--- title: "Membrane Leaking: Worn DWR or Delamination?" description: "How to diagnose a leaking membrane jacket: worn DWR, mechanical damage or irreversible delamination, plus drying and storage rules." canonical: "https://blog.goracezelazko.pl/en/membrane-leaking-diagnosis" lang: en category: "Fabrics" datePublished: 2026-11-01 dateModified: 2026-11-01 author: "Małgorzata Małecka" publisher: "Gorące Żelazko" alternates: pl: "https://blog.goracezelazko.pl/membrana-przecieka" en: "https://blog.goracezelazko.pl/en/membrane-leaking-diagnosis" uk: "https://blog.goracezelazko.pl/uk/мембрана-протікає" --- # Membrane Leaking: Worn DWR or Delamination? *Step-by-step diagnosis: DWR, mechanical damage or delamination* Author: Małgorzata Małecka · Published on 2026-11-01 ![Membrane Leaking: Worn DWR or Delamination?](https://blog.goracezelazko.pl/images/guides/membrane-leaking-diagnosis/hero/jpeg/membrane-leaking-diagnosis-large.jpg) Still leaking despite washing and reproofing? Before you decide the membrane itself is broken, it's worth breaking the problem down into three common scenarios and checking which one fits your situation. ## Worn coating or delamination? Diagnosing membrane jackets step by step and what a laundry can fix ![Macro close-up of the inside of a technical jacket with peeling, delaminated membrane surface](https://blog.goracezelazko.pl/images/guides/breathable-membranes/inline-4/jpeg/inline-4-large.jpg) *Peeling, brittle interior surface is a typical sign of delamination* It's worth breaking down "leaking" problems into three most common scenarios before you start hunting for causes. Each demands a completely different response, and confusing them can be costly. It leads either to unnecessary repair expenses for something that can't be done, or the opposite, giving up on a jacket that just needs reproofing. > **Scenario 1: worn DWR** > > Sign: water quickly soaks into the fabric instead of beading up. Cause: worn or soiled DWR coating. Membrane damaged: no. Solution: reproofing with wash-in or spray-on and heat activation. This is the gentlest and by far the most common of the three scenarios. > **Scenario 2: mechanical damage** > > Sign: water leaks from specific spots, for example at elbows or where a backpack strap rubs. Cause: fabric and membrane abraded or punctured. Membrane damaged: yes, but localized. Solution: dedicated patch repair like Gore-Tex Repair or Tenacious Tape with breathable layer. Never regular tape, it blocks breathability at the repair. > **Scenario 3: delamination** > > Sign: membrane peels, visible flaking inside the jacket, fabric loses stiffness in bend areas. Cause: adhesive aging, repeated washing above recommended temperature, or polyurethane adhesive hydrolysis under moisture and time. Membrane damaged: yes, irreversibly. Solution: no repair, professional or DIY. This clothing qualifies for replacement. ### Identify the problem: DWR vs delamination vs mechanical damage What a professional laundry can fix, what it can't ### What professional laundry can fix, what no laundry can **Do** - Reproofing with controlled activation temperature - Degreasing before washing when creams or oils lower membrane surface tension - Simultaneous washing and reproofing with repeatable parameters - Professional patch on localized abrasion **Don't** - Membrane delamination: no method exists to reverse adhesive aging - Hole damaging structure without patching - Membrane degraded by UV and years of use ## Drying and storing membranes Simple rules that close the care cycle ![Technical jacket drying on a hanger in a well-ventilated room with natural window light](https://blog.goracezelazko.pl/images/guides/breathable-membranes/inline-6/jpeg/inline-6-large.jpg) *Drying on a hanger away from heat sources and sun is the safest method* The drying and storage rules are straightforward, but often overlooked in practice, especially when you want the jacket to dry as quickly as possible. The checklist below closes the entire care cycle described in this article. ### Three drying and storage rules - **Dry according to tag**: Hanger in shade or tumble dryer on low temperature if the tag allows it. Moderate heat further reactivates DWR coating. Never near a radiator or in full sun, as UV degrades both DWR and membrane structure. - **No direct ironing**: If ironing is necessary, only through a cotton protective cloth, low temperature on 'synthetic' setting, without steam directed straight at the material. - **Seasonal storage**: On a hanger in a well-ventilated place away from sun. Avoid prolonged compression in vacuum bags or tight backpacks. Sustained creasing accelerates micro-cracks in porous membrane structure. ## Now you know the theory. Practice can be less forgiving. If you would rather not risk your favourite piece, leave it to the specialists at Gorące Żelazko laundry in Lublin. - [Impregnation](https://www.goracezelazko.pl/en/services/impregnation) - [Jacket washing](https://www.goracezelazko.pl/en/services/jacket-washing) - [Shoe cleaning](https://www.goracezelazko.pl/en/services/shoe-cleaning) ## Frequently asked questions about diagnosing a leaking membrane ### Can I tumble dry a membrane jacket? Depends on the tag, but many lines allow and even recommend low-temperature drying because moderate heat reactivates DWR coating. Never near a radiator or in direct sun. ### How do I know if a membrane has delaminated? Membrane peels, you see flaking or crumbs inside the jacket, and fabric loses stiffness in bend areas. This is irreversible, resulting from adhesive aging. ### Can I repair a hole in a membrane jacket? Localized puncture or abrasion can be fixed with a dedicated patch like Gore-Tex Repair or Tenacious Tape with breathable layer. Never regular tape, it blocks breathability. ### How do I iron a membrane jacket without damaging it? Only through a cotton protective cloth, low temperature, 'synthetic' setting, without steam aimed directly at the material. Direct iron contact with the membrane risks melting. ### When is it better to take a membrane jacket to a laundry rather than wash it myself? Consider a laundry for high-value clothing, visible grease or cream stains, and uncertainty about material composition or when there's no clear tag. Suspected delamination needs expert diagnosis, not guessing. A laundry also excels at simultaneous washing and reproofing with controlled activation temperature, hard to repeat consistently at home.