Keep Window Wells Clean – Wet Basement
Keep Window Wells Clean – Risk Broken Windows – Wet Basement
With April showers comes May flowers is the old adage. Shawn Chesney Home Inspections would like to remind you that what also can shower is melting snow, ice or rain water into your basement through your basement windows and window wells.
If you’ve never had a problem with water in a window well, you may never think to clean it out. Here’s what happened to one homeowner who neglected his window wells. After an average rainfall, not even a heavy downpour, a clogged gutter dumped a lot of water next to his house and into his window well. The leaves in the well acted like a pool liner, preventing drainage, and the water level rose higher and higher until the pressure broke the basement windows. Gallons and gallons of water poured into the basement, ruining everything in sight. Unfortunately, he had no insurance coverage for that type of flood. Don’t let this happen to you. Keep window wells clean with a cover, available at home centers.
Below is one example of a properly built window well. It is important to understand your local rules and Municipal By-laws as well as minimum requirements, especially if the window well is also to be used as a basement window method of egress. Many more rules will apply. The concept for construction will still be the same however. Dig your pit so that you can add the proper amount of gravel making sure the window ledge/sill and grading is at least six inches below, have a drainage system to divert the water into your weeping tile system which should direct all water far away from the foundation in an approved manner. You can contact your local Municipality for more rules or guidelines on what will be required in your local area. Make sure you hire professional and accredited contractors that are familiar and have a lot of experience in this type of work. Check references.
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