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Why are we leaking at this window?

NWCarpenter's picture

Why are we leaking at this window? (post #205676)

NWCarpenter on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 14:13
in

 Do you have any idea what might be causing an intermittent leak from the inside of this window right between the standoff of my ladder? The water is coming through the window wrap headpiece of the window below. The left wall is exposed to heavy rains and wind frequently and only leaks during these events. 

 

I have removed and backcaulked the battens above and below this window. I've caulked the seams in the soffit above. I've caulked the cornerboard to the right of the window. I've caulked the window frame in carefully. The windows are Vetter which I understand no longer exist and the window itself looks fine. 

 

Any ideas will be appreciated!

-A +A

How old? (post #205676, reply #1 of 9)

by calvin in reply to NWCarpenter [original] on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 16:18

I have found some fixed sash take on water past the sash weatherstrip.  Usuall causes the bottom of the sash to get good rot going b/4 anyone even notices.  I assume the cladding is in good condition-good seal if mitred corners (I cannot tell the type of cladding).

Sometimes the glasing bead separates from the glass or cladding and allows water in.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

So essentially window (post #205676, reply #2 of 9)

by NWCarpenter in reply to NWCarpenter [original] on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 17:11

So essentially window failure? The windows are only 4 years old!

so essentially, (post #205676, reply #3 of 9)

by calvin in reply to NWCarpenter [original] on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 18:25

I had no idea how old.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

The leak could be just about (post #205676, reply #4 of 9)

by DanH in reply to NWCarpenter [original] on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 18:53

The leak could be just about anywhere.  On an exposed area like that in a strong wind it could be rain being driven UP through a joint somewhere.  Or could be running down from above the top window.  No way to tell.


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison

one way to tell....... (post #205676, reply #5 of 9)

by calvin in reply to DanH [original] on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 04:37

Start flooding the area low and work your way up.  Can't be rushed as some leaks need to saturate their surroundings b/4 they push water to where it's visible.

Not a fun job, but often the easy way out if nothing is truly visible.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

I've found many windows will (post #205676, reply #6 of 9)

by florida in reply to NWCarpenter [original] on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 04:55

I've found many windows will leak at the very top during a driving rain. That area is usually not flashed or caulked as well as the rest since people feel that it is protected and everyone knows water runs downhill. With wind behind it rain will not only creep uphill but can create negative air pressure insdie that will actually suck water into the room. I'd take those short battens off, clean the area well and apply a good bead of poly or Geocel then re-install the battens.

Calvin's suggestion of water testing is good but I'd use a pressure washer to do it to duplicate wind driven rain.

Yes (post #205676, reply #7 of 9)

by davidmeiland in reply to florida [original] on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 07:46

With wind behind it rain will not only creep uphill but can create negative air pressure insdie that will actually suck water into the room

It only takes a pinhole or a tiny gap to allow in a surprising amount of water during wind-driven rain. A bit of negative pressure inside the building and a steady flow can get in. You can test for this by creating a vacuum inside the house--put a large fan in a doorway, or crank up the 1000-CFM Wolf range hood and all the bath fans--and then start sprinkling small areas with water. I made a wand for this using irrigation misters on a short piece of PVC pipe, including a pressure reducer to 10PSI. Start at the bottom and work very small areas. Work slowly, and get a helper inside who can wave at you as soon as the drips start coming in. 

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In fact, it could be that the (post #205676, reply #8 of 9)

by DanH in reply to davidmeiland [original] on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 18:03

In fact, it could be that the house is normally running a negative pressure for some reason, and fixing that will largely eliminate the problem. 


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison

Good ideas (post #205676, reply #9 of 9)

by NWCarpenter in reply to NWCarpenter [original] on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 09:26

Thanks for the good ideas! I wish I had a blower door to really test the negative pressure. We'll definitely try to create all the negative pressure we can and then spray the window area bottom up. I'll post results . . .