During periods of heavy rain, it’s normal for some water to collect or pool on the sill of your window or patio door. Some Andersen® products are designed with a "contain and drain" sill system that uses weep holes to help channel water safely away from the unit, while other products use drainage methods that may not include visible weep holes.
How to Clean Weep Holes on Andersen Windows and Patio Doors
Weep holes are small openings located on the exterior bottom edge of the sill on your window or patio door. As part of your window’s contain and drain system, they let water pass through the sill to drain away from your home. If you notice water pooling in the sill, this is usually temporary. Depending on the product, the sill is designed to either drain water through weep holes or manage water within an internal drainage system before releasing it to the exterior.
However, if the water does not drain or the pooling persists, the weep holes may be blocked by dirt, debris, or sealant. But simple, routine cleaning of your product's weep holes can allow them to continue draining properly.
|
Weep Hole on Sill of Window Unit
|
Weep hole in Contain and Drain Sill
|
Weep holes are found on the following products:
- Andersen® A-Series patio doors
- Renewal by Andersen® Ensemble™ Entry Doors
- 200 Series inswing patio doors
- 100 Series gliding windows
- 100 Series single-hung windows
- 100 Series double-hung windows
- 100 Series gliding patio doors manufactured September 2011 to Present
|
When to Use This Article
We recommend following the instructions in this article to check and clean the weep holes of your window or patio door as needed. If you live in a coastal, industrial, or agricultural area with higher levels of airborne materials like dirt, dust, smoke, and salt spray, we recommend following these instructions more frequently.
This Article Will Help You:
- Clean window or patio door weep holes.
Tools and Supplies Needed
- Safety glasses
- Pipe cleaner or a small brush
Let's Get Started
Clean Window or Patio Door Weep Holes
- Lift the weep hole cover on the exterior of the sill.
- Use a pipe cleaner or small brush to clean any dirt or debris out of the weep hole.
Note: Gliding patio door units — 400 Series Frenchwood,® 200 Series Perma-Shield,® and 200 Series Narroline® doors — do not have weep hole covers. These units have a single frame design and have weep holes located under the stationary panel and are not visible once the stationary panel is installed.
For additional questions about weep holes or about other patio door series not mentioned in this article, Contact Andersen® Windows and Doors.
®2026 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.
