Rain sneaking in around my window - caulk or weather stripping?

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.

"I'd also suggest checking the flashing underneath - sometimes it's installed incorrectly or gets damaged over time."

Good point about the flashing. I'm dealing with something similar myself, and honestly, I'm a bit unsure how to tell if it's installed wrong or just damaged from age. Is there a quick way to identify improper flashing installation, or is it more of a remove-and-check-it-out deal? I'd prefer not to pull everything apart unnecessarily, but I also don't want to keep patching with caulk every season...

I've run into this exact issue more times than I'd like to admit. Honestly, you don't always have to rip everything apart right away. First thing I'd do is check visually from outside - look for any obvious gaps, bends, or corrosion around the flashing edges. Sometimes you can spot improper installation if the flashing doesn't overlap correctly or if it's bent upwards instead of angled down and away from the window.

If nothing jumps out visually, try a simple water test. Grab a hose and gently spray around the window frame (start low and work your way up slowly). Have someone inside watching closely to pinpoint exactly where water sneaks in. I once found a tiny gap this way that was invisible otherwise - saved me from tearing out the whole window unnecessarily.

If you do find something suspicious, then yeah, you'll probably need to remove some siding or trim to get a better look. But at least you'll know exactly where to focus your efforts instead of guessing and caulking every year...

I've been down this road too, and honestly, caulk or weather stripping alone rarely solves the issue permanently. A couple years ago, I noticed a small water stain forming under one of my windows after heavy rainstorms. My first instinct was to grab the caulk gun and seal everything in sight. It worked...for about three months. Then the leak was back, same spot, same headache.

"try a simple water test. Grab a hose and gently spray around the window frame (start low and work your way up slowly). Have someone inside watching closely to pinpoint exactly where water sneaks in."

This right here is solid advice. I did exactly that and found out the flashing above my window had been installed backwards - literally funneling water toward the house instead of away from it. No amount of caulk or weather stripping would've fixed that permanently.

Honestly, it's tempting to just patch things up quickly, but if you're seeing repeated leaks, you're probably dealing with something structural or installation-related. Weather stripping is great for drafts and minor moisture issues, but once water finds a path in, it's relentless. I'd skip the quick fixes and spend an afternoon to really figure out what's going on behind the siding. If you catch it early enough, you'll save yourself from bigger headaches down the line (ask me how I know...).

I get what you're saying about structural issues, and you're right - sometimes leaks are a bigger deal than just caulk or weather stripping. But honestly, I've had a different experience. A few years back, I had water sneaking in around my kitchen window every time it rained hard. I was convinced I'd have to rip out siding or redo flashing, but before going down that rabbit hole, I decided to give weather stripping a shot.

Turns out, the old stripping had just dried out and cracked over the years. Replacing it with some quality stuff made a huge difference. It's been almost three years now, and no leaks yet (knock on wood...). So while structural problems definitely happen, sometimes the simpler fix really is enough. I'd say it's worth trying the easy route first before diving into something more involved and expensive.

I hear you, but I'd be careful assuming weather stripping or caulk is always enough. Had a similar issue myself - thought it was minor, ended up being damaged flashing behind the siding. Sometimes the quick fix just masks a bigger problem lurking underneath...

Yeah, that's a good point - sometimes the easy fix just hides the real issue. I had a friend who kept patching up leaks around his windows, thinking it was just old caulk. Turned out his gutters were clogged, causing water to overflow and seep behind the siding. Once he cleaned those out, problem solved. Have you checked your gutters or drainage around the window area yet? Might be worth a quick look before diving deeper into repairs...

Good advice on the gutters - seen that happen more times than I can count. Another thing to consider is the flashing around your window frame. Sometimes builders skimp on proper flashing installation, and over time, water finds its way behind the siding or trim. Have you noticed any signs of moisture damage or discoloration around the interior drywall near that window? Could be worth checking before you commit to caulking or weather stripping fixes...

Flashing is definitely something to check, but honestly... if you're already seeing moisture inside, caulking or weather stripping probably won't solve it. Those are more band-aid fixes. I'd pull back a bit of siding around the window and actually take a look. Had a job last month where the homeowner kept patching with caulk - turned out the flashing was never installed right from day one. Better to check now than deal with mold or rot later.

Yeah, pulling back siding makes sense... but how tricky is that for someone who's never done it before? I'm wondering if moisture inside always means flashing issues, or could condensation from temperature differences also be a factor here?

"I'm wondering if moisture inside always means flashing issues, or could condensation from temperature differences also be a factor here?"

Could definitely be condensation - had something similar happen at my place last winter. I thought for sure it was rain sneaking in, but after pulling back a bit of siding (which honestly wasn't too bad, just took patience and a YouTube vid or two), I realized the insulation around the window was lacking. Added some foam insulation, and problem solved. So yeah, flashing matters, but don't underestimate how much condensation can mess things up too...