Window Well Flooding: Why It Happens and How to Stop It
Short answer: Window wells flood when water collects faster than it drains, usually from a clogged drain, packed gravel, soil sloping toward the well or a downspout dumping water nearby. If one overflows, remove the water from the well, then extract and dry the basement within 24 to 48 hours. To stop it, clear the drain, refresh the gravel, regrade, redirect downspouts and add a cover.
A window well is meant to keep soil away from a basement window and, for an egress window, give a way out in an emergency. It's also a hole in the ground right next to your foundation. When it fills during a storm, the water presses on the window and finds its way through the seal or the glass, and then runs down the wall into carpet and drywall. If that's happened, ReestorianPros can connect you with a local provider for basement flood cleanup in Littleton.
This is general information. Turn off power to the basement before stepping into standing water, and don't break a window to relieve water pressure.
What is a window well?
A window well is the U-shaped liner, usually metal, plastic or concrete, dug in around a basement window that sits below ground level. The space inside it lets light and air reach the window. For egress windows, which serve as an emergency exit from a basement bedroom, the International Residential Code (IRC) sets minimum sizes.
| IRC window well rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Minimum area | At least 9 square feet, with at least 36 inches of projection and width |
| Ladder | Required when the well is deeper than 44 inches |
| Drainage | Window wells must be designed for proper drainage by connecting to the foundation drainage system |
| Drainage exception | Not required when the foundation sits on well-drained soil |
| Covers and grates | Allowed if they open from inside without a key, tool or special knowledge |
Your city may have adopted a different code edition, so check with the building department before installing or changing an egress well.
Why is my window well filling with water?
Angi lists five common causes:
| Cause | What happens |
|---|---|
| Compacted gravel | Gravel at the bottom packs down and stops letting water soak in |
| Clogged drain | Leaves, soil and debris block the drain at the bottom |
| Wrong well size | A well that's too small lets water and soil splash over the edge and clog the drain |
| No cover | Debris falls in and builds up |
| Poor grading | Soil sloping toward the well sends yard water straight into it |
Two more causes come up often: gutters and downspouts that empty right next to the well, and a well liner that has pulled away from the foundation, letting soil and water slip behind it.
Window well water soaked the basement carpet or walls? Call to reach a local provider for extraction and drying.
Call (303) 879-0950Should there be any water in a window well?
A little, briefly, after heavy rain or snowmelt. The water should soak into the gravel or flow into the drain within a short time. Watch for these warning signs:
- Water that stands in the well for hours after a storm
- A waterline or muddy stain on the window glass
- Water or rust stains on the wall below the window inside
- Peeling paint, swollen trim or a musty smell near the window
- Soil or leaves piled above the gravel
What to do when a window well floods
- Stay safe. Cut power to the basement if water is near outlets or cords.
- Lower the water in the well. Bail it out with a bucket or a wet/dry vacuum, or use a small pump, aimed well away from the house.
- Clear the top of the drain if you can reach it safely.
- Protect the inside. Move belongings away and lay towels along the wall.
- Photograph the damage inside and out for insurance.
- Extract water from carpet and floors with a wet/dry or extraction vacuum.
- Start drying with fans and a dehumidifier, and pull back wet carpet to reach the pad.
- Find the root cause before the next storm.
The EPA says mold usually won't grow if wet materials are dried within 24 to 48 hours. Basement walls and carpet over concrete dry slowly, so the basement flood checklist and how to dry wet carpet are worth reading next.
How to stop water from coming in window wells
| Fix | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Clean the drain | Clear debris from the top of the drain; call a contractor if the clog is deeper |
| Refresh the gravel | Remove, rinse and reinstall it, or replace it, so water soaks in again |
| Regrade the soil | Slope soil away from the well, yourself or with a landscaper |
| Redirect downspouts | Extend them so water lands away from the foundation and wells |
| Add a cover | Use a mesh, bar or solid cover that meets egress rules |
| Raise or replace the well | A contractor can fit a properly sized well or set it higher above grade |
| Check the window | Reseal or replace a leaking basement window frame |
Angi suggests cleaning window well drains in spring and fall, loosening the gravel as needed, and clearing away soil that builds up after heavy rain. IBHS adds a broader step for storm season: check and clear gutters and downspouts so they're secure and drain freely.
