FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Design

  • Each configuration handles a certain size range for length and width expansions. There’s no industry standard for mail slot sizes and no clear leaders of particular sizes on the market.

  • There are length and width dimensions when selecting product.

  • Expect it to last the life of the door and BOTA will warranty it for manufacturer defects for 10 years. The quality of the materials that were selected are made to last.

  • It’s going within the door to be unnoticed.

  • Yes, there are two current United States utility patents.

  • The product is US-designed.

  • Near 100% blockage of the draft, refer the ribbon video on website.

  • It will prevent most bugs, but not ultra-tiny bugs from getting through. The insulator’s purpose is not to prevent bugs from coming through the mail slot.

  • Maybe, the mail slot insulator is designed for horizontal slots. Worst case is that you may have to push the insulator back into place for the magnets to engage.

  • The magnets are placed at the outer limits of the passthrough, the chance is small that the letter will be passed through within the effect of the magnet. The magnets are weak enough that we don’t expect it to affect the credit card’s magnetic strip.

  • The weakest point is still strong, but may get damaged by an aggressive enough animal.

INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

  • Super easy. NO tools. If there is an interior plate, it may have to be removed.

  • Because most exterior mail slot flaps open within the door.

  • The Insulator can accommodate for a non-level cut. This product can handle a certain amount of poor cutting, except to the extremes.

  • Mail Slot Insulator – Contractor Reset & Correction Guide

    For Units Expanded Outside the Door Cutout

    Track System Overview

    • The insulator uses a 9-slot horizontal expansion track

      • Slot 1 = Fully contracted / fully collapsed

      • Slot 9 = Fully expanded

    • Vertical bracket height is controlled on the left and right side vertical tracks

      • Each side uses a spring-loaded silver flat-head screw

      • Side covers must be removed to access the vertical reset screws

    • When the unit expands horizontally, the red button automatically depresses and moves below the slot (spring compresses automatically)

    Part A — Horizontal Reset (Return to Slot 1)

    1. Locate the 9-Slot Horizontal Track

      • Identify the slot the unit is currently locked into (Slot 2–9)

    2. Depress the Red Button

      1. Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the horizontal track slot

      2. Press the red button straight down

      3. Hold pressure to keep the spring compressed

    3. Slide the Unit Horizontally Back to Slot 1

      • Push the insulator body horizontally only

      • Retract the unit one slot at a time

      • Continue sliding until the unit reaches Slot 1 (this is the fully collapsed position)

    4. Confirm Horizontal Reset

      • Verify:
        ✔ The unit is locked in Slot 1
        ✔ The red button is below the slot opening
        ✔ The unit is fully collapsed horizontally

    Part B — Vertical Reset (Left & Right Bracket Adjustment)

    1. Remove the Left & Right Side Covers

      • Locate the covers on both sides

      • They resemble the battery cover on a remote control

      • Remove them to expose the silver flat-head screw + spring mechanism

    2. Access the Vertical Reset Screws

      • You will now see a silver flat screw head attached to a spring inside each vertical track

    3. Pull the Screw Head to Release the Track

      1. First attempt using your fingers to pull the screw head straight toward you

      2. If your fingers fit into the space, continue using fingers

      3. If your fingers do not fit, use pliers to grab the screw head instead

    4. Lower the Upper Bracket

      • While holding the screw head pulled toward you on both left and right sides:

        • Slide the upper mounting bracket downward within the vertical track

      • Lower it until it reaches the lowest slot needed to clear the mail-slot cutout of the door

      • Keep motion straight, controlled, and vertical only

    5. Release and Confirm Vertical Reset

      • Let go of both screw heads

      • The spring will automatically pull each screw back into its seated position

      • Verify:
        ✔ Brackets on both left and right sides are locked in the lowest required slot
        ✔ Both silver screw heads have fully returned and are seated under spring tension

    Contractor Do’s

    • Use fingers first, pliers only if needed for access

    • Keep reset motion straight, never angled

    • Reset both sides equally

    • Horizontal reset must finish at Slot 1 before vertical reset begins

    Contractor Don’ts

    • Do not mount the unit while expanded outside the door

    • Do not remove screws from springs

    • Do not pry or press at an angle

    • Do not cut or modify rubber sealing surfaces

    • Do not pull upward during vertical reset

    Horizontal Expansion Rule (Important)

    • The red button automatically moves down when the unit expands horizontally

    • Contractors should not press the red button again during horizontal expansion, as it is already engaged by design

    Reset Result

    After completing horizontal reset (Part A) and vertical reset (Part B), the unit will be:
    ✔ fully collapsed in width and height
    ✔ mechanically reset
    ✔ spring systems active and seated
    ✔ ready for proper door-cavity insertion and sealing alignment

  • With magnets and placing the rear flap add-on level with the bottom of the unit to allow the magnets to engage. The magnets have been tested and they are not too strong to block mail, but strong enough for a magnetic seal and break away.

  • Yes. We recommend to line to with foam, because the insulator can be pushed out of place and will lose frictional hold. Also, the foam strip insulates small gaps.

  • No.

  • BOTA will not be replacing pet damage. The mail slot insulator has been built to withstand most pet attacks.