

* Fit Draught Dodgers to the INSIDE perimeter of the doors
* Fit EMV to the astragal (centre of the door)
* Fit RP5s on the bottom OUTSIDE of the doors.

Type B - French Door Kit - Sill Threshold (inward opening door)

* Fit Draught Dodgers to the OUTSIDE perimeter of the door
* Fit EMV to the astragal (centre of the door)
* Fit compressive seal as per the video
* Fit RP5s on the bottom INSIDE of the doors.

Type C - French Door Kit - Butt Threshold (outward opening door)

* Fit Draught Dodgers to the INSIDE perimeter of the door
* Fit EMV to the astragal (centre of the door)
* Fit sections of Draught Dodgers with brush to the INSIDE bottom of the doors

Happy Customer

I recently traced the significant draughtiness of an open plan space to some 20 year old double-hung sash windows, which although fitted with brush seals, were missing any meeting rail seals. There were twelve of these, so quite a gap in aggregate. But how to rectify? Inspecting showed that there should have been seals fitted into pre-cut kerfs; and further evidence were some scraps of silicone seal found in a corner cupboard.
After a bout of googling, I found a Raven product that was suitable — only catch was that it was not stocked at retail hardware outlets, and worse it came in 100m rolls which would mean 80% wastage at $3 per meter: ouch!
So I took a chance and asked ecoMaster for advice. Problem solved: they had the seal in the desired colour, and happy to sell just the amount i needed. Perfect!

Hi Peter,

Thank you so much for trusting us, we can't wait to help you again in the future!

Great for reducing glare

I used Renshade on the west-facing double glass door to my shed, where I work inside at a computer. I found it successful and as advertised in greatly reducing radiant heat and glare. It's no miracle cure for a lack of insulation, but nor does it claim to be. I was surprised to find that the product feels more like thick paper than like metal. I was expecting a more heavy-duty product. On day two after installation, one of my cats shredded it to pieces and I had to replace it. Luckily, I had some spare, and now I place a barrier in front of it at night when the cats are trying to get outside. On cloudy and rainy days it can feel a little oppressive, but on sunny days it is well worthwhile. It's much more relaxing working without the glare, and I like its veiled see-through quality.

Hi KB,

We are so pleased to hear that you are satisfied with how Renshade is performing for you. The development of Renshade has been a painstaking one and like all products it is a balance of trying to create something that is durable, still light enough to be fit for it's intended purpose and of course cost. We think we've come up with a great result.
Also, glad to hear that you had some spare after your fur baby got to it, cats are such inquisitive creatures.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and the community. We hope to be able to serve you again in the future!

Cooling plastic sheeted gable patio roof

After researching ways of reducing the greenhouse effect heat from the plastic sheeted gable patio roof at my daughter's house in Aspendale Gardens, I recommended Renshade. I made up 18 Renshade screens as per the Renshade video and fitted them under the plastic sheets. Results were immediate cooling under the gable patio! Mind you if the ambiant temperature reaches into the high 30s and low 40s it will still probably be uncomfortably hot under the patio. But all in all the Renshade has been a success especially with the patio fan assisting. Cost about $1000 for all materials but grandad's labour cost was zilch!

Hi Rolf,

Making 18 screens from the 5 Renshade rolls you purchased is awesome! We're chuffed to hear that our product had an immediate cooling affect. Days outside under the patio will now be so much more enjoyable!
Thanks for sharing your feedback. Have a great day!

Draftbusta

I purchased this product from a hardware store about 10 years ago, and it is great. What isn't great is the stores now don't stock it, so I ordered it direct from the company. A companythat promotes itself to be all about saving the environment, but packed the small cover in a box twice it's size, adding insulation that I didn't order, burning up the carbon miles with wasted packaging, and charging almost the same price as the product to post the oversized parcel. I'm glad I don't need another one, as I wouldn't be fooled twice to order one again.

Hello Brett

Thanks for sharing your feedback.
The DraftStoppa is an excellent device for sealing the draughts from your bathroom/ensuite/toilet areas. This is reflected in the numerous positive customer reviews about the product displayed on our website.
Unfortunately, Draft Stoppas can be very easily damaged during the freighting process. A damaged/ non functioning DraftStoppa saves zero energy. So yes, it is a balance between a well padded unit versus a lightly packed but broken one.
We have found that the safest way to avoid damage is to pack the DraftStoppa into a cardboard box and surround it with insulation as padding. This avoids damage during shipping especially when it is travelling interstate.
The insulation can be popped into your roof space if you wish and we will add that the insulation itself is made from 80% recycled PET bottles. The cardboard boxes (also made from recycled materials) can simply be broken down and added to your fortnightly recycling bin.
All freight charge rates are transparent on the store prior to completing your order.

If you have any further feedback, especially about how the draftstoppa is performing we encourage you to give us a call on 1300 326 627. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly.

Valvecosy improvements

I ordered a Valvecosy from the EcoMaster and it came promptly in the mail. Only one colour was available: Dune. Same colour as my house. Lucky!
The device was easy to attach to the TPR valve on my HWS but seems a bit loose-fitting around the connection from the HWS. Perhaps some different sized foam inserts included in the pack would give it a better fit to different installations.
The two halves come completely apart which makes it easy to fit but it might be even easier if the halves were hinged in a clamshell arrangement (not so easy to drop one half).
I found the copper pipe draining my TPR valve also stays warm so it is obviously losing energy too and I have covered it in foam lagging. It might be helpful to offer this in a "Customers who bought Valvecosy also bought ..." type offer.
I have a heat pump HWS running off solar energy so the energy I save only costs me the Feed In Tariff. On this basis it might take me fifty years to re-coup my outlay. If I could pick up a Valvecosy in a hardware store for $10 it would be a no-brainer. Give one to each family member. But for $28 plus $11 shipping it's a feel-good indulgence.
Valvecosy is a great idea. It’s just too expensive.

Hi Nigel

Thank you for sharing your review.
So awesome to hear that the colour matched your home too!
We appreciate your comments and will certainly pass on your suggested improvements to the manufacturer.

Valvecosy was tested in 2019 to determine heat loss. The percentage of improvement of heat loss due to Valvecosy was 5.6%.
A 5.6% savings on the energy loss from the tank would pay back that investment faster than one might anticipate.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Have a great day!

French Door Draught Proofing Kit | Draught Dodgers - How To

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