By the first week of November, most yards in Northeast Ohio look about the same. The maples have let go, the oaks are hanging on to the last of theirs, and every gust of wind pushes another pile across the lawn. A lot of those leaves end up somewhere homeowners rarely think to check. They settle right into the window wells along the foundation.
It seems harmless enough. The problem is that a window well is basically a small pit dug up against your basement wall. Once it fills with wet leaves, it stops draining. Every cold November rain collects there instead of soaking down through the gravel, and the water only has one place left to go. That is through the window seal or the block around it.
November weather around here has earned its reputation. In 1913, the storm old timers called the White Hurricane swept across the Great Lakes and buried Cleveland under nearly two feet of snow in a few days. Nobody is predicting a repeat this year, but late fall still brings a steady mix of cold rain, early snow, and freeze and thaw cycles. A clogged window well catches every bit of it.
Take a quick walk down to the basement and look below each window. Water stains, peeling paint, soft drywall around the frame, or a musty smell in one corner are all signs the well outside is holding water. You might also notice general dampness on the wall that seems to come and go with the weather. Left alone, that moisture can lead to mold and mildew behind finished walls and stored boxes.
The good news is that most of this is easy to stay ahead of. Scoop the leaves out with gloved hands or a shop vac, then check the bottom of the well. You want to see loose gravel, not packed dirt. Pour a bucket of water in and watch it. If it drains within a few minutes, you are in good shape. A clear plastic cover can keep leaves and snow out for the rest of the season. It also helps to make sure no downspout is dumping water near a window, and if one is, downspout drainage can carry that runoff safely away from the house.
If the water just sits there after you clear it, the drain at the bottom of the well is likely clogged or was never connected to anything. That is a job for a professional. In many homes the fix ties into a French drain or exterior trenching so water has a real path away from the foundation.
Garrett Basement Waterproofing has been keeping Northeast Ohio basements dry since 1957, and when you call, you talk directly with the person doing the work or the owner himself. If your window wells are giving you trouble this fall, remember that Doc Garrett has the cure.
Call Cleveland (440) 836-4990, Akron (330) 825-6100, Canton (330) 494-0259, Wooster (330) 262-9332, or toll free (800) 686-2848, or contact us online for a free estimate.