How to seal leaky bowed windows?

[Max78]

So I'm looking for some advice.

We live in a manufactured house and the windows are trash. They are all vertical sliding and they leak air like crazy. When we first got the place I went around and found that the windows didn't seat fully when closed and there was a 1\4" gap at the bottom. I put some soft weather stripping across to bottom and that helped seal them up. Now years later we are running into the windows being bowed on the bottom and now with the at weather stripping in place it wont allow the top part to fully seal. So I have to remove the weather stripping along the bottom, the center 1\3 is seated on the bottom, but the outer edges have a large gap.

We plan on getting new windows (in a year or 2), but we are looking for a quick fix that we can use in the mean time. Any ideas on what I can use to seal all the gaps? I 'm almost desperate enough to fill the voids with a putty we can remove if needed. We don't ever open our windows, we have a sliding glass door that we use for that.

 

[dougf]

Do you need to open these windows regularly? If so, some more foam might be the best option. If not, I would tape them shut with HVAC foil tape.

I would be worried about the window frame being bowed on the bottom. Have you checked extensively for leaks? I grew up in a mobile home and remember it being a constant issue with my father resealing the roof every other year.

 

[Max78]

We never open the windows, and I might have just found the perfect temporary solution. Indoor window insulation kits that you tape to the frame and then shrink with a hair dryer.

I didn't want to use foil tape because that would super ugly as well as a nightmare to deal with afterwards. It might be a mobile home, but its not trailer park status.

 

[Zeke]

Clear silicone will peel right off when you need it to. Tape is an option but might leave a residue. If you're throwing out the windows (pun), you don't care about that.

 

[DGersic]

Pictures?

Even the cheapest windows should be better than what I’m picturing here.

Caulk saver rope comes in different diameters, maybe stuffing that in the gaps would help.

Foil tape would work, maybe cover it with something like shelf contact paper to make it less ugly. Pick a complimenting or nicely contrasting colour.

Expanding foam fills all gaps, but is also kinda ugly to look at. You could paint it to hide though,

 

[Bert_]

I've got one vinyl replacement window in my upstairs yet. It doesn't seal so I just caulked it shut. Huge improvement.

 

[slowtwitch73]

caulk

 

[73fxe]

Remove the trim on the edges of the window at the bows and shim the window straight.

 

[nickelTwin]

They sell white removable caulk to seal that up. It is made so you can just peel it off nice and clean when you want to. It comes in regular caulk tubes.

 

[steve308]

 

[nadogail]

I once bought caulk for use when installing windows in the camper tops for pickup trucks. It was very much like modeling clay, thin strips in a roll separated by waxed paper, it was adhesive enough to stay where you pressed it, but easily rubbed off.

 

[loganb]

Very interested in pictures of the offending items

 

[Max78]

Thanks for all the ideas and info.

I'll get pictures of the windows when I get a chance.

 

[Zeke]

Remove the trim on the edges of the window at the bows and shim the window straight.

Might be too late for that. I got one from the factory that was bowed and didn't meet up at the check rail correctly. They sent another but I lost out on the labor.

 

[nickelTwin]

I once bought caulk for use when installing windows in the camper tops for pickup trucks. It was very much like modeling clay, thin strips in a roll separated by waxed paper, it was adhesive enough to stay where you pressed it, but easily rubbed off.

This was probably a product commonly known as "Rope Caulk" or "Caulk Cord" comes in a roll

It is easy to apply.

 

[nadogail]

This was probably a product commonly known as "Rope Caulk" or "Caulk Cord" comes in a roll

It is easy to apply.

You are right; that was in 1974 and I forgot that name for it, Thanks for refreshing my memory.

 

[cr-garagedoor]

You can fill all the cracks with silicon caulk on the window's exterior if possible. Silicone caulk will stretch and flex to make a water-resistant seal that will last many years. (though you want a temporary solution, still this option can also be considered for 2 years).

 

[nickelTwin]

Here is the seal n peel caulk

looks nice

easy to seal the gap and removes clean and easy

 

[Max78]

Here are some pictures of the issue. We had a massive amount of wind that made an absolute mess. . . We have a few haboobs in the summers here to give you an idea of what kind of weather I deal with...

This window was cleaned and spotless a month ago. . . Just sick of the dirt infiltration...

I would love to replace all the little felt weatherstripping on these windows. Anyone know what its called or where I can get it?

 

[backupbeeper]

“Strip caulk “
Is used for automotive windows and sealing around wires etc