Window wells are important for proper drainage and keeping soil away from the foundation, but they can cause a lot of problems for many homeowners. We see it all the time—someone calls because their window well has water building up or, worse, because it has a leak. If you’d like to learn how to fix window well problems, follow our guide below.
Common Window Well Problems
- Excessive flooding – If your window well is not equipped with a drain pipe, water can pool up and leak into your basement. Most experts recommend connecting your window well drain pipe to a drain tile system inside your basement. This channels collected water to a sump pump where it can be ejected away from your foundation.
- Debris – If you don’t have a window well cover, branches, leaves, and small animals can fall into the well, clogging the drain pipe. If an animal falls inside the well, it could even die and become a bigger nuisance to clean.
- Injuries – Another reason to have a window well cover includes preventing accidental injuries. If you have small children, a cover will stop them from falling inside and hurting themselves.
- Damage – If you notice any cracks, holes, or other signs of damage to your window well, we recommend getting them fixed as soon as possible. Cracks or holes in the well can lead to water seepage and possible dirt buildup.
Get a window well cover if you don’t have one already
It’s amazing how many people wonder why their window wells fill with water or clogs—yet they don’t have window well covers. Keeping your window well free of leaves, mud, and other debris is one of the most important things you can do. A window well cover won’t promise a leak-free basement, but it will drastically reduce the debris and water buildup, which can lead to window well and foundation leaks.
Install a drain in the window well
A lot of homebuilders look for opportunities to cut costs, and unfortunately, one of those areas is often the window well. Every window well should have at least one drain to keep water from building up and getting into your basement. If water, snow, or ice accumulates in your window well, it’s only a matter of time before it starts attacking your home’s foundation.
Waterproof your basement
Everyone should waterproof their basement, but especially if their homes have window wells. Obviously, you want to avoid the nightmare of flooding and water damage as much as possible. For the best results, you shouldn’t attempt to waterproof the basement yourself—leave it to the professionals. In fact, if you’re experiencing window well leaks, you should call a professional immediately.
Window wells are necessary for any home with a basement, but far too many people neglect them. We know every homeowner wants to avoid expensive repairs and maintenance, and we don’t blame you, but we have to tell you the hard news. If you haven’t waterproofed your basement or installed a drain, you’re directly asking for a large expense at some point in the future.
Learn more about – How Yard Drainage Affects Your Foundation?
So how do you fix window well problems the right way? You contact The Real Seal. Combined, our team has years of experience that gives us the know-how required to keep your basement dry. Our team also takes pride in professionalism, so you can expect The Real Seal team to arrive on time, be respectful and efficient, and clean up when we’re done. If you’re looking for basement waterproofing in Chicago, IL, or the surrounding areas, contact us today, and we’ll get the process started.
