Leaky Windows and Water Damage

6/1/2020 (Permalink)

If you suspect or witness a window leak, there are a few things you can do to assist your home repair professional with diagnosing and solving the problem. During the next rain event or storm, ask yourself the following questions and note your observations:

1. Does the window always leak when it rains? Or only in a heavy downpour
2. Does the window leak when the rain is being driven by wind from a particular direction?
3. Approximately long has the window been leaking? Can you identify any particular event associated with the first time you noticed the window leak? (i.e. significant storm, icing out, high winds, etc.)
4. Has the window leak worsened? Or remained consistent over time?
5. Have you attempted to stop the leak? If so, what has been done to prevent it? Has that helped?
6. If you can obtain this information, find out who built your home and when it was constructed.

Providing this key information can make the handyman’s job easier and his repair more effective. It can also help determine correct parts and materials needed, more importantly, if your leak is still covered by a warranty.

Spotting Window Leaks

A window leak may look different from how you might imagine. The most obvious, of course, is water and visible moisture on the window or around it. 

The good news is you don’t have to panic. A talented home repair expert can decipher what is going on to isolate, and solve the problem.

The bad news is that the longer something like wood rot and mold growth goes unattended, the worse things will get, not just for your home but for your budget too.

What many homeowners don’t realize is that window leaks during rain are often the result of improper home construction or poorly installed windows. Solutions such as caulk may keep some water out but they leave the real problem unaddressed, possibly leading to expensive structural repairs down the road.

Bigger Problems Than Just Window Leaks

A window leak can be the cause of a lot of things, and one cause many homeowners overlook is the box gutter. If you’ve ever had box gutter issues in the past and suffer from unexplained window leaks, your box gutter may be to blame.

Water Damage as a result of a window leak. Contact the professionals here at SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County today to speak to a Mitigation Specialist. 502.241.6861