Importance of Conducting Window Leak Test | #Construction Diary 005

Hello, builders around the world in Hive. How are you, I hope you're doing well today. For today's blog, I will share with you the importance of window leak testing in construction and how to conduct it in your households.

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What is the Window Leak Test?

A window leak test is a procedure we need to conduct so we can assist our newly installed windows in seeing if they are free from leaking. This test helps us to check if the installation is of quality workmanship. It will also determine if the window is properly sealed, and free from defects that can lead to possible leaking.

This test is conducted after the installation of the window, it is sometimes performed during a maintenance check of the building to determine if the existing window can still work to avoid leaking.

In our site housing project, this is one of the tests we strictly conduct before turning it over to the client. As one of the quality engineers in charge of our project, we secure the quality of its installation and its functionality.

In this blog, I will share with you two house units that we tested for leaking together with our window installer contractor last September 11, 2024. Our construction management team requested our presence to witness and evaluate the testing procedure.

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What do we Need?

Below are the basic materials we need for this test. In our project site this is what I use and require to conduct the test;

• Water
• Pressure washer
• Garden hose with a spray nozzle
• Pressure gauge
• Ladder
• Tape or Marker
• Inspection form

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Procedure

For this testing, we use a hydraulic pressure test. First, we need a source of water, in our testing we fetch some water from the source nearby and put it in a drum, after securing the water, we start turning the pressure washer then we set the pressure to moderate in our pressure gauge. On this test, we required a 30 Psi for the pressure.

After the setting, there is a person who will operate the garden hose with a nozzle that will blow on the window. He is the one who will control and aim the spot of the window to be tested. The duration of spraying the window is 10 -15 minutes. Just make sure the water will cross all over the window, including the top, its sides, and the bottom part. For the windows located at the higher point, use a ladder to reach the point of the window to be tested.

On this testing as Inspector, I will be inside the house and evaluate if there is a leak while the spraying of the window is ongoing. In checking, I touch every corner of the window and the part where the sealant is in place. If there is moisture or a drop of water it needs to be repaired and reworked the installation. You can also use the flashlight to see the small spot that has a leak, water reflects on the lights.

Now we need to put some markings like tape so that the rectification team knows the area to repair. And for documentation, we need to put it on the record and list the windows that have a leak in the inspection form. For windows, without moisture or signs of water entry means it passed the test.

For the two house units, we tested, there are five windows that failed and have leaking, two windows in the first one, and three windows in the other unit. These windows need to be re-tested and reinspected if there is no leak after the repair.

That's it, that's what you need and conduct the window leak test. if you have these materials or equal materials that function like this, you can test your windows in your households.

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Why it is Important to Conduct this Test?

Having a leak in your house can make your building weaker and shorten its lifespan. Yes, Concrete has porous properties and even wood. If water leaks and comes into your house, it will be absorbed by your structure then it will slowly deteriorate affecting its structural stability.

Aside from its structural stability, we also conduct it for the comfort of the owner. who will be at ease if there is a leak in your household, right?

By the way, did you conduct this testing on your households? How do you do it? we appreciate that if you shared it with us in the comment section.

That's it for this blog builder, I hope you learned new construction ideas on this and will help you in your life activity. Let us build together a safe modern world.

This is @intoy.bugoy! See you in my next Hiventure 😉

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