The hose test is definitely a sensible first step, but I'd caution against assuming a quick fix too soon. I've seen cases where water intrusion seemed minor initially, yet behind the trim, the damage had quietly spread—rotted wood, mold growth, the works. Caulk gaps can indeed be deceptive; they might look small from the outside while hiding bigger issues beneath. If you're comfortable with basic DIY, carefully prying back a small section of trim isn't as daunting as it sounds. Better safe than sorry down the road...
Good advice there, especially about not assuming it's a quick fix. I've opened up trim expecting a simple caulk job and found a mini horror movie behind it—mold city and wood that crumbled like stale cookies. But don't let that scare you off DIY completely; just take it slow and steady. Pry back a small section first, peek inside, and see what's really going on. Hopefully, it's nothing major, but if it is, catching it now saves you headaches (and wallet aches) later...
"I've opened up trim expecting a simple caulk job and found a mini horror movie behind it—mold city and wood that crumbled like stale cookies."
Haha, been there myself... nothing like pulling back trim and finding a surprise ecosystem thriving behind your window. Quick question though: is the water sneaking in mostly during heavy rain or even with lighter showers? If it's heavy rain only, caulking might help temporarily, but weather stripping usually tackles drafts better. Either way, definitely peek behind first—better safe than soggy.
"nothing like pulling back trim and finding a surprise ecosystem thriving behind your window."
Haha, exactly... it's like a terrible magic trick. But seriously, caulk alone probably won't cut it if you're seeing mold and crumbly wood. Had something similar happen last year—ended up having to replace some framing and flashing. Might wanna check your window flashing and drainage channels first, since that's usually where heavy rain decides to sneak in. Caulking or weather stripping is more of a band-aid fix if the underlying stuff's compromised.
"Caulking or weather stripping is more of a band-aid fix if the underlying stuff's compromised."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Caulk and weather stripping are great for minor drafts or small leaks, but once you've got mold and wood rot, you're already past the quick-fix stage. Usually, when water's sneaking in, it's because something deeper like flashing or house wrap wasn't done right—or has worn out over time. Seen plenty of cases where someone caulked the heck out of a window frame, only to have the leak pop up again after the next big storm.
Also, don't overlook your siding and exterior trim. Sometimes water sneaks behind there first and then finds its way around the window opening. Had a customer last summer who kept sealing their window edges repeatedly until they finally realized the siding above was letting water in behind everything. Once we fixed that, no more surprise ecosystems behind their trim...
Yeah, been there myself recently. If you're seeing water regularly, I'd say step back and check things out from the outside first. Look at the siding above and around the window—any loose boards or peeling paint? Sometimes water sneaks in higher up and travels down behind everything. Learned this the hard way when I kept caulking my window edges only to realize the flashing above was totally shot. Once that's sorted, your caulk job actually stands a chance of working...
Good points, but honestly, caulk's usually just a band-aid fix. If you're seeing water regularly, might wanna check your window seals or even upgrade to weather stripping. Did that last year—no more leaks, and bonus points for energy savings on my heating bill...
Good call on the weather stripping—caulk can help temporarily, but it's rarely a long-term fix. A few things to keep in mind:
- Caulk shrinks and cracks over time, especially with temperature swings.
- Weather stripping provides a flexible seal that adapts better to window movement.
- If water's consistently getting in, double-check your window flashing too—sometimes that's the hidden culprit.
Glad you got it sorted and saw some energy savings...always nice when a fix pays for itself.
Weather stripping definitely has the upper hand for moving parts, but don't totally write off caulk. It's still great for stationary joints and gaps around the frame—just gotta pick the right type (silicone-based is usually my go-to). Flashing is sneaky though...had a job last year where the homeowner replaced everything twice before realizing the flashing was installed backwards. Always worth a quick check before diving into bigger fixes. Glad you're seeing savings already, that's always a nice bonus.
Had a similar issue a couple years back—spent an entire weekend meticulously caulking every tiny gap I could find around my window. Thought I nailed it, but nope, next rainstorm and there was that sneaky little puddle again. Turns out the flashing was fine, but the water was actually tracking down from a tiny crack in the siding above the window frame. Took forever to pinpoint it.
So yeah, caulk is great for stationary joints, but don't underestimate how tricky water can be. It has a way of sneaking in from places you'd never expect. Weather stripping is solid for moving parts, but if you've already checked flashing and caulked carefully, maybe take a step back and look higher up or even sideways. Water loves to travel, and sometimes the source is nowhere near where you think it is...