Troubleshooting a leaking bunk window

[dalamarjj78]

My trailer is still winterized so I went outside today to do my routine check-up and noticed a new issue.

The bottom corner of the window blind for one of my bunk windows is brown and discolored. I climbed up and took a closer look and it seems I have (another) leak. I pulled up the mattress and noticed slight water markings on the plywood underneath that indicates it's gotten wet.

I didn't notice anything with the window from the inside so went outside to take a look. The only thing I noticed is that part of the window trim seems a bit "off". I took a photo and marked it in red (attached). This is the same corner where the blind got wet.

I could really use an expert opinion - does this look like it could be the issue? If so, is it an easy repair?

Or should I suck it up and order a whole new window?

I'm not under warranty (the trailer's 3 years old) and will attempt this repair myself as I have no plans on leaving it to sit at the dealership all summer for repairs.

Any input and suggestions on other things to check would be greatly appreciated!

[whitroc]

We had some moldly looking stuff in the corner behind the couch on the slide wall. I put Lexel sealant on both sides and the top of the window and it hasn't grown since. The screws under that wall on the slide had a little discoloration to them so I took them out and they have had moisture on them at one time or another. It sat all winter in the open and no sign of moisture now. Doing the eyebrow seal on all the windows as a precaution.

[bobbecky]

Some years ago, we had a water intrusion found at the carpet below a slide window. Could never find the leak, even had a mobile tech out to see if he had any ideas. Finally, I found one of those kits to add a clear cellophane over the window, except this was for the outside. After I installed it, no more water entry. I finally figured out there was a microscopic space between the outside frame flange and the outside wall surface, where the putty seal material is located, and that was where the water was entering the wall cavity and then migrating out the bottom to the carpet. I caulked the perimeter of the flange with silicone caulk and haven't had a leak since.

[ChuckS]

If I knew I had a leaking window I would be pulling the frame and resealing

But.. this is a nice video that will give you some suggestions as well..

Lippert Window video: https://support.lci1.com/videos/leak...dow-inspection

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

If I knew I had a leaking window I would be pulling the frame and resealing

But.. this is a nice video that will give you some suggestions as well..

Lippert Window video: https://support.lci1.com/videos/leak...dow-inspection

Nice video, thanks for posting a link.

[JRTJH]

Most of the "window leaks/wet wall" problems I've seen are a result of the putty that seals the window to the sidewall of the trailer rather than a problem with the window construction.

That said, there is a TREMENDOUS amount of condensation associated with single pane windows when using any trailer in the "cool part of the year"... You will find pooling water in the trough at the bottom of the window, laying against the sloped edge of that trough and the glass.

As for the mattress being wet against the exterior wall, that has been a "condensation management problem" since trailers were first designed. Water will collect where there is no air circulation, and that area, where the mattress lays against the sidewall, is a perfect place for condensation to make things "ripe for soaking".... You'll also find it behind the dinette booth cushions where they lay against the trailer exterior wall and behind the sofa, where there's "minimal air movement"....

Some windows are designed to be installed in several positions, some horizontal and some vertical. On all RV windows, there is a small "weep port" along the bottom below the glass in that trough. On windows designed for multiple position installs, those "weep ports" are usually equipped with rubber "stoppers" in the weep ports. They should be removed after the window is installed, leaving those along the sides of the window. It's a "common problem" for the factory to forget to remove the "weep port plugs" and many (maybe most) PDI technicians don't return to that area, since there's no water from condensation in an unheated trailer. In other words, check your window "weep ports" to make sure those plugs have been removed from the bottom of the trough where the glass meets the metal.

Now, after all of that, if the plugs are removed and the mattress is relocated an inch or so from the exterior wall and you still have water entering, then I'd pull the window, clean all the old putty off the window frame and the trailer sidewall and run a new strip of BUTYL putty tape around the window frame flange (start and end the putty tape at the center of the bottom of the window frame) and reinstall the window, torqueing the screws evenly in a similar pattern to how you torque the lugs on the wheels (alternating top/bottom/right/left) so the window seats against the trailer sidewall "evenly at all locations"....

[dalamarjj78]

Thanks everyone for the super helpful info (and video).

As usual the forum doesn't disappoint.

I checked the weep ports and see the top ones are still plugged but the bottom have had them removed. There does seem to be at least one spot where the putty sealing the window to the exterior wall of the trailer seemed to be in rough shape so I'm wondering if that's the issue.

I'll take a closer look and will likely end up pulling the window and resealing it to the trailer after we're back from our first camping trip of the season in a week and a half.

Stay tuned for more follow-up questions, I'm sure!

[Kirk's Keystone Outback.]

Since were on the topic of windows, I have the flush mounted windows that seal really well, and I have used the same 3-IN-ONE RVcare Rubber Seal Conditioner on the seals that I use on my slideout seals. Is that product OK to use on the window seals as well, or is there a preferred product to treat window seals?