Newly Installed Window and door Water Leak Testing in Los Angeles

Here in Los Angeles, it’s all too common to see new windows and doors being installed. In all cases, newly installed windows and doors are either installed in the original wall with the original wall covering material or, the windows and doors are retrofit types and are installed inside the actual window frame. Interestingly enough, both of these types of window systems require an entirely different testing approach. Although the test is the same, the way you approach the testing as a whole is slightly distinct.

Quality Assurance Testing | New nail-in window water intrusion testing

For new nail-in windows, the test we use is the ASTM E1105 water intrusion test. This test not only tests the window product itself, but it’ll test the window installation into the wall, no matter what the wall cladding consists of.  In essence, the best way to ensure your windows don’t leak or, that the installation of the windows into the wall doesn’t leak, quality assurance testing is an extremely effective way of achieving this. The window test is conducted in accordance with the ASTM E1105 test standards.

Do all new windows and doors require testing?

No. Not all new windows and doors replaced in a building require water rain leak testing. In most cases where windows and doors are tested for quality assurance, it is generally the choice of the homeowner, builder, architect, designer, or inspector to have these products tested for leaks before they are subjected to actual rainfall. Are new windows and new doors tested differently? The standards for testing new windows and doors are the same.

What tests can be performed for new windows installed here in Los Angeles?

For quality assurance window and door testing here in Los Angeles, the standard test is the ASTM E1105. Many architects and waterproofing experts can dictate a variety of tests. Of those tests, there is the ASTM E331 and E547 tests which are suitable tests for new windows and doors.

To make it more complicated, the homeowner can also choose to have the newly installed windows and doors have a pressure test or simply have the products tested using static water pressure only. Pressure tests or chambers allow the tester to provide a water intrusion test that is similar to the test the factory had performed. The type of test you might need mostly depends on the reason for the test in the first place. Other than that, the tests are usually dictated by a third party.

Are all water intrusion, rain leak tests, and Quality assurance test standards the same?

There are a few different water intrusion, rain leak tests, and Quality assurance test standards available to the homeowner or builder here in Los Angeles. The biggest difference in the type of test to choose mostly depends on the type of product. For example, storefront doors and storefront windows in a commercial building are tested differently than vinyl windows installed in a residential home. Furthermore, storefront windows and doors are tested completely differently than the standard residential windows and doors.

Who can you call for leaking windows in LA?

Windows leak for a multitude of reasons.  here are a few different reasons a window can leak here in Los Angeles;

Inadequate Installation:  Improperly installed windows may result in gaps, causing leaks. This may happen if the window is uneven or if the flashing is inadequately installed.

Frame Damage: Deterioration, distortion, or impairment of the window frame can result in ingress points for water and air.

Condensation: Inadequately rated windows or insufficient ventilation may cause condensation, potentially leading to leaks or mold proliferation.

Weather Events: Inclement weather, like intense precipitation, hail, or high winds, can undermine window seals or result in leaks if the window construction is insufficiently durable.

Accumulation of Debris: Obstructed gutters or debris surrounding the window may lead to water accumulation and infiltration into the residence.

The age of windows: Older windows are more prone to deterioration, resulting in an increased probability of leaks. To resolve these concerns, regular maintenance, inspections, and prompt repairs or replacements of windows may be required.  Whether the issue is old windows, damaged windows, or otherwise, when it comes to windows leaking, performing testing will locate the issue.

The person who you will want to fix the leaking winds is a professional Los Angeles contractor familiar with water intrusion testing.

What types of water intrusion specialists test windows and doors in Los Angeles?

With so many individuals here in Los Angeles who claim to be water intrusion specialists, how do you choose a company? The easiest way to answer this question is to eliminate the companies that choose to perform water intrusion testing with a simple water hose as opposed to the necessary calibrated equipment. The necessary calibrated equipment consists of a calibrated spray rack, a spray wand, a suction machine, and the ability to create a controlled testing environment.

My advice to anyone looking to have windows and doors water tested for leaks is to use only a company that possesses all of these necessary tools. Anything short of that and I would say you are simply wasting your money. Testing is suggested to be repeatable. Meaning, that in litigation cases, for example, window testing results or door test results should be easily repeatable with the same outcome.

Have your windows and doors re-tested if they leak during testing

Once the windows and doors have successfully been tested and you find you have some that leaked and some that did not. The first step is to start a list of the windows and doors that leaked in order to prepare a re- testing list. This list is comprised of the types of leaks associated with the windows and doors tested. Fast forward to after repairs were completed to eliminate the leaking points in these products.

Re-testing of these windows and doors using the same E1105 water intrusion testing method is suggested. Its strongly suggested that all windows and doors which leaked during the initial test be re-tested. this is also known as quality assurance testing.