Clean Window Weep Holes or Invite Rainwater Into Your House
Clean Window Weep Holes or Invite Rainwater Into Your House
Many sliding windows and vinyl replacement windows have weep holes on the exterior bottom of the frame. These holes are designed to drain away rainwater that can collect in the frame’s bottom channel. Weep holes can get plugged with bugs and debris, and if that happens, water could fill up the channel and spill over into your house.
Shawn Chesney Home Inspections recommends to include weep hole monitoring and maintenance as part of your regular routine. This will help prevent moisture intrusion causing significant damage and costing hundreds if not thousands to repair.
To see if your weep system is working properly, simply pour a glass of water into the track or spray the outside of the window with a garden hose. If you don’t see a steady stream of clean water exiting the weep hole, carefully poke a wire hanger or other blunt object small enough to fit into the hole, or spray it out with compressed air, cautious not to force or cause any damage then you can wet it down again. If the little flapper (designed to keep out driving wind) is stuck shut, it can be removed with a putty knife and replaced.
A few simple maintenance routines such as this will prolong the life of your windows and help maintain a good building envelope thereby saving you money and repairs.
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