Good point about the flashing, but sometimes the issue isn't even directly above the window. I've seen water travel horizontally along siding channels or trim edges before dripping down. Might wanna check a bit further sideways too, just to be thorough...
Yeah, water can be sneaky like that. Had a leak once I swore was from the window frame—turned out it was coming from a gap near the gutter, traveling sideways along the siding. Worth checking higher up too...
Good point about checking higher up, but I'd caution against assuming it's always traveling from above. Had a similar issue last spring—spent days inspecting gutters and siding, convinced the leak was coming from higher up. Turned out, the water was actually seeping in from below the window sill due to deteriorated flashing. Water can wick upwards slightly through capillary action, especially if there's wind-driven rain involved. I'd suggest closely inspecting the flashing and sill area first before climbing ladders and checking gutters. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one...
"Water can wick upwards slightly through capillary action, especially if there's wind-driven rain involved."
Yep, seen this happen more times than you'd think. Had a client last year convinced it was the caulking around the window frame. Turned out the flashing underneath was shot—quick fix once we knew where to look. Always worth checking those sneaky spots first...
Yeah, flashing issues are sneaky for sure. Had something similar happen at our place a couple years back—thought it was just bad caulk, redid it twice, still leaked. Finally pulled off the trim and found the flashing was installed wrong from day one. Water was getting behind it, running sideways, and popping out in the weirdest spot. Took forever to figure out.
Also, don't underestimate weather stripping either. If it's old or compressed, wind-driven rain can squeeze right past it. I replaced mine last fall and it made a noticeable difference during heavy storms. Might be worth checking yours if you haven't already...
Good points on flashing and weather stripping. Couple other things to check:
- Window weep holes—if they're clogged, water backs up and sneaks inside.
- Sill slope—seen plenty installed flat or even tilted inward, causing pooling.
- Also, double-check siding above the window. Had a job last year where siding gaps let water behind the flashing... took ages to pinpoint.
Water leaks are tricky, gotta chase every possibility.
Great tips here, especially the siding point—I learned that one the hard way too. Thought it was my window for months, turned out water was sneaking in from a tiny gap up top and traveling down behind the siding. Sneaky stuff. Also, worth checking if your gutters above are overflowing or clogged. Had a friend whose leak magically disappeared after he cleaned out some leaves... go figure. Just gotta keep playing detective sometimes.
"Thought it was my window for months, turned out water was sneaking in from a tiny gap up top and traveling down behind the siding."
Yep, siding gaps can be super tricky. Another sneaky spot I've found is around flashing—especially if it's older or poorly installed. Worth checking that too, since water loves to travel sideways and fool you.
Had a similar issue a few years back—spent ages re-caulking around the window frame, convinced it was the culprit. Turned out, just like you mentioned:
"water loves to travel sideways and fool you."
In my case, it was actually the roof flashing above the window. The flashing had slightly lifted over time, allowing water to sneak behind the siding and drip down exactly at window level. Definitely worth checking higher up before you dive into sealing around the window again. Saved me a lot of frustration once I figured that out.
Man, this hits home. I chased a leak around my kitchen window for months, convinced it was bad caulk or weather stripping. Turned out the gutter above was clogged just enough to overflow and drip behind the siding whenever it rained hard. Crazy how water can travel and trick you like that... Definitely worth stepping back and checking the bigger picture before you bust out the caulk gun again. Good luck—hope you figure it out soon.