How to Prevent Window Leakage During Beijing's Rain Storms
Earlier this week, the capital was hit by the heaviest rain this year, which has troubled many Beijingers as even those on upper floors somehow saw their windows plagued by leaks and water damage as a result of the downpour (the Beijinger's office not excluded!). The bad news is that the rain is continuing through the week. While we hope we won't be seeing any more intense storms like Monday's, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Indeed, a leaky situation can be a major problem in any place, but a heavy storm like this can bring some serious headaches to people as they grapple with the water seeping into the walls and raindrops dripping onto their windows.
Believe it or not, you don’t have to sit there and watch your window get saturated in case of an emergency because you can nip those leaky signs in the bud before they even pop up. Here are some tips on how to prevent a leak before it’s too late!
Mind the gap of your window frame!
Windows that have widening gaps between the frame and the walls are likely to develop leaks. If your window frames have been put into use for a long time, deformation can occur and they might be less leaky-proof, which may also give you a hard time opening and shutting down the windows. To prevent leakage from happening, tighten the screw in between the window frame and the wall regularly.
Recaulk if necessary
Often, leaky windows can be caused by either a shoddy caulking job or caulk that has been weathered over the years. If you suspect that your windows need recaulking, head down to your closest hardware store (search your maps app for 五金店 wǔjīn diàn) and ask for 填缝剂 tiánfèngjì caulk. Then, remove the old caulk and recaulk the window thoroughly.
Note any signs of mold on your walls
Mold is very likely to grow on your walls if the leaks have existed in your room for quite some time. Caused by high humidity and water leaks, they look like clusters of black or brown dots with an unpleasant smell of rotten woods. They would sometimes grow on the inside of your walls and you might want to remove the mold and fix the leak right away.
Got a bad seal?
One of the biggest causes water leakage inside your windows is that you have a bad seal. If you are constantly getting heavy condensation around your window no matter how many times you try to wipe down the moisture, chances are you’ve got yourself with a broken window seal. You might replace your insulated glass panel with a new one to prevent further leakage.
Your windows need “showers” too
Make sure to clean your windows regularly to remove the dirt and dust that might cause damage to the window frames and rails. After all, who would prefer to stay in a room with dirty, aging glasses that obstructs all that view and sunlight? (Ahem... when we see the sunlight again, that is!)
Wipe off puddles of water near your windowsill
To bring down the humidity level in your room, be sure to wipe off the puddles stashed in the slots around your windows after a heavy rain. Lubricate your windowsills regularly to prevent damage. If you’ve got plants near your windowsills, move them off! They will release a huge amount of moisture into the air. Also, if you have a humidifier in your room, use it less frequently to slow down the accumulation of moisture in your room!
Image credit: UNSPLASH, Remedy Roofing
READ: TaoBrowser: Best Finds for a Rainy Day
