4 Ways To Check If Your Window Wells Are Leaking

Window wells shelter the windows in the basement floor of a home, and can be found at ground level or sunken into the ground by a few feet.

Over time you may wonder how well it holds up to heavy rain or snowfall, but luckily there are a few ways to tell whether or not it’s working. Follow these simple Do-It-Yourself guidelines to see for yourself they need repairing.

Checking for Window Well Leaks

First, see if there are obvious signs of water damage along the walls adjacent to the basement windows. Water damage is easily to spot if you know what you’re looking for, but if you’re not sure, these are clear indications that water is entering into the walls of your home:

• Darker stains that are in the shape of a water spill when absorbed by paper
• Smells of mildew, mold, or rot
• Uneven, lumpy wall textures or bubbling underneath paint or wallpaper
• The wall feels damp after it snows or rains

If the water damage is away from the window, the water well may not be the source of leakage. Still, water damage is a serious concern and should be looked at right away, so call a professional if you see any spots inside your home.

Another obvious sign is to check how the window well blocks precipitation from collecting near the window. If a waterline forms, then the well is not doing its job. Sometimes when contractors are in a rush to enlarge an existing basement, they won’t take the necessary steps to ensure proper drainage around a newly added window.

If you think you’ll forget to check the next time it rains or if you’re unwilling to wait, we recommend looking at the well itself. For deeper window wells, there is a drain for the water to flow away. If the drain is being clogged by detritus such as leaves, grass clippings, or other blockage, a drainage problem may develop.

In other cases, the drain can only allow so much water through at a time, and a failed well will overwhelm the drain altogether. To see if this is the case, inspect the walls of the well to see if it’s tightly fastened to the exterior wall of your home. Also see if you can identify cracks wells lined with metal or plastic.

If you suspect that your well is leaking and are unable to tell yourself, or if you know your well is leaking and are in need of repairs, call Doctor Rooter for a professional evaluation and to have your problem resolved!