With all the rain here, what are the signs that windows or exterior doors need replacing?

Published on Oct 20, 2026

Hey folks! This is Kolten from Next Gen Remodels.

Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from y'all on the internet.

Today's question is:

"With all the rain here, what are the signs that windows or exterior doors need replacing?"

Summary:

Kolten outlines several tell-tale signs that windows or exterior doors need replacing. The clearest is growth inside the glass itself: when the seal between the two panes fails and the argon gas escapes, mold- or moss-like growth appears between the panes. Another warning sign is exterior window caulk that has separated, which usually indicates water penetration because the failed caulk is letting moisture into the window. He also points to improper flashing as a classic source of water intrusion, noting that many older homes around Pierce County and Tacoma predate strict building codes and still have old windows, trim, and siding that were never flashed, waterproofed, or spray-foamed correctly. Beyond water damage, those deficiencies cause significant heating and cooling loss through the windows. Collectively, these signs point to windows that are no longer performing and likely need replacement.

Answer:

There are a couple of tell-tale signs. You can see inside, between the glass, you have your two panes of glass with argon gas in between. You can't see the gas, but a sign that it's gone and the seals have failed is that you'll get growth on the inside of the window, usually looking like mold or moss growth. Another way to tell something is most likely going on is when the window caulk on the exterior has been separating, there's probably some water penetration happening because that caulk has failed and water is getting into the window somewhere. A classic sign that water could be getting in is if your windows aren't flashed properly. A lot of houses around Pierce County and Tacoma specifically are older homes that didn't follow building codes and still have old windows, old trim, and old siding. A lot of them aren't flashed properly, aren't waterproofed correctly, and aren't spray-foamed, so you're losing a lot of heating and cooling through those windows. There are a lot of deficiencies that happen with windows that aren't installed or flashed properly.