What’s included
- Leak testing with a garden hose
- Old exterior sealant removed and replaced
- Weep holes and tracks cleaned
- Frame-to-stucco gaps sealed
- Wood sills and trim reset and sealed
- Wet drywall below the window checked
What we don’t do
- New openings cut into a wall for a door or window.
- Glass cutting and glazing; we send that to a glass shop.
- Garage door openers, springs and cables.
In Alhambra homes
About 77 percent of Alhambra’s homes were built before 1980, according to a city housing report. Many have wood-framed windows from the original build or aluminum replacements set into old openings, and both depend on exterior caulk that the sun dries out. Once that seal splits, the first storm of the season finds it. The EPA recommends drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, so we check the wall below the window for soaked drywall too.
Get a quote in one text
Send photos of the window from outside and inside, plus any stain on the wall below. Our number for photos is (310) 628-9399, and the price comes back before any work is booked.
Wood windows in older houses
Original wood sashes leak at the sill joint and where the glazing putty has fallen out. Those are sealing and putty jobs, often done with <a href="/services/wood-rot-repair/">wood rot repair</a> where the sill has gone soft.
Aluminum replacement windows
These leak where the new frame meets the old opening, or when the weep holes at the bottom of the frame clog. Sticking and broken latches are covered on <a href="/services/sliding-window-repair/">sliding window repair</a>; drafts without water go under <a href="/services/window-caulking-and-draft-sealing/">window caulking and draft sealing</a>.
Not included
Replacing whole windows, enlarging openings or work on the wall structure behind the frame.
In older Alhambra houses this job often turns up next to window caulking and draft sealing, sliding window repair, wood rot repair and door leak repair, so mention those when you text and we can price them together.
Sources: City of Alhambra, housing needs report (age of housing stock); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home.
Window leak repair questions from Alhambra homeowners
Why does my window leak only in some storms?
Rain from one direction hits the side with the cracked seal. Calm rain may not reach it at all.
What are the little slots at the bottom of my window?
Weep holes. They drain water out of the frame and need to stay open.
Can you fix a leak without replacing the window?
Usually, yes. Most leaks are in the exterior sealant or blocked drains, not the glass.
Is condensation on the glass a leak?
No. The EPA links condensation to indoor humidity; drying the surface and venting the room help.
How much does window leak repair cost?
It depends on the window. Text a photo for a free estimate.
Repair guides for this job
- Why original wood doors stick, and how we free them upWhy solid wood and arched-top doors in Alhambra's older homes stick or drift open, the simple hinge fixes, and how we adjust them without harming the wood.
- Keeping original built-in cabinets and hutches workingHow we repair original built-in hutches, linen cabinets and cupboards in Alhambra's 1920s homes: sagging doors, sticky drawers, worn catches and glass.
- Getting the house ready for Santa Ana windsHow to get ready for Santa Ana winds in Alhambra: doors and gates, loose screens, outdoor items, power outages and the small repairs that keep dust and drafts out.
Looking for a handyman in Alhambra for more than one job? Send the whole list and we’ll price it together.
We serve Alhambra first, plus Monterey Park, San Gabriel and other nearby cities. Have a question? See the handyman FAQ.