Forum Discussion

lamopar's avatar
lamopar
Explorer
Dec 29, 2017

Water leak in glass seal at the bottom of the window.

We noticed water leaking down the wall from the middle of the back side window in our toy hauler. It is a 2011 unit. The window slides up and down. We noticed we could slightly push on the window and see the window slightly move. We notice water buildup on the rubber seal on the bottom of the window on the outside, which would be normal, and on the inside. I did notice a pretty good dirt build up on the outside bottom of the window. We cleaned the window and the seal very well and are waiting for it to rain again.

I was wondering if anyone has ever experienced something like this from dirt? I have not spent quality time cleaning the unit this summer and fall as we have been using it constantly until we noticed damage from water on the floor. I have been trying to determine the exact location of the leak and this is what we found.

So anyone ever had a problem from a dirty window seal?
  • the bear II wrote:
    On my 5th wheel during a rain storm I noticed water running down the inside wall from the bottom of the window. It turned out that the caulking at the top of the window frame on the outside had dried out and was cracked. The rain water was following the window frame down and spilling out at the bottom of the window frame inside the trailer. I caulked all of the windows and haven't had a problem since.

    By the way there was water in the channel where the window slides and it wasn't going out the weep holes. I guess the weep holes are only for water in the outside channel.


    We had this problem in our brand new 5er... they had missed some sealing on the top of the window, and also on the top of the exhaust vent for the stove.
  • It's possibly a roof leak that is running down the window path. Start looking higher.

    It's my understanding that RV windows are put in with a putty for sealant, not caulk. If that is in bad condition, your caulk job might not be adequate.
  • We have caulked all the windows and seals this summer. I will go back and check the caulking to ensure it is air tight.

    We did completely clean the weep holes and confirmed them by running a flex tie through each opening in the window until I could get it out of a weep hole. I will go back today and dry then apply some silicone spray to the seals. I was wondering about that as an option. I just don't see why the window has excess room at the bottom of the window. It is not the same on the sides. We can see the window flex towards the outer seal and it seems to be enough to completely come free from the inside seal if only by a MM or less. The sides of the window to not move at all. On the opposite side the bottom part of the window moves less and there is no movement on the sides.
  • On my 5th wheel during a rain storm I noticed water running down the inside wall from the bottom of the window. It turned out that the caulking at the top of the window frame on the outside had dried out and was cracked. The rain water was following the window frame down and spilling out at the bottom of the window frame inside the trailer. I caulked all of the windows and haven't had a problem since.

    By the way there was water in the channel where the window slides and it wasn't going out the weep holes. I guess the weep holes are only for water in the outside channel.
  • Could be seals, but more likely weap holes plugged. Using an old tooth brush thoroughly scrub the window seals. Finish up with silicon spray would not hurt.
  • It is not condensation. I looked this morning as it rained and the water is running through the U shape seal at the bottom of the window channel that the window slides down into when closed. I have water on the floor below the window. The weep holes are open and we verified that by running a small flex tie through all of them. It appears the water is running past the outside seal on the window and filling the void then coming up on the inside of the window. I thought the water that gets past the outside seal would end up going out the seep holes but that does not seem to be the case.

    I now wonder if the seals are just dried out and allowing water to pass through. I did find the same thing starting the other side of the trailer. That window is not normally in any sun when sitting.

    We are not living in the toy hauler and do have a dehumidifier running in the unit when we end a trip to remove excess humidity.
  • If it's condensation, you should see it in other places, like other windows or cold spots. Look carefully. A dehumidifier never hurts during extensive use, especially in humid areas.

    If no other signs of condensation, you do likely have a window leak. Make sure the weep holes are completely clear. Then spray with a hose above the window, and from all sides, and check which location produces a leak. It could be leaking around the top and running down inside.
  • On the inside is usually too much humidity inside leaking in from the oitside is the weep holes plugged with dirt. Are you living in your RV? Get a dehumidifier and run it 24/7.