Replies

1. 
   calvin | Jan 25, 2012 06:18pm | #1

   How old?

   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.

2. 
   NWCarpenter | Jan 25, 2012 07:11pm | #2

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

1. 
   calvin | Jan 25, 2012 08:25pm | #3

   so essentially,

   I had no idea how old.

3. 
   DanH | Jan 25, 2012 08:53pm | #4

   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.

1. 
   calvin | Jan 26, 2012 06:37am | #5

   one way to tell.......

   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.

4. 
   florida | Jan 26, 2012 06:55am | #6

   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.

1. 
   davidmeiland | Jan 26, 2012 09:46am | #7

   Yes

   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. 

   
1. 
   DanH | Jan 26, 2012 08:03pm | #8

   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. 

5. 
   NWCarpenter | Jan 27, 2012 11:26am | #9

   Good ideas

   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 . . .