With the springtime underway, you can guarantee it means one thing – lots of rain! Spring showers may be a refreshing welcome for your garden and lawn, but when it comes to your windows and structure, it can cause a whole gamut of problems if your windows aren’t sealed properly. To help you avoid any unforeseen water damage due to leaky windows, here are a few handy tips to seal your leaks and safeguard your home during the rainy season.
What is Causing My Windows Leaks?
First of all, you may be wondering why your windows are letting in water. This is quite common, in particular, among older homes with outdated windows. Over the years, as older windows are subjected to the weather elements, they gradually begin to wear down with noticeable damage. This is especially true for locations that endure extreme temperature fluctuations and a good degree of varying weather. Windows frames and glazing seals can get damaged, which can result in gaps along the frames. Poor installation and maintenance can play a role in this as well.
Determine The Location Of The Leak
Before you can tackle and seal your leaks, you first need to pinpoint where exactly the point of entry is for the water. If you notice that the leaks are not coming directly from the window, but rather above, below or around it, this could mean there’s a point of entry inside the wall. If, however, you notice water entering through the area where the window sash meets the jamb, or on the actual frame, this is very likely that your problem is the actual window. Again, this could be the result of age and a worn deteriorated structure. It could also be a factor of worn weather stripping or a misaligned sash.
How To Seal Your Leaks
Sealing your leaks can be as simple as replacing the weather stripping, or as complicated as ripping up the ceiling to understand exactly where the problem lies. If you do believe that the window is the culprit, you can try recaulking around the window frame, or checking and resealing the glass to the gasket, or cleaning out any dirt and debris along the bottom frame near the screen that may be letting water in.
If you’ve tried these tricks to no avail, or if your window is leaking extensively then your best course of action is to give us a call at M&T Glass. Our trained experts can identify the problem and offer a proper solution to either repair or replace the window to ensure your structure and interior are safe and sound during those spring showers.
