Have you noticed a stream of water flowing down a window in your Michigan home whenever it rains? Maybe there have been some drops of moisture along the sill or a little water between the sash and the frame. A window leak should never be ignored. Not only can the water that seeps in damage your building materials and contribute to mold growth, but if there’s water leaking in, there’s probably air leaking in, too. And that’s bad news for the energy bills in your Michigan home.The struggle with window leaks, however, is that it’s often hard to figure out exactly where they originate. The water may not be coming directly from the area that’s wet; it could be trickling down the window. To track down the source of a window leak so you can make the proper repairs, follow these steps:
Venture outside, and take a look at the caulk around the edge of the window frame. Is it peeling away from your home’s exterior? Are there places where it appears to be lifting up or developing mold? If so, water is probably seeping in from beneath the damaged caulk.
Wooden frames, in particular, tend to deteriorate after several years of exposure to the elements. If you spot an area where the wood is starting to crack or rot — especially where it meets the glass window — this is probably the source of the window leak in your Michigan home.
Fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels can cause a window frame or sash to bow or warp. This will leave some space between the sash material and the glass, potentially leading to leaks. This is most common with wooden windows, but it can also happen with vinyl and aluminum windows.
If you’ve examined the window and can’t seem to find any warped, rotten, or unsealed areas, then you’ll need to take things a step further. On a rainy day, dry the leaky window off. Then, sit in front of the window and watch closely. You may have to be patient; slow leaks can take a while to develop and may not appear until the wind carries the rain towards your window at the right angle.
Watch long enough, and eventually you will see some water seep in at the leaky spot. Trace the trickle back to the edge, and you’ll probably see a little rot, a bend in the frame, or deteriorating caulk that you initially overlooked.
So, once you’ve located your window leak, what should you do about it? That really depends. If the leak is coming from missing caulk or a missing weather stripping, re-caulking or applying new weatherstripping should solve the issue. On the other hand, if you find that the window frame or sash is bent or starting to deteriorate, replacing the window is often the best choice to prevent future water damage and improve your energy efficiency.
Are you ready to replace the leaky windows in your Michigan home? Renewal by Andersen offers durable windows with Fibrex® frames. Made to resist expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, they stay well sealed and resist rotting and deterioration. Contact us to learn more about Fibrex or to schedule your free, in-home consultation.
