Window leaks when it rains

Doing several openings? Count them with the free window inventory planner and send the list with one request.

What people call about

• Water pooling on the sill or running down the wall under a window after a storm.
• Damp drywall, a stain or bubbling paint below a window.
• A sliding door that lets water over the track in wind-driven rain.
• Exterior caulk that has cracked, pulled away or been painted over too many times.
• A window that was replaced without a proper sill pan or flashing.

What happens on the visit

• The window tested with a hose from the outside, bottom up, to find where the water enters: the sill, the jambs, the head or the wall above.
• Weep holes cleared and the sash drainage checked, since blocked weeps push water inside.
• Failed exterior sealant cut out and replaced with the right sealant for stucco and aluminium, and interior sealing done last so trapped water can still drain.
• Where the sill pan or flashing is missing or failed, the frame resealed or reset, and the stucco made good.
• Where the frame itself is corroded or the window cannot be made to drain, a quote for a replacement unit with the approval and permit it needs.

In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

South Florida's summer storms push rain sideways, and a window that has never leaked in ordinary rain can leak every afternoon in August. Stucco over concrete block holds water against a frame when the sealant fails, so the outside joint and the weep path matter most. The fix is almost always the water's path, not the glass, and the installer works that out before touching anything.

Free tools for this

• Hurricane prep checklistWhat should I do before a storm, and when?Open →

Questions people ask

Is the leak the window or the wall?

Often the joint between them. A hose test from outside, done in stages from the sill up, shows which. Water coming in above the window usually means the wall or a roof detail, which the installer will point out rather than treat.

Can I just caulk it?

Caulk over a leak usually traps water and moves it somewhere else. The old sealant has to come out and the weep path has to stay open. Caulking the inside only hides it.

What are weep holes?

Small slots at the bottom of the frame that let water that gets into the sill drain back outside. Blocked with paint or debris, they send that water inside instead. Keep them clear.

Will my impact window leak less than my old one?

A new unit set on a proper sill pan with fresh flashing and sealant solves most leaks. Tell the installer where the old one leaked so the sill detail is done with that in mind.

Does a leak repair need a permit?

Resealing and flashing repairs on an existing window generally do not; a replacement window does. The installer tells you which applies.

My drywall is stained. Who fixes that?

The installer fixes the leak; the interior finish is usually a separate repair once the wall has dried. Ask at the quote whether they include it.

Other window and door jobs

• Impact windows for the whole house
• Replace old windows before storm season
• Impact sliding glass doors
• Impact entry and French doors
• Cracked or shattered glass
• Fog between the panes
• Window won't lock, latch or stay open
• Condo impact windows
• Storefront impact glass

One Call Impact Windows arranges the visit; the installer does the work, pulls the permit and gives you the price.