Checking window seals

[Rothe23]

What is the best way to check your window seals without being able to see them very well I want to make sure there ok before I get a leak unit is a 2010 mountaineer how long do they usually last before they need to be replaced and as for my other seems on the side of the unit can I clean and recaulk them with dicor or do i need to peel all the old stuff off first
Thanks for the help

[1retired06]

Have never had to replace a seal except for a total window replacement. I look at what part of the seal is visible .and if no cracks or deterioration, all is good. If I see something that bothers me, I clean and touch up with black windshield sealer. I do pay careful attention to the top of the window/seal and have run a clear line of silicon sealer across the top on occasion. Never good to caulk on old caulk.

[jcurtis934]

Windows use butyl tape to seal the outside of the window unit to side, usually 3/4 " wide × 1/8" thick. Could be white, tan, or black. The very outside edge where squeeze out occurred could be dry and cracked, but I seriously doubt the rest of it is dry. I would use a plastic tool to clean the outer edge all around, then silicone chaulk it.

[beeje]

That is exactly what I did several years ago. I used a plastic putty knife to remove the oozed out putty and carefully caulked around each window with black silicon. PITA but it turned out well.

[rohrmann]

Early on, we started getting water inside the large slide at one end and could not find the source, even got a mobile tech to come out and he couldn't find anything either. I finally discovered water was getting by the butyl seal at the top of the frame. It must have developed a very small gap and water was getting in, going down inside the wall and migrating to the carpet inside. I finally caulked the entire perimeter of the frame and no more water. Had the same thing later on at the other end of the same slide and did the same thing. When it happened in the bedroom slide, I went around the entire rig and caulked all of them. It was strange that the only windows that leaked were on the ends of the slides. I also used black silicone caulk.

[decarteaux]

Most of my window seals are are completely cracked and the small pieces of the butyl can just be pulled out. My first idea is to scrape them clean and replace with silicon or similar substance. But my concern is that the original seal was solid and under pressure whereas the silicon would not be. My preference would be to put a bead of silicon all around the window then press in a replacement seal on top of that. Do these seals exist? Am i on the wrong track? I need this to last in our northern Nevada weather.

[Hblick48]

Originally Posted by decarteaux

Most of my window seals are are completely cracked and the small pieces of the butyl can just be pulled out. My first idea is to scrape them clean and replace with silicon or similar substance. But my concern is that the original seal was solid and under pressure whereas the silicon would not be. My preference would be to put a bead of silicon all around the window then press in a replacement seal on top of that. Do these seals exist? Am i on the wrong track? I need this to last in our northern Nevada weather.

Removed hardened and cracked butyl with plastic razor blade. Used silicone to seal between window frame and filon. No leaks, rig is 18 years old.

[decarteaux]

Appreciate the info. Will find some heavy duty silicon and get on it!