"Water intrusion often originates higher than you'd expect, and gravity does the rest."
This totally makes sense... but how do you even tell if it's flashing or siding without ripping stuff apart? I'm all for sealing leaks, but chasing mystery water paths sounds like a headache waiting to happen.
The water intrusion detective game... fun times, right? Honestly, pinpointing whether it's flashing or siding without opening up at least a small spot can be pretty tricky. But before you start ripping off siding or trim (and unleashing a whole new headache), there are a few less invasive things you could try.
First, grab a hose and do some controlled water testing. Start low around the window, slowly working your way upward—give it a few minutes at each spot. If water starts sneaking in when you're spraying higher up near the flashing or siding joints, you've probably found your culprit. If it only leaks when you spray directly around the window frame, your caulk or weather stripping might need attention.
Also, don't underestimate visual inspection. Sometimes stepping back and looking closely at siding overlaps, nail holes, or even gaps near flashing can reveal more than you'd expect. I've had jobs where a tiny gap in flashing above was causing leaks several feet down—gravity's sneaky like that.
Bottom line: patience and observation first, demolition later... if you have to. Good luck with it!
Had a similar issue last spring—spent hours convinced it was the caulk, only to find out later it was actually the flashing above. Water has a sneaky way of traveling behind siding and popping out in weird places. Definitely agree with the hose test, but I'd also suggest checking the interior drywall near the window frame for subtle discoloration or softness... sometimes that's your first clue something's off. Better to catch it early before things get messy.
Had a similar headache myself last year—thought it was weather stripping at first, but turned out the window itself wasn't seated properly. Ended up having to reseal the whole thing. Honestly, water intrusion issues can drive you nuts because the source is rarely obvious. Did you notice if the leak gets worse depending on wind direction or intensity of rain? Sometimes that can help narrow down if it's a flashing issue or something else entirely...
"Did you notice if the leak gets worse depending on wind direction or intensity of rain?"
Good point—wind-driven rain can be sneaky. Had a similar issue myself; turned out the flashing above the window was improperly installed. I'd double-check that before going caulk-crazy... speaking from experience here.
Wind-driven rain is tricky, but before you dive into flashing or caulking, have you checked the weep holes at the bottom of your window frame? Sometimes they get clogged with dirt or paint over time, and water ends up backing into the house instead of draining out. Happened to me a couple years back—spent hours sealing everything up only to realize it was a quick fix with a toothpick. Might save you some hassle...
Good point about the weep holes—easy to overlook those. But have you also checked the condition of your window seals themselves? Sometimes older seals shrink or crack, letting water sneak in during heavy storms. Had a similar issue last winter, thought it was clogged drainage at first, but turned out the seals had deteriorated just enough to let moisture through. Ended up replacing them with some higher-quality weather stripping, and it made a noticeable difference in drafts too. Have you noticed any drafts or temperature changes around that window lately? Could be a clue if it's more than just clogged weep holes...
Yeah, window seals are sneaky little culprits. People usually jump straight to caulking everything in sight (been there, done that, got the messy hands to prove it), but the seals themselves can quietly degrade over time without you even noticing. Had a similar issue myself a couple years back—thought it was just heavy rain overwhelming the drainage, but nope, turns out my window seals were basically fossilized rubber strips at that point. Swapped them out for some decent weather stripping, and suddenly my living room didn't feel like a wind tunnel anymore.
Have you noticed if the window feels colder than usual on chilly days? Or maybe there's some condensation forming on the inside glass? Those can be subtle hints that your seals are on their way out. Also, if you gently press around the edges of the window frame, does the seal feel brittle or stiff? Good seals should still have a bit of give to them.
Either way, you're definitely on the right track checking weep holes first—most folks don't even know those exist until water starts pooling inside. Kudos for catching that early. Windows can be tricky beasts sometimes...but hey, at least you're not dealing with a roof leak, right?
"Turns out my window seals were basically fossilized rubber strips at that point."
Haha, can totally relate—mine weren't fossilized exactly, but they were close enough. Weather stripping made a huge difference for me too. Quick tip: when you're replacing seals, check the corners carefully—sometimes water sneaks in there even with new stripping. Glad you caught those weep holes early...I learned about those the hard (and soggy) way. Good luck!
Haha, can totally relate—mine weren't fossilized exactly, but they were close enough.
Haha, been there too—my seals were more like crumbly old biscuits than rubber strips. Weather stripping definitely helps, but honestly, I've found caulk to be the real hero around tricky corners. Even with fresh stripping, water can still find its sneaky little way in through tiny gaps you wouldn't expect. I usually run a thin bead of silicone caulk along the edges after installing new weather stripping...haven't had a leak since. Might be worth trying if you're still seeing drips here and there.