Calgary Homeowners: Don't Let Your Window Wells Cause Basement Flooding!
Here in Calgary, we're all familiar with the importance of proper drainage around our homes. But one area that often gets overlooked is the window well. Improper drainage in your window wells can lead to a flooded basement, a major headache (and expense) for any homeowner.
Calgary Window Well Drainage: Avoid Basement Flooding!
In this blog post, we'll discuss the two most common window well drainage mistakes we see in Calgary, and show you how to avoid them. We've also included a helpful video from our YouTube channel, A Green Future, that dives deeper into these issues:
The Crushed Gravel Myth
Many homeowners believe that simply filling their window well with crushed gravel is enough for proper drainage. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. While gravel can help with some minor drainage, it won't be enough to handle heavy rain or snowmelt. In fact, a layer of gravel can actually trap water and create a breeding ground for mosquitos.
The Fake Weeping Tile Trap
Some homeowners might install what appears to be a weeping tile system at the bottom of their window well. However, these "fake" weeping tiles often don't lead anywhere and can actually worsen your flooding problem. They may collect water without a proper drainage solution, leading to a build-up that could seep into your basement walls.
The Right Way to Drain Your Window Wells Calgary
Here are some key things to remember for proper window well drainage:
Grading: The soil around your foundation should slope away from your home at a minimum of 5% (ideally 1 inch drop per foot). This will help direct water away from your window wells.
Weeping Tile System: A properly installed weeping tile system will collect water from around your foundation and direct it away from your home. This system should be connected to a sump pump that will pump the water out and away from your property.
Window Well Cover: A properly fitted window well cover will help keep out debris and prevent excessive water from entering the well during heavy rain or snowmelt.
Taking Action to Prevent Basement Flooding
If you're concerned about the drainage in your window wells, it's important to take action. Here are some steps you can take:
Inspect your window wells: Look for any signs of improper drainage, such as standing water, cracks in the walls, or mold growth.
Consult with a professional: A landscaping company or basement waterproofing specialist can assess your window wells and recommend the best course of action.
DIY solutions: If you're comfortable with DIY projects, there are resources available online and in home improvement stores to help you improve your window well drainage. However, always be sure you understand the project fully before attempting it yourself.
By taking the time to ensure your window wells are properly drained, you can help prevent a flooded basement and save yourself a lot of time, money, and stress.
A Green Future is here to help!
If you're looking for professional help with your window well drainage, contact A Green Future today. We offer a variety of landscaping and drainage solutions to help keep your Calgary home dry and healthy.
Check out our Landscaping Drainage Systems Calgary
Calgary Egress Window wells
Best drainage Rocks for a window well?
Washed rocks 25 mm free-draining rocks. NO FINES
dig down minimum 2 feet, find weeping tile pipe, clean it, grade the ground, place non-woven landscape fabric, backfill washed rocks 25 mm.
This will help you prevent basement flooding and avoid damage to the foundation walls of your calgary home.
Calgary window well require a drain?
To avoid leak into your basement, Yes window wells require a drain to be installed. Almost 90% of window wells in Calgary have primeter drain installed allready around the foundaiton walls. There is a drian in the window well, need to find it, clean it, and back fill the well with fabric and landscape rocks washed gravel to prevent any basment flooding and cracks or leaks through the basment windows.
Do I need grading even though I cover a basment window well?
Based on A Green Future drainage engineers and professionals YES, always grade your landscape away from your foundaiton walls and away from window wells to avoid any major foundation cracks or expensive basment repairs. If you install a fitted cover for your window well, ensure your grade is positive grade away from the house and still ensure you have a drain inside the window well and you may test it prior instgalling a cover.
STONE, wood basement window wells more attractive?
For alternative materials other than the alluminum egress window wells, you may opt for stone basment window wells in calgary or pressure treated window wells. YES you still need to have drians in the window wells and ensure they are functional.
surrounding the foudnaiton walls or the window wells, we dont recommend installing any type of shrubs or trees, but depends on your yard layout, some opt for an extra raised flowerbed and not in the window well it self and that is attractive too to look outside the basment window and you see shrubs or flowers.