Water sitting in your window track can look like a leak, but it may be part of the window’s normal drainage system. The small openings along the outside edge, called weep holes, let rainwater escape. If one is blocked or its cover is stuck, water can collect and spill indoors. The fix is usually careful cleaning, not drilling or enlarging the opening.
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What a window weep hole does
Many modern windows are designed to manage a little water inside the frame. Rain can get past the outer seal or enter the track when you open the window. Channels inside the frame guide that water toward small openings at the bottom, where it drains outdoors. These openings are the weep holes.
That means a damp or wet track after heavy rain isn’t always a sign of a failed window. The important question is whether the water can drain away. If the holes are clogged with dirt, pollen, paint, insect debris, or old caulk, water may back up and find its way over the inner edge.
Can you adjust a window weep hole?
Usually, there’s no adjustment screw or setting for a weep hole. On most windows, you improve drainage by clearing the opening and the channel that leads to it. Some windows have a small movable cover or flap over each opening. If yours does, that part may need gentle repositioning so it can open freely.
Don’t enlarge the hole or drill a new one unless the window manufacturer specifically tells you to. A hole that looks small may be sized to work with hidden drainage channels or a particular frame design. Drilling in the wrong place can damage the frame, break a drainage path, or create a route for water to enter the building.
How to clear and check a weep hole
1. Find the drainage openings
Open the window and look along the bottom of the frame or track. Then check the exterior side of the frame, especially near the lower corners. Weep holes may look like narrow slots, small round holes, or openings covered by little hoods. Their position varies by window type and manufacturer.
If you can’t see an opening, don’t assume it’s missing. Some windows drain through concealed channels or openings underneath a track. Check the manufacturer’s care instructions if you have them. If the frame has no obvious exterior outlet, forcing a tool into a suspected spot can do more harm than good.
2. Remove loose dirt and debris
Brush away leaves, cobwebs, and loose grit with a soft brush. A vacuum with a narrow attachment can help lift dirt from the track without pushing it deeper into the channel. Clean the full track as well as the visible holes; debris farther along the channel can block water even when the opening itself looks clear.
A soft nylon brush or a plastic pick can loosen a stubborn bit of dirt at the mouth of a slot. Use a light touch. Avoid knives, screwdrivers, metal wire, and other sharp tools, which can scratch the frame, damage a flap, or puncture a hidden part of the drainage system.
3. Check any cover or flap
If your window has a small weep cover, see whether it moves as designed and isn’t stuck shut by paint, dirt, or caulk. Clean around it and gently move it only if it’s clearly meant to move. Some covers act as shields against wind-driven rain or insects, so removing one or leaving it wide open may cause a different problem.
Don’t remove a cover just because it seems to restrict the opening. If it’s broken, missing, or you’re unsure how it should sit, look for a replacement made for your window model or ask the manufacturer or a window professional. A mismatched cover may not protect the opening properly.
4. Test the drainage carefully
Once the area is clean, pour a small amount of water into the track near the drainage path. Watch from a safe position outside, if you can do so without climbing or leaning out, to see whether water exits through the intended opening. Stop if water begins to pool or move toward the indoor edge.
Don’t use a pressure washer or blast compressed air into the hole. High pressure can push water past seals or force debris into parts of the frame you can’t reach. A small, controlled test is enough to show whether the channel is draining.
What not to do
- Don’t caulk over the weep holes. Caulk can trap water in the frame and prevent normal drainage.
- Don’t drill or widen an opening without instructions. The right location and size depend on the window’s design.
- Don’t pack the hole with a screen or foam. These materials can clog quickly and interfere with drainage.
- Don’t assume every wet track means a faulty window. A little water may be normal, but standing water or indoor leakage needs attention.
- Don’t force tools deep into a slot. You may damage a hidden channel or seal.
Check the cause if water still comes inside
Clearing the weep holes won’t fix every window leak. If water continues to enter the room, consider where it appears and when it happens. Water that collects in the lower track after rain may point to blocked drainage. Water coming through the top or sides of the frame may involve a damaged seal, poor installation, or a problem with the wall above the window.
Also inspect the window’s exterior joints and the surrounding trim. Cracked caulk or damaged flashing can let water travel behind the frame, where it may show up indoors far from the original entry point. Don’t seal the weep holes as a quick fix; that can hide the symptom while making trapped water worse.
If the frame is bowed, a drainage cover is broken, wood around the window feels soft, or water keeps appearing after cleaning, contact the window manufacturer or a qualified window contractor. Take photos of the inside and outside, note when the leak happens, and share the window’s brand or model if you know it. Those details can help narrow down the repair.
How often should you clean weep holes?
There’s no single schedule that fits every home. Check the tracks and exterior openings during routine window cleaning, and after a storm if you notice water pooling. Homes near trees, dusty roads, or busy gardens may need more frequent checks because leaves, pollen, and grit build up faster.
A quick inspection takes only a few minutes: remove visible debris, confirm that the openings aren’t painted or caulked shut, and make sure any fitted covers aren’t jammed. Regular light cleaning is safer and easier than trying to clear a heavily packed channel later.
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- How to tell if a bathroom window seal is failing? what to do
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should water come out of a window weep hole?
Yes. These openings are designed to let water collected inside the window frame drain outdoors. Seeing water exit during or after rain can be normal, as long as it drains outside rather than spilling into the room.
Can I use a wire to unclog a weep hole?
It’s safer to use a soft brush or a plastic pick at the opening. A wire can scratch the frame, damage a flap, or be pushed too far into a hidden drainage channel.
Can I cover a weep hole to stop drafts or insects?
Don’t seal it with caulk, foam, or an improvised plug. If your window needs a cover, use the correct model-specific part so the opening can still drain as intended.
Why is there water in my window track even though the holes look clear?
The blockage may be deeper in the drainage channel, or the water may be entering from a damaged seal, failed caulk joint, or exterior flashing problem. If careful cleaning and a small drainage test don’t solve it, have the window inspected.
Conclusion
To improve window drainage, locate the weep holes, gently clear dirt from the openings and track, and check that any designed cover can move as it should. Most weep holes aren’t adjustable, and drilling, enlarging, or sealing them can damage the window’s drainage system. If water still leaks indoors after cleaning, look for a separate seal, frame, or installation problem and get it checked.
