What is a window well?
A window well is a recessed space around a basement window, providing a space between the window and the surrounding earth to allow light into sub-grade rooms. In some cases, window wells also provide an emergency point of egress. Properly installed window wells also play an important role in draining excess rainwater away from your foundation.
When installing a window well, the builder will excavate the earth around the window. Usually, this hole is dug to a depth of around 30 centimetres beneath the bottom of the window sill. To avoid water pooling in the recess, the well should be partially filled with gravel, and sometimes a drain that connects to your perimeter drain is installed. This added safety measure will ensure that water can’t gather in the well and exert force on the windows, causing them to crack or leak.
If your window wells don’t already have a drainage system, contact a professional about getting one installed. In some cases, the process can involve making alterations to your foundation. It may be expensive, but avoiding water damage to your foundation or basement will save money in the long run. A contractor will also be able to advise on the best type of drainage system for your property.
Exterior drains sit in the gravel pit at the bottom of your window well. They extend to the base of your foundation and are connected to your perimeter drain (or weeping tile).
Interior drains redirect rainwater to your sump pump. Water is then moved away from the property through a network of pipes. As sump pumps are located inside the property, this method requires cutting a hole in your foundation wall to connect the sump pump to the window well.
Once drainage has been taken care of, a plastic or steel window well is placed in the hole to prevent the earth from falling back in. The remaining space surrounding the window well is filled with dirt which should be compacted and graded so that water drains away from, not towards, the window.
The City of Edmonton provided a useful guide for homeowners that includes tips on preventing water damage from window wells. They advise homeowners to ensure that the outer edges of their window wells sit tight and flush against the basement wall in order to prevent leaks. Click here to take a look at the guide in full.
Maintaining your window wells
The most important maintenance task is periodically clearing the debris from your window wells. Do this twice a year; once in autumn and once in spring. Ensure that any pipes that are part of your drainage system are also clear. It’s also important that the gravel in your window well is loose. This will allow water to effectively drain to the perimeter drain. If the gravel becomes compacted, or if it’s improperly installed with sand, its efficacy is compromised.
A clogged drain can result in water backup, which pressures the glass. This can have a variety of adverse effects, ranging from water seeping through porous concrete, leaving damp on the inside of your walls, to broken windows and interior water damage.
Homeowners interested in preventative maintenance should consider a window well cover. While various types are available (mesh, plastic bubble covers, grill-type, etc.), their purpose remains simple: prevent debris from entering the window well by providing a physical barrier between the well and the elements. Most covers are designed to still permit light to enter your basement, too.
Once your window well is installed, adding a cover is quick and easy, and something most homeowners will be able to do themselves.
