Had the exact same problem a while back, drove me nuts trying to track it down. Things I checked that helped:
- Cleared gutters (you'd be surprised how much junk can pile up).
- Checked gutter alignment—mine were slightly tilted, causing overflow behind.
- Added some drip edge flashing above the windows, made a big difference.
Might wanna check those out before diving into caulking or weather stripping... could save you some headaches later. Good luck!
"Checked gutter alignment—mine were slightly tilted, causing overflow behind."
That's a really good catch... it's amazing how often gutter alignment gets overlooked. Did you notice any improvement in indoor humidity or drafts after adding the drip edge flashing? I've found that sometimes those small fixes can also boost energy efficiency, especially around windows. Either way, sounds like you're on the right track—hope it stays dry for you.
Good point about gutters... I had a similar issue last year, thought it was the window seal at first. Turned out my gutters were clogged and tilted, causing water to sneak behind the siding. Once I fixed that, humidity dropped noticeably indoors. Might wanna check siding too, just in case.
Good catch on the gutters—seen that more times than I can count. Before you jump straight to caulking or weather stripping, have you checked if your window flashing is still intact? Sometimes, especially in older homes, flashing gets damaged or improperly installed, letting water seep behind the siding and around the window frame. Worth taking a quick look under the siding near the window corners...might save you from redoing the caulk job twice. Did you notice any moisture stains inside the drywall or trim?
That's a really good point about the flashing. I learned that lesson the hard way a few years back—spent hours carefully caulking around my windows, only to find out later the flashing underneath was compromised. Ended up having to redo the whole thing after a heavy storm revealed moisture stains on my drywall. Definitely worth checking behind the siding first, especially if your home has some age on it. Also, don't get discouraged if you find more issues than expected; older homes always have surprises hidden away. Just take it step by step, and you'll get there eventually. Good luck with it!
Yeah, flashing issues are sneaky like that. Caulk and weather stripping are great for minor gaps, but they're just band-aids if the flashing underneath is compromised. I've seen plenty of cases where homeowners sealed everything up tight, only to trap moisture inside and make things worse. Best bet is to peel back some siding and take a good look—tedious, I know, but worth it in the long run. Better safe than sorry...especially with older homes.
Good points about the flashing—seen that happen more times than I'd like. Curious though, have you checked if your window has a proper drip cap installed? Sometimes older homes skip that step, and it makes a huge difference in keeping water out.
Drip caps are definitely overlooked sometimes, especially in older builds. Had a client recently whose window leaked even after caulking—turned out the drip cap was installed incorrectly. Have you noticed if the leak's worse during heavy wind-driven rain or just regular showers?
Had a similar issue last spring—thought caulking would fix it, but nope. Turns out my drip cap was actually bent slightly upward, channeling water right into the window frame during heavy storms. Regular showers weren't too bad, but wind-driven rain made it obvious something was wrong. If you're seeing more leaks during windy rains, I'd definitely check the drip cap angle and make sure it's sloped properly away from the house. Caulk alone rarely solves this kind of problem... learned that the hard way.
Good catch on the drip cap angle, that's often overlooked. I'd also suggest checking the flashing underneath—sometimes it's installed incorrectly or gets damaged over time. Had a similar headache myself a couple years ago, and after replacing the flashing and adjusting the drip cap angle, problem solved. Caulk is helpful for minor gaps, but like you said, it won't fix structural issues. Sounds like you're on the right track though... just takes some patience to pinpoint exactly where water sneaks in.