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Home Repair Windows

Window leak, musty smell?

10 days 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
10 days ago
Outside of the window
millworkman
10 days 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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Since I last posted, I've narrowed a few things down. One of the rooms that was affected (there were 2 rooms total), has been fixed. The french drain I installed around the perimeter of the front of the house, where water was creeping under the foundation, seems to have fixed the issue in the larger room. There is now no more musty smell in there. However, the other room, which is a "closet" that backs up directly to a bathroom, still has the odor, which has actually gotten worse. The smell is definitely partially sweet, and partially musty. I've cut the drywall all the way around the room to see if there is any signs of water damage, dead animals, etc inside of the walls. Interestingly enough, the inside of the walls that butt up to other rooms, smell fine. The walls that have concrete on the other side, have the odor present (perimeter walls). The only two things I haven't addressed yet are the roof (I'd have to cut the ceiling open because there is no attic access at this point for how low the roof pitches). The other thing would be the foundation (slab). I have fairly expensive laminate flooring and underlayment in that room, which would have to be removed, and the floor would have to be inspected for dampness. However, given the circumstances, it's been narrowed down quite a bit. The room has 4 walls (2 butt up to exterior concrete and 2 others butt up to interior rooms), a standard hollow core wood door, a West-facing window, and a drywall knockdown ceiling. There is only two piece of furniture in the room, which are bookcases. One is MDF (still wrapped in plastic to hold it together before I bolt it in), and the other is pine wood, also wrapped in thin plastic to protect it. I've just put two large shop fans, a big air purifier, an ionizer, and ozone generator all in the room with a big bucket of damprid (although humidity levels in that room are only 49% in south florida, which is fairly average). I've also sprayed half a can of lysol air spray into the room. I'll let you guys know how that works out, and hopefully we can figure it out. and ESMAN - let me know your notes as well. Thanks.
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I think we solved the mystery! I did check the condensation pipe that comes out of the wall on the outside of the house and it was dripping. then I tested my cleaning lady who had been in the day before we arrived to ask if she noticed the smell. she is OCD about cleaning so I figured she would have noticed for sure. she said the house smelled fine, but added that she left. few bathroom rugs in the dryer when she left. so, we have had a few times when people shove the dryer around and the vent comes loose, and I figured. that's what happened and the moist air was leaking into the house. it just so happens that the dryer is just across the hall from the return air vent and I guess it sucked in that damp air and spread it around. things smell much better but still worried if the coils may have bacteria as a result.
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Nicole D
Original Author
10 days ago
Not sure exactly where you’re specifically asking but I tried
Nicole D
Original Author
10 days ago
Top of window
Nicole D
Original Author
10 days ago
Got a latter out and was able to get these shots
Nicole D
Original Author
10 days ago
Same are two different shots
Nicole D
Original Author
10 days 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
Nicole D
Original Author
10 days ago
Left side, top of window. Window in question is facing right below this brick with the door just beyond it
Nicole D
Original Author
10 days ago
I pointed to where the window is
Nicole D
Original Author
10 days ago
Ladder* not latter 🤦‍♀️
Nicole D
Original Author
10 days ago
Top of window
Nicole D
Original Author
9 days 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.
Nicole D
Original Author
9 days 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
millworkman
9 days 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.
Nicole D
Original Author
9 days ago
Yeah I told my husband and he said that was from before us so looks like we got some work to do
Nicole D
Original Author
9 days 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
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
9 days 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
9 days 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
kevin-door and window fabricator
9 days 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
9 days ago
Thank you!

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