How To Prevent Mold Around Windows With Caulking

You might not already be aware but poorly sealed windows that are in a bad condition can cost you money in raised cooling and heating bills. It may also increase your risk of having mold building up on the wall underneath your windows. There are many tips and tricks for you to learn to prevent this from happening and one way is to caulk around the exteriors to prevent mold around windows. Follow the article below for more information.

Mold Build Up Around Windows

Mold cannot thrive without water and with old, cracked acrylic caulk, water from the rain can leak into your home. This is never a good thing and it can be dangerous to the structure of your home if the problem is left unresolved for a long time. If you have just had your windows installed, you may notice that there is an intentional gap between the window frame and the siding that can measure up to 1/4 inch or more. This little gap is to allow expansion to take place when the surrounding temperature rises. This gap needs to be sealed with flexible silicone caulk to prevent water from seeping inside and gets trapped in your insulation. Once it is in, the moisture will rot the surrounding wood and mold spores will start feeding off the gypsum drywall.

Preventing Mold with Caulking

Silicone is permanently waterproof, crack and shrink-proof, and flexible once it has dried up so it provides you with sustained benefits. It is also recommended to apply it when there is no rain so you can get the best seal. Things you will need:

• Utility knife
• Scraper or putty knife
• Wire hanger or long nail to pierce the caulk tube
• Caulk gun and silicone caulk
• Plastic spoon or popsicle stick
• Damp, not wet, cloth

Get Started

• Scrape off any old caulk using the putty knife. Then, make use of a household cleaner or rubbing alcohol with a clean cloth to clean the surface. The surface needs to be really spotless and dry without any residues of dirt, grease, or soap before you can start caulking. This will let you get the best seal.
• Cut a small piece of the caulk tube right at its end at a 45 degree angle. The cut-out needs to be just big enough to create a bead for filling of the cracks. A 1/4 inch bead is usually large enough to fill most cracks. For an even bigger bead, simply cut the caulk tube’s end a bit more.
• Puncture the tube with the long nail or wire hanger to let the caulk flow out.
• Move the caulk gun at a slow pace to apply the caulk. Apply light pressure continuously along the crack and caulk on all four sides of the window.
• Lastly, smoothen the caulk using the popsicle stick or plastic spoon. Wipe off any excess caulk using the damp cloth. Once you are done, wait for the caulk to dry up and you will have a flexible seal that will protect your home from moisture.