Do Casement Windows Have Weep Holes?

Would you like to know if casement windows have weep holes? Well, we have researched this topic and have answers for you. It can be helpful to know if casement windows have weep holes to know if it's the window for you.

Most casement windows have weep holes. Weep holes are vital for releasing water trapped in windows. All windows that open need a way to let water out of them to keep window frames from rotting.

In this article, we will learn if casement windows have weep holes. We will also learn the answers to other interesting related questions such as, are window weep holes necessary, and can bugs get in through weep holes? Keep reading to learn more.

Do Casement Windows Have Weep Holes?

Have you ever seen the small holes on the bottom of your window frame? Those are called weep holes, and they serve an essential function.

When water gets stuck in your window frame, weep holes allow the water to flow out. Without weep holes, the water may cause your window frame to rot.

Casement windows are designed to open outward from one side. These windows come in both single and pair window designs. Pair casement windows hinge on the outer edge of the window frame to open a large opening.

Casement windows, like other windows, often come with weep holes. These weep holes allow trapped water to escape.

Are Window Weep Holes Necessary?

If you have a window capable of opening, it will need weep hopes. The edges of a window that open or slide have tiny gaps that water can work its way into.

If water makes its way into your window, you will need to get it out. Water left sitting in your window can corrode metal and rot wood. Over time this water can grow mold or bacteria and create a health risk.

Not only does this standing water damage your window and pose a health risk, but it also smells terrible.

The solution for the water situation is the weep hole. By having a small hole to let water out, your window frame will dry and avoid the issues with standing water.

Weep Holes Down Side

While weeping holes are great at removing water from window frames, they aren't perfect. Sometimes water can get stuck just below the weep holes and not escape. When your weep holes don't let out all of the water, it can't prevent rot and mold from forming in the window.

Weep holes also need to be unclogged periodically to keep them working. There are alternatives to weep holes but, we will discuss those further in the article, so keep reading.

How Do You Check If Window Weep Holes Are Clogged?

Weep holes in your window can become clogged with debris. If you weep holes are clogged, water trapped in your window frame can rot away the wood and damage the window. To avoid this from happening, you will want to check if your window weep holes are clogged.

To check if your window weep holes are clogged, you will need a glass of water and a flat spatula. You will want to see if you can get water to flow out of the weep holes.

Press the spatula against the glass of the window so that it is in position to direct water to the edge of the window. Slowly pour water on the spatula and lead it to the edge of the window.

If you see water pouring out of the weep hole, then you know that your weep hole is clear of debris. If you don't see any water coming from the weep hole, it may be clogged, and the water is stuck inside. You will need to unclog your weep hole if this is the result.

How Do You Unclog A Weep Hole?

If you need to unclog your window's weep hole, there are a couple of methods you can try. The first method uses a toothpick and water.

Let's go over each method to learn how to unclog a weep hole.

Toothpick And Water

All you will need for the toothpick and water method is a toothpick and water.

The first step is to take the toothpick and scrape as much debris as you can out of the weep hole. Once you have used the toothpick, pour water down the side of the window into the frame. The water should push any additional debris to the weep hole entrance.

From there, you should remove more debris with the toothpick. Once you have removed as much junk as you can, once again flush it with water.

The trick is to repeat this process until water flows smoothly from the weep hole.

Now let's learn about the compressed air method.

Compressed Air Method

With the compressed air method, you will need a can of compressed air. In this method, you press the nozzle of a compressed air can against the window frame entrance and blow the debris out with air.

With this method, it can be helpful to alternate from spraying the compressed air through the window crack or the weep hole. If you keep alternating, difficult to get debris will eventually make its way out of the window frame.

Can Bugs Get In Through Weep Holes?

While letting water out of your window is essential, weep holes have another considerable downside. Weep holes do allow bugs into your home. Small bugs can enter through the weep hole and get into the outer edge of your window frame and from there into your home.

While no one wants bugs entering their home, you can't block the weep holes. If you block the weep holes, you will defeat their purpose, and your window frame could rot.

There are a couple of solutions to keep bugs from getting in through your weep holes. Let's look at some of these solutions.

Weep Hole Screen

One solution to keep bugs from getting into your home is putting small screens over your weep holes. As long as the screen allows water to escape from your window frame, your window will not be damaged.

One downside to using weep hole screens is that they can make it harder to clean out your weep holes. They may also make it more difficult for water to escape the window frame.

Bug Spray

Another solution to keep bugs from entering your home is spraying the outside of your windows with a pesticide. This will create an invisible barrier that will kill bugs attempting to enter your home.

One downside of bug spray is that it may leave the bugs dead in your window frame. When you use bug spray, the poison won't kill the bugs until they enter your window frame. This may cause an accumulation of bugs in your window frame that will need to be cleaned out periodically.

Why Do Some Windows Not Have Weep Holes?

If you have ever gone window shopping, you will have seen that not all windows have weep holes. This is because there is an alternative to weep holes to keep water out of your window frame. The solution is the sloped sill.

A window with a sloped sill is designed to allow water that gets into the window frame to be drained to a sloped sill that directs the water outside.

With this window design, a weep hole isn't needed. Not only will the sloped sill window keep water from getting into your home, but you also will not need to perform regular maintenance on it as you do with weep holes.

You don't need to perform regular maintenance on a sloped sill window because its design is resistant to getting debris inside. The design also channels water away, unlike weep holes.

If you are buying new windows, it would be best if you opted to install sloped sill windows instead of windows with weep holes as it is a superior design.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we learned that most casement windows have weep holes. We also learned that you could unclog a weep hole with a toothpick or compressed air.

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you want to learn more, check out some of these other posts.

Types And Brands Of Casement Windows

Do Casement Windows Open In Or Out? [And How Far Do They Open?]