Glazing bead useful life? reoccurring leak

[rerod]

Iv had a reoccurring window leak. Iv removed the window three times. The first time, it had the factory silicone which was replaced with good butyl tape which looked good the next two window removals. The last time I removed the window I removed the glazing and found some mud blocking the weep hole, so I figured I had found the underlying issue. But a few weeks later, I still have wet interior paneling! Thank god I have a aluminum trailer!

Anyway, I'm beside myself right now because I again removed the glazing to find its still clean under it and I'm sure the butyl is doing its job sealing the window to the trailer.

What is the life span of window glazing? And is that the only thing which could allow water in since I'm sure the window is sealed to the trailer?

I'm just about ready to trade my trailer in for a tent!

Thanks!

[rerod]

doxiemom11 wrote:
We had the same problem in our motorhome. Wall was wet right in the middle below the window and you would have sworn it was the window leaking. It was outside - bad caulk on a seam.

BINGO I removed all of the old sealant on the roof seam I thought looked good and resealed with proflex. It rained hard today and it's dry ! I don't know why the paneling wasn't wet above the window and my back is still sore days later.

westend wrote:
Harbor Freight sells a small blower and even a tube for mounting: Ventilator. It is enough air to do a pressure test. I'd suggest to do the test.

Also occurs to me that if you had silicone sealant, originally, and now are using butyl tape, there may be water passing between the two.

Thanks. I'll consider that fan for the next leak. :B

I removed all the silicone the first time the window was out. I had more luck with my fingernail and a eraser.

[westend]

Harbor Freight sells a small blower and even a tube for mounting: Ventilator. It is enough air to do a pressure test. I'd suggest to do the test.

Also occurs to me that if you had silicone sealant, originally, and now are using butyl tape, there may be water passing between the two. You're in a better position to see if the butyl tape sticks to the silicone but if you find that it doesn't, a soaking with 3M caulk remover on the siding will remove nearly all remnants. Follow the caulk remover with a solvent like mineral spirits and all the silicone should be gone.

[doxiemom11]

We had the same problem in our motorhome. Wall was wet right in the middle below the window and you would have sworn it was the window leaking. It was outside - bad caulk on a seam.

[Slownsy]

Maybe not easy but using a large fan taped to a window may do it, Google has wideo of it.
Frank.

[rerod]

Mich F wrote:
Water could be coming in the seam in your exterior wall panel above the window, and working its way down the wall, going around the window, then showing up below the window.
Why is there a seam in the wall - previous damage ?

The exterior aluminum sheets are 4' wide. Water could be leaking at that seam, although I think its unlikely.

Then again, it just rained hard and I see no water in or around the window.

It must be leaking from that side seam or the roof seam.

I wish there was a easy way to pressurize the trailer so I could do the soap bubble test.

[Mich_F]

Water could be coming in the seam in your exterior wall panel above the window, and working its way down the wall, going around the window, then showing up below the window.
Why is there a seam in the wall - previous damage ?

[rerod]

Ive got HEHR windows..

Looks like the glazing is available. But I'm not convinced the glazing is my problem because the channels and weep holes are clean.

After talking with HEHR, I was told the glazing is simply a cosmetic trim and doesn't seal water out.

So I'm back to square nothing.

As you can see, Iv been fighting this a long time..
http://forums.goodsamclub.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25988828/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

[beemerphile1]

I'm pretty sure the glazing is a rubber molding that is unlikely to leak much volume. That is unless the window is upside down.

Does it have weep holes at top and bottom?

How about where that vertical divider mounts? Could it be leaking there?

[rerod]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Maybe the roof is leaking.

Keep in mind that asking about your window glazing, we have no idea what kind of windows you have. A picture might help.

Yes sorry, and here is a old picture before the window was ever removed.



Anybody know, or guess who makes the windows I have?

The interior paneling is wet below the window. Not above, or to the sides. The paneling remained dry while the window was temporarily sealed up with plastic and tape.

Since the paneling is trashed now from water damage, I'm tempted to remove the paneling to track the leak. But I would have to remove the bed that's mounted to the wall.

[beemerphile1]

Maybe the roof is leaking.

Keep in mind that asking about your window glazing, we have no idea what kind of windows you have. A picture might help.

[Sam_Spade]

The infiltration point might NOT be where you think it is.

It might be above or to either side.

This might be a case where a few dollars to a professional RV body shop would be well spent.