Window maintenance

Weep holes are the small slots at the bottom of a window frame that let water that gets in drain back out. Painted over, caulked shut, or clogged with debris, they back water up into the frame. Check them each spring.

Exterior sealant is a consumable. Walk the outside of the house once a year and look for cracked, shrunken, or detached beads at the window perimeter, especially at the top corners. Re-sealing is cheap; the rot it prevents is not.

Hardware wears. Clean tracks, and lubricate balances, hinges and locks per the manufacturer's instructions — some hardware requires a specific lubricant and the wrong product attracts grit. Broken balances and worn weatherstripping are stocked parts on most modern windows.

The thing to actually watch for is staining, softness, or peeling paint at the sill and the wall below the window. That is water getting past the flashing, and it will not stop on its own.

How to choose

Spring: clear the weeps

Confirm they are open and never caulk them shut. A clogged weep is a common cause of mystery leaks.

Annually: inspect exterior sealant

Look at the top corners first — that is where failures usually begin.

Annually: operate every window

Windows that are never opened seize up and hide broken balances. This also matters for emergency escape from bedrooms.

After heavy rain: check indoors

Look and feel along the sill and the wall beneath. Catching a leak in month one instead of year three is the difference between a caulk tube and a framing repair.

Keep manufacturer instructions

Cleaning and lubrication requirements differ by product and using the wrong cleaner can void coverage on coated glass or finishes.