Proper Basement Window Well Drainage

Especially when gutter downspouts are close we have seen windows wells fill up and their windows break flooding the basement.

Proper basement window well drainage.

The water level may rise above its base but shouldn t approach the bottom of the window. Other than sump pump failure the most amount of water than can enter your basement is through the window well. Common window well problems. Make sure your window well has proper drainage some homeowners overlook installing proper drainage which could cause some serious issues down the road.

The gravel will help improve the window well s drainage so water doesn t pool up or flood into your basement. To determine whether drainage is the problem run water from a hose into the well to see how quickly it drains away. Houses that get a lot of precipitation or that have soil with poor drainage should consider installing a. Window well drains in new construction consist of a length of weeping tile.

Window wells are required when any portion of a basement window is below grade. Drains can be connected to interior or exterior drain tile or can be run to daylight where a proper slope exists. Window wells require drainage when water gets inside the well it must be able to drain away otherwise water continues to rise and eventually leaks into your basement in through the window. Proper window well drains are 4 inches in diameter and drain the water in the window well to the weeping tile system installed underground along the footing of the foundation walls.

Not only can the well become filled with water but a drainage problem can cause the water to come through the window and into your basement. Window well drainage facts today s construction practices mandate the installation of window wells when basement windows are at or below grade. Wellduct is a low profile drainage channel that connects the base of the window well to an interior drainage system like our own patented waterguard perimeter drainage piping. Water on the floor beneath the basement window.

Window wells should always fit tightly against the basement wall. Then you have a whole other issue on your hands. You can put a layer of landscaping fabric between the dirt and gravel if you don t want them to mix in the future. When you have wellduct window drainage installed you never need to worry about a wall of water building up against your basement windows.

Generally new window well installations include drains to to the weeping tile in order to prevent water accumulation in the window wells. In retrofit applications pvc sewer pipe is typically used. Window well drain every window well should have a drain to allow water to exit the window well and not build to a level that creates a basement seepage problem.