Are window well covers necessary?
They aren't required by the IRC, according to Angi, but they help. A cover keeps out leaves, trash, small animals and some rain and snow, which protects the drain. For an egress window, the IRC says covers and grates must be removable from inside without a key, tool or special knowledge. Angi also notes that a cover must leave at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening on an egress well.
| Cover type | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh or grate | Debris and safety | Lets rain and snow through |
| Solid or domed plastic | Rain, snow and debris | Must still open easily from inside |
| Bar grate | Safety over deep wells | Needs a separate debris cover |
How to clear snow from window wells
Snow piled in a window well melts against the window during the next warm spell. After a big storm:
- Shovel snow away from the well's edge so drifts don't refill it.
- Clear snow out of uncovered wells with a small shovel or scoop, working from above.
- Keep egress wells clear so the window can still be used as an exit.
- Watch the drain during melt; a frozen or clogged drain can't carry water away.
Window well flooding in Colorado basements
Colorado's Front Range gets heavy summer thunderstorms and fast spring snowmelt, and both can fill a window well quickly. Many Littleton-area homes have finished basements with egress windows in bedrooms, so a flooded well often means wet carpet and drywall, not just a damp concrete wall. Clay soils in parts of the metro drain slowly, which matters because the IRC's drainage exception only applies to well-drained soil. A well that never needed attention on sandy soil can fill fast on clay.
Water from outside entering a basement may also count as flood under insurance policies. FloodSmart says flood coverage usually takes 30 days to start after you buy it. Read what to do if your basement floods for how coverage often works.
How to prevent window well flooding
- Inspect wells in spring and fall, and after big storms.
- Keep gravel loose and a few inches below the window frame.
- Extend downspouts away from window wells.
- Keep soil and mulch sloping away from the house.
- Install covers on every well, with egress-safe covers on bedroom windows.
- Keep your sump pump working, since many window well drains tie into the foundation drain system. See sump pump failure.
Local note: Window well problems vary around the area. In Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock, many homes have finished basements with egress windows in bedrooms. In Ken Caryl and Lakewood, homes on slopes can send yard runoff toward wells on the uphill side.
Related reading: Follow the basement flood checklist, and learn what to do after a sump pump failure.
When should you call a basement flood cleanup professional?
Call a professional when:
- Water came through the window and soaked carpet, drywall or framing
- More than one window well flooded, or water came in from several places
- The basement smells musty after a storm
- The window or well liner is cracked or pulling away from the foundation
- You need moisture readings and photos for an insurance claim
Window well flooding in Littleton? Call (303) 879-0950 to reach a local basement flood cleanup provider.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my window well filling with water?
Usually because the drain at the bottom is clogged, the gravel has packed down, the soil slopes toward the well, or a gutter or downspout dumps water nearby. A missing cover lets leaves and soil in, which makes clogs worse.
Should there be water in a window well?
Not for long. Rain or snowmelt should soak into the gravel or flow into the drain soon after a storm. Standing water that stays, or rises toward the window, means the drainage isn't working.
Are window well covers necessary?
They aren't required by the residential building code, but they keep out leaves, debris and some rain and snow. A cover over an egress window must open from inside without a key, tool or special knowledge.
How do you stop water from coming in a window well?
Clear the drain, loosen or replace the gravel, regrade soil so it slopes away, point downspouts away from the well and add a cover. If water still comes in, have a contractor check the drain connection and the window seal.
What should I do if a window well floods my basement?
Stay out of standing water near outlets, remove as much water from the well as you can, then extract water inside and start drying. The EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to limit mold.
Sources
- ICC: IRC Section R310 Emergency escape and rescue openings (window wells)
- Angi: 5 common window well drainage problems and solutions
- IBHS: Thunderstorm Ready guides help prepare homes ahead of spring severe weather
- EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
- FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy
Related guides
What to Do If Your Basement Floods: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ten steps for a flooded basement, from safety and the power panel to drying, insurance and stopping it from happening again.
Sump Pump Failure: Warning Signs, Causes and What to Do
How sump pumps work, the warning signs of failure, what to do when the pit overflows and how to test and back up your pump.
Water came in through a basement window?
Call to reach a local provider who can extract the water and dry the basement walls, carpet and framing.