I've had a window leaking at the top of the frame. the leaking comes in a cycle. I can wipe the area dry, or just wait 30-45 seconds, and then another steady leak (like turning a spigot on very low) for about 5 seconds). Over the course of time, a LOT of water can end up on the floor from these spurts. What's causing this and how to fix? Thank you.
Here's exactly what it does:
I wouldn't call that a leaking window - I would call that a leak that is coming in through the top of the window. Look up - look above - - roofing or siding or eaves trough or stack flashing or chimney flashing .. etc etc John T.
Where is the water originating? Rain? Runoff from roof?
I see it as a two step process. Divert the water from hitting the other side is important, then I'd cauld the seams.
There is currently a steady, moderate rain that will continue for hours. I have a bucket as close to the leak as I could get it and it just barely contains the spurts due to the leak being right at the window. e
There is nothing directly above the area. The chimney and vent are a good 45-60 degrees away from the leak. The caulk around the top of the frame does appear to be cracked.
The source of the leak is often "not directly above the area" .. .. the leak might travel 20 feet or more along a run of piping / vapour barrier / duct-work / whatever - and then collect & pool above the window - ... where you are now seeing it.
The siding above that window might be the culprit.
John T.
Is it possible to put a piece of flashing above the window? That would direct if off as it comes down the wall.
If you can get a photo from outside it would help.
The only thing I can do right now is wait until this "coastal storm" passes. It's continuing to rain moderately and will until around 3-4 AM. tomorrow is supposed to be sunny again and I will investigate further. I did manage to squeeze a bucket under the area and close enough so that there's no splashing. Over two hours, I'd say there's an inch of water in the bucket! These spurts have quite a lot!
Surface tension builds up behind the trim and holds the water back. Then the pressure breaks the tension and all the water comes cascading out. Repeat over and over again.
To make it easier to catch the water, tape some plastic to the window below the leak and force the water outward so it drips in the bucket. Make the plastic long enough so the plastic goes right into the bucket.
Crude visual:
Once the rain stops, get a hose and wet down small sections of the wall until the water starts coming in. With the rain hitting the entire wall, you can't tell where the problem is starting from.
My daghter had the same situation - it was a roof leak that started with an ice-dam backup and continues when it got warm. New roof and insulating the overhang solved it.
Agree, it can travel, but the place to start is to see what's going on outside, directly above that window. What kind of siding? If it's vinyl, that's better, easier to remove if necessary to find out what's behind it. Could have been installed without flashing, using some half-assed caulk instead, that's dried out and failed.
Well, two days of clear weather so got out the hose and ran it above the area in question on sections of the roof. While I couldn't get the same area to leak indoors, I was able to get leaking started around and through the window frame. The gutter was doing its job and I could spot no water leaking down between the gutter and top of the frame, yet leaking!
I used the hose over several sections, then checked the bucket indoors to see if there was any leaking. No dice.
Something I failed to mention in the past, but might be relevant is that the section of roof above the gutter and leaking area has moss. It is thick in a couple of spots. Is there a chance that this might be causing the leak?
It will eventually. Remove moss, look at roof. They sell a moss killer spray to kill that stuff.
Sure, if the moss is significant enough it can cause water to back up, it's like ice damming, the water can back up far enough so that it goes over the top of a course of shingles. If water applied to the roof is causing the leak, not water applied to the siding by the window, then it looks like it's a roof leak. I would remove the moss, kill it with some bleach solution, inspect the shingles closely in that area for any signs of holes or cracks.
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