Good catch on the dryer vent, but are you sure vents should always be checked first? I've seen plenty of cases where windows were genuinely compromised—especially older wooden frames that warp or rot over time. Did you notice any drafts or condensation specifically around window seals before discovering the vent issue? Sometimes a leak really is just a leak, and you'll save yourself headaches by ruling out obvious window damage early on.
Had a similar issue last fall—thought for sure it was the old wooden window frames causing the leak. Spent a weekend sealing and caulking everything, only to find out later it was actually the bathroom exhaust vent letting water in during heavy rain. Definitely agree windows can be sneaky culprits, but vents are surprisingly common troublemakers too. I'd say checking both early on saves a lot of hassle down the road... learned that the hard way, haha.
"Spent a weekend sealing and caulking everything, only to find out later it was actually the bathroom exhaust vent letting water in during heavy rain."
Haha, been there! Last spring, I was convinced my sliding patio door was the culprit. After hours of sealing every tiny gap imaginable, turns out it was actually the gutter overflowing and dripping down behind the siding. Sneaky indeed... It's always something unexpected, isn't it? Good call on checking vents too—wish I'd thought of that sooner. Would've saved me a soggy weekend and a lot of frustration.
- Learned this the hard way myself—spent days sealing windows, only to realize water was sneaking in around the chimney flashing.
- Always worth checking roof vents and flashings first... would've saved me a ton of hassle (and caulk).
Been there myself, thought I was sealing up a window leak for good... until the next downpour proved me wrong. Guess I'll be climbing up to check the flashing next weekend—thanks for the heads-up, at least I'm not alone in this!
"Been there myself, thought I was sealing up a window leak for good... until the next downpour proved me wrong."
Sounds familiar—window leaks can be sneaky. A lot of folks assume it's just the caulking, but flashing issues are surprisingly common and often overlooked. A quick tip from experience:
- Check the top and sides of your window frame carefully; water can travel horizontally before dripping inside.
- Flashing should overlap properly—upper pieces always over lower ones—to direct water outward.
- If you're dealing with older windows, consider that the flashing might've corroded or shifted over time.
Also, don't underestimate condensation buildup inside the wall cavity. Sometimes what looks like a leak from outside is actually moisture trapped inside due to poor insulation or ventilation.
Curious if you've noticed any signs of moisture damage around the interior drywall or trim? Sometimes that's a clue that the issue isn't just surface-level...
Had a similar headache last spring. Thought I'd nailed it with new caulk, but nope... next storm, same drip-drip. Turned out my flashing was bent just enough to funnel rain right inside. Took some trial and error, but once I fixed that, dry ever since. Hang in there—sometimes finding the real culprit takes a few tries.
Went through almost exactly the same scenario a couple years back. Thought I had it figured out after re-caulking around the window frame, but nope... next heavy rain, same frustrating drip. Eventually, after pulling apart some siding, realized my issue was actually the house wrap behind the siding—had a tear in it just above the window frame. Water was sneaking in there, running down behind everything, and popping out at the window.
It's crazy how water can travel along hidden paths and show up somewhere totally unexpected. Caulk seems like an easy fix, and sometimes it does help temporarily, but usually the real issue is further up or hidden behind something else. Flashing is definitely one common culprit (like you found out), but don't overlook things like torn or improperly installed house wrap or even tiny gaps higher up around vents or trim.
My advice: next time you're dealing with a leak that just won't quit, step back and look higher up from where you think it's coming in. Water loves to trickle down along studs or framing and pop out at windows or doors. You might need to carefully remove some siding or trim to really see what's going on behind there—annoying, yes, but worth doing right once rather than chasing drips every storm.
Glad you got yours sorted out though—nothing beats finally having dry walls after chasing mystery leaks!
Had a similar issue myself, and yeah, water leaks are sneaky little devils. I spent weeks convinced it was the window seal, caulking and re-caulking like a madman. Eventually, after losing my sanity (and patience), I discovered the leak was actually coming from a tiny gap around a vent pipe on the roof. Water was traveling down inside the wall cavity and popping out at the window frame—like some kind of evil plumbing magic trick.
You're totally right about looking higher up or further away from where you think the leak is. It's rarely as simple as it seems at first glance. And caulk...well, it's great for a quick fix, but it's usually just a band-aid solution. Flashing, house wrap, roof vents—those are the real culprits more often than not.
Glad you finally got yours sorted. Nothing beats that feeling of finally having dry walls after chasing phantom drips for months. Now every time it rains, I still catch myself nervously checking windows...old habits die hard, I guess.
"Water was traveling down inside the wall cavity and popping out at the window frame—like some kind of evil plumbing magic trick."
Ha, been there myself. Had a client convinced their sliding door was leaking, spent days sealing and resealing it. Turned out the water was sneaking in through a poorly flashed deck ledger board about ten feet away. It traveled along the framing and popped out right at the door threshold. Sneaky stuff.
You're spot-on about caulk being just a temporary fix. It's tempting because it's quick and easy, but nine times outta ten, you're better off tracking down the real source and fixing it properly. Flashing, proper drainage, and good roof vent seals are usually the real heroes here.
Even after years of dealing with leaks professionally, I still catch myself double-checking my own windows when it rains... guess paranoia comes with the territory. Glad you finally nailed yours down.