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Home Repair Windows

Window leak, musty smell?

8 months ago

We purchased this house last Summer. When we moved in, we noticed black mold behind the wallpaper that we ended up ripping out. We tore out the drywall under and around the window, and thought we had fixed our issues, patched it up and went on our way. Well, here we are this spring and I noticed a musty smell every time I walked into this room from outside. I pinpointed it to it coming from below the window trim so I removed it and noticed mold right in the middle where the two windows meet. I cleaned it and decided to open the rest of the wall below to see if there was mold or moisture there. No evidence of moisture however the smell is quite strong. I believe the majority of the water rests between the window and the support wood it’s resting on. I also noticed that the left pane window, the paint is cracking. Is this also caused from moisture? We had just sanded and repainted these windows over the winter

My question is, is this an outside caulking issue? Or is this an old window needs to be replaced issue?

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Comments (20)

Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Outside of the window
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millworkman
8 months ago
" I also noticed that the left pane window, the paint is cracking. Is this also caused from moisture? "

Certainly can be and in this case most likely is.

" My question is, is this an outside caulking issue? "

Caulking is a last line of defense not primary and I doubt is the issue. 99% of the time it is an outside issue. My bet would be the head flashing/drip cap area. Can you get better pictures of the window head?
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It's entirely likely that the humidity is not coming in via your windows or door. The moisture is coming from somewhere. It's possible that it's coming through the block, but not if your symptoms are only on certain days. As a test, put a couple square feet of thick plastic sheet (industrial garbage bags, 6-10 mil plastic from a home store, etc. seal it around the outside edge to the block with a seam sealer tape or a bead of silicone. If the water condenses on the inside, then the water could be seeping through the block. If it forms droplets on the outside, then the air is the problem, not your wall. Get an inexpensive humitistat at your home store and take readings upstairs. If humidity is high up there, it will naturally be high anywhere in the home air can flow, but only condense where it's cold. Above the foundation, what is the construction of your home? If you have rim joists that aren't sealed, you could be taking on warm damp air from outside through the siding/framing on the house. The plastic trick works in lots of places. seal pieces against the wood framing to see if you're getting water vapor ABOVE your foundation. Do you have a sump or a drain in your basement? They can both be sources of humidity in the area if not setup properly. Again, though, it would be happening all the time, not just on certain days.
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Musty smells are almost always generated from mildew or mold, where drain, or sewer smells tend towards the sulfur, rotten egg or toilet smell. Because you mention a previous roof leak and water can travel into some of the most inobvious places my guess is you still have some mold or mildew generating from the old leak or you have mildew growing around the sink area or maybe under the sink. A little off the subject but folks who have bought the new front loading washers are finding mildew growing around the door seals and not visible without getting your head into the washer and looking around. I say this because mildew and mold can easily grow where there is moisture, darkness and still air so you may need to search further for damage from the roof leak. hope this helps.
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Hi Stefanie, I would be glad to help if I can. I got an air purifier and it seemed like it helped a little as long as it stayed on. We ended up moving our bedroom to the one next to it and turning the musty room into a studio. I took the air purifier out to put into the new bedroom and the stinky room got really bad and thick. I happened to ask my exterminator when he came by for a routine spraying so he checked the attic above the room and said everything was normal critter-wise but theres no fan so it gets very hot. He said he used to do moisture/mold remidiation and would take a look to see if anything explained it. We have a tree with large branches that hover above that room . It looked like rainwater was pooling in the gutter above the window and if you looked under the brick, there was a lot of moss and black staining. He said to trim the branches, treat the black stains, and get a de-humidifier for that room and see what happens. Since taking his advice, I have noticed a big decrease in smell. I am still cautious as to whether this will permanently solve it but its enough of a difference to where the room is bearable to be in now.
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Hi, Sonya. I spent a good bit of time on the outside of the home caulking around all entry points, including things like the gas line, the cable TV line, etc. And while we had the wall open, I used some expanding foam to seal around those entry points from the inside. That had been suggested by a home inspector/moisture remediation person that we had out to the house. We live in a wet climate (more than 60 inches of rain per year), and the inspector felt that at times when we were getting a lot of rain, some moisture was entering through those points and probably causing the smell. We have since moved from that house but haven't heard of any issues from the new homeowner, who we still see periodically.
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Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Not sure exactly where you’re specifically asking but I tried
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Top of window
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Got a latter out and was able to get these shots
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Same are two different shots
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Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
You can see here we added in more mortar last summer when we moved in right under the overhang of the brick and even along side the brickwork to the left of the window
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Left side, top of window. Window in question is facing right below this brick with the door just beyond it
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
I pointed to where the window is
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Ladder* not latter 🤦‍♀️
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Top of window
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
More shots of the top. I have a feeling it’s how the top of the window looks weird. I’ll attach a photo of another window and I realized it’s not like this one. It’s much cleaner.
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
This is another window. Different shape (slimmer) but it’s the same overall (model and make and time of install) and the top looks nice and clean
0
millworkman
8 months ago
I need to look at these a little better later on but going forward, do not EVER put mortal up against the window like that. Does nothing but help rot the window. That needs to be caul with backer rod behind it.
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Yeah I told my husband and he said that was from before us so looks like we got some work to do
0
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
This wall had extensive water damage prior to us moving in. Sigh. What a headache it’s been. But hoping we’re getting closer to getting it figured out. Thank you for your help. It’s much appreciated
0
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
8 months ago
All kinds of sources of moisture out there. Least of which (assuming it's intact and sealed to the brick) is the window. The siding and brick ledge above the window is more likely the source in my remote observation and having pulled these walls apart before.
PRO
Ultra Windows
8 months ago
I agree with WoW. That protruding brick ledge with the siding set on top of it is where I would be inspecting. Those brick ledges often flatten out or worse, develop a cant towards the siding.
PRO
M. ASSOCIATES
8 months ago
Maybe you can try Behr waterproofer, water-based, to seal bricks above the windows from HD. It works perfect for sealing masonry. Give a try to save your headache.
Nicole D
Original Author
8 months ago
Thank you!
0

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