Drafty Mail Slot
Posted By admin On 15/04/22Watertown Housing Authority:
Drafty Mail Slot App
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.
Installation instructions for an Elite Model DraftDodger™ Insulated Mail Slot. Apr 13, 2011 What sets the Draft Dodger apart from ordinary mail slots is their insulation and dirt stopping barrier. Both interior and exterior flaps are insulated with seals to keep the cold air out of the house and the hot air in. Not only are these mail slots insulated with seals around the flaps but also with a thick layer of brushes between the two flaps. Hold the mail slot in position and trace around it with a pencil. Keeping the center points of the door and the mail slot lined up, align the bottom of the mail slot with the height marks you made earlier. Then use a pencil to trace the perimeter of the slot.
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)
Drafty Mail Slot Game
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
A residential wall mail slot offers the ultimate in convenience for homeowners lucky enough to still receive walk-up mail delivery.
When installing a wall mail slot mailbox you can choose either:
Door Mounted – Bursting forth with nostalgia, a door mail slot mailbox can be installed through a front door (or garage door).
Through Wall – Your wall mail slot mailbox can be installed through the wall of your home.
An exterior mail slot cover (or lid) covers the mail slot so that the home remains insulated against the elements. USPS mailbox guidelines require any horizontal mail slot to be hinged at the top and any vertical mail slot to be hinged on the opposite side from the door’s hinges (if mounted on a door).
When the postal carrier walks up to the house, the mail carrier simply lifts the lid on residential mail slots to insert the mail. The mail passes through your door (or wall for wall mounted door slots) and lies securely on the inside of your home, either on the floor or in a mail slot collection box.
Advantages of a Residential Mail Drop Slot
European Home Mail Slot
While residential mail slots are only advisable for postal areas with walk up delivery, the advantages of these thru-wall and thru door slot mailboxes are three-fold:
- Residential mail slots are often far more secure than non-locking post mount or wall mount mailboxes.
- Mail slots are less expensive.
- Mail slots do not require the homeowner to exit their home to retrieve their mail.
For disabled persons or elderly persons with mobility challenges, this third advantage of mail slot mailboxes is hands-down the most significant, as their mail can be collected from the security and comfort of their home.
Ordering A Slot Mailbox
When buying residential mail slots, take time to consider these three factors:
- Mail slot size
- Mail slot finish
- Whether or not to accessorize your with an indoor collection box
Mail Slot Size
The size of your installed mail slot should be large enough to accommodate large envelopes, magazine subscriptions, or small parcels, and according to the USPS mail slot requirements, the mail slot size should be at least 1 ½ by 7 inches in size.
Mail Slot Finish
The finish of your mail slot should match or complement the finish of your door or wall hardware. For example, if you have a door entry hardware with a natural patina brass finish, consider selecting a brass mail slot with a natural patina finish or consider a high contrast to that brass finish to avoid finishes that clash.
Mail Slot Accessories
If having your mail scattered across a heavily trafficked floor area is a safety concern, an indoor mail collection box accessory or simple drop basket inside the home is advisable. Additionally, indoor mail collection accessories are also recommended when the floor surface (such as soft wood flooring) can be easily damaged by the regular delivery of parcels or packages that might scratch or ding it.
New Installation Considerations
Investing the time to consider these three factors can also augment the success of installing your mail slot in a new location:
- Check with your postmaster
- Ensure proper mail slot height
- Consider an interior hood installation
Consult with Your Postmaster
First, check with your local postmaster to ensure that your wall mail slot is a viable option for mail delivery to your home. While a trip to any of Europe’s great cities and to many of North America’s large east coast cities quickly validates the popularity of mail slot mailboxes (they are called letter boxes in Europe), mail slots are less common in the vast majority of North America. So, take the time to ensure walk up mail delivery is available to your residence before purchasing a mail slot for your home.
Correct Mail Slot Height
Second, the USPS requires that when installed, the bottom of your residential mail slot must be at least 30” above the floor. While there is no height restriction posted by the USPS, it is advisable that the mail slot be mounted at a height that allows the postal carrier to easily deliver your mail without reaching too high or stooping too low.
Interior Hood Installation
Additionally, to ensure the mail flows smoothly through the mail slot upon delivery, the USPS requires that if an interior hood is utilized for privacy, the hooded portion should not be below the bottom of the outside plate on the horizontal mail slot. For vertical mail slots, the hood should not extend beyond the side of the outside plate on the same side as the door’s hinges. Finally, regardless of orientation, the interior privacy hood should not project more than 2 1/16” beyond the inside of the door.
Mail Slot Brands
To shop the largest inventory of residential wall mail slots, browse the selections available at The MailboxWorks, North America’s largest retailer of all types of mailboxes – commercial and residential.
Auth Florence Mail Slots
The MailboxWorks features the elegantly simple aluminum mail slot created by Auth Florence, which meets all the USPS regulations regarding mail slots. Florence mail slots are available in eleven beautiful powder coated finishes including antique copper, antique bronze, black, gold, silver speck, and more. Additionally, Florence mail slots are offered with optional engraving on the mail slot door so homeowners can have their address or name engraved right on their mail slot.
European Home Mail Slots
The MailboxWorks also offers a European Home mail slot that resonates with a strong modern, contemporary design palate. These corrosion resistant stainless steel mail slots are handcrafted with a stunning satin-brushed finish and meet all USPS standards. Order your mail slot with a mail collection box for a complete mail slot system.
Streetscape Mail Slots
Additionally, The MailboxWorks also features a Streetscape Executive mail slot that is handmade by artisans in the United States. The Streetscape Executive mail slots also meet USPS standards and feature a unique patina brass finish that requires no maintenance. No two of these brass mail slots are alike and all are packaged with an interior mail chute of solid brass to guide the mail delivery. Additionally, your brass house numbers can be custom-welded to the mail slot door to further customize your mail slot.
Read all of our articles on Mail Slots including:
Still Have Questions?
If you still have questions about mail slot mailboxes, please contact our mailbox experts by calling The MailboxWorks toll free at 1-866-717-4943. You can also contact us online or send us an email.
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Categorised in: DIY Mailbox Installation & Upgrades