View Full Version : Window well water
jchoo
Oct 26, 2010, 04:58 PM
I have a window in a basement where water is intruding in between the top of the foundation and the bottom of the window. There is a window well outside and it's filled with water. I even have one of those clear plastic cover over the well. There is no overflow drainge pipe installed that ties back into the weaping tiles. Water only comes in during long periods of rain or heavy rain. I believe is the cause is that the ground is heavily saturated causing the water level to level itself to match the surrounding area. I was thinking of just cementing of whole opening. How can I fix this problem ? Any other ideas ?
ma0641
Oct 26, 2010, 07:51 PM
Water seeks it's own level so you are correct in your assumption. This is a fairly common problem for windows of this nature. You will either have to figure out how to install a drain pipe, 2"pvc should work, that you can put in the ground below the sill level and drain to a lower area or possibly regrade the area to slope away from the house more. As a last solution, remove the window, close up the opening and fill the well with dirt. If this window serves as a safety egress, you cannot close it up.
jchoo
Oct 26, 2010, 08:44 PM
I'm just going to close up the window as it's not a egrees window anyway. Does anybody else have ideas for me ? How about chaulking the heck out of it ?
ma0641
Oct 27, 2010, 05:23 PM
Sure you can caulk it. Make sure you get a good grade of caulk. I would open the window, caulk all the sealing surfaces and then close the window and caulk all if the outside surfaces. I wouls also consider some type of drain in the well if possible. ma0641
hkstroud
Oct 28, 2010, 05:36 AM
How about putting in a small sump pump?
ballengerb1
Oct 28, 2010, 08:07 AM
I am with Harold on this but caulk can't hurt in addition to a pump. You can install a permanent or temporary sump pump or evben a condensate pump inside the well. Changing the grade of the ground to deflect the water elsewhere is also a good idea.