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Fix a window well that floods

We'll confirm the flood, check the drain and cover, clear blockages, and improve drainage—or tell you when to call a drainage professional.

Troubleshooting · Home maintenance
30–90 min
What you'll need
  • Hose (high pressure)
  • Window well cover (if missing or damaged)
  • Gloves and small trowel (to clear debris)
  • Drain snake (optional, if the drain pipe is clogged)
Step 1 of 9

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Steps

Goal: Confirm the window well floods, check the drain and cover, clear blockages, and improve drainage.

  • Check during or after rain. Water pools in the window well instead of draining.
  • Good: Water pools in the well—proceed to Check drain.
  • Bad: Well is dry but water enters the basement—see fix-basement-window-leaks.

Check drain

Goal: Clear the drain grate and flush the drain so water can flow out.

  • Look at the bottom of the well. If there is no drain, water has nowhere to go—call a drainage professional to install one.
  • If the well has a drain grate, clear leaves, dirt, and debris. Run a hose at full pressure into the well. Water should flow into the drain.
  • Good: Water drains. Proceed to Add or replace cover.
  • Bad: Water backs up—the drain pipe may be clogged. Snake it if you have access, or call a drainage professional.

Add or replace cover

Goal: Keep rain and debris out of the well with a window well cover.

  • If the well has no cover or the cover is cracked or does not fit, add or replace it. Measure the well opening and buy a cover that fits.
  • Good: Cover in place. Proceed to Check downspouts and grading.
  • Bad: Cover cannot be installed or well still floods—check downspouts and grading, or call a drainage professional.

Check downspouts and grading

Goal: Confirm water is not flowing into the well from downspouts or grading.

  • Confirm no downspout discharges into or directly above the window well. Downspouts should direct water at least 4–6 feet from the foundation. See fix-downspout-overflows.
  • Check that the ground around the well slopes away from the house. If it slopes toward the well, add soil to build up low spots. See fix-grading-slopes-toward-house.
  • Good: Downspouts and grading direct water away. No flooding during rain.
  • Bad: Still floods after clearing and covering—call a drainage professional.

When to get help

Call a drainage professional if:

  • The well has no drain and needs one installed.
  • The drain is buried or inaccessible.
  • Clearing the grate and adding a cover did not stop flooding.
  • You need to install or repair the drain line.

Verification

  • Water drains through the grate when you run a hose into the well.
  • No standing water in the well during or after rain.
  • The window well cover is in place and fits.
  • Downspouts discharge at least 4–6 feet from the foundation.
  • Ground around the well slopes away from the house.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Confirm flood Verify water pools in the well during or after rain.
  2. Check drain Clear debris from the grate; flush with a hose.
  3. Add or replace cover Keep rain and debris out with a window well cover.
  4. Check downspouts and grading Redirect downspouts; fix grading that slopes toward the well.
  5. Call a pro Drain missing, buried, or clearing did not work—call a drainage professional.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Whether the well has a drain
  • Condition of the drain grate (clear or blocked)
  • Whether the well has a cover
  • Downspout placement relative to the well
  • Steps already tried

Does the window well flood during or after rain?

Water pools in the well instead of draining. May reach the window or seep inside.

Check during or after rain. Floods: water pools in the well. Dry: if water enters the basement but the well is dry, the leak may be at the window seal—see fix-basement-window-leaks. Good: well floods—proceed. Bad: different problem—check window seal.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Does the well have a drain at the bottom?

Many window wells have a drain grate or pipe that connects to a French drain, dry well, or foundation drain.

Look at the bottom of the window well. Has drain: check if it is clogged. No drain: water has nowhere to go—call a drainage professional to install one. Good: drain present—proceed. Bad: no drain—call a pro.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Is the drain grate blocked?

Leaves, dirt, and debris can block the grate.

Clear debris from the drain grate. Flush with a hose. Blocked: clear and flush. Clear: add or replace the window well cover. Check downspouts and grading. Good: water drains. Bad: water still pools—drain may be clogged deeper; call a drainage professional.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Clear and flush the drain

Clear debris from the grate. Run a hose at full pressure into the well. Water should flow into the drain. If water backs up, snake the drain if you have access, or call a drainage professional. Add or replace the cover. Check downspouts discharge at least 4–6 feet from the foundation.

Done

Does the well have a cover?

A cover keeps rain and debris out of the well.

If the well has no cover or the cover is damaged, add or replace it. Check that downspouts do not discharge into or near the well. Check grading slopes away from the well. Good: cover in place, downspouts and grading fixed. Bad: still floods—call a drainage professional.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Add cover and check downspouts

Add or replace the window well cover. Confirm downspouts discharge at least 4–6 feet from the foundation. Check grading slopes away from the well. If flooding continues, call a drainage professional.

Done

Check downspouts and grading

Confirm no downspout discharges into or near the well. Extend downspouts at least 4–6 feet from the foundation—see fix-downspout-overflows. Check grading slopes away—see fix-grading-slopes-toward-house. If flooding continues, call a drainage professional.

Done

Call a drainage professional

Call a drainage professional if: the well has no drain and needs one installed, the drain is buried or inaccessible, clearing and covering did not stop flooding, or you need to install or repair the drain line.

Done

Check window seal

If the well is dry but water enters the basement, the leak may be at the window seal. See fix-basement-window-leaks.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would a window well flood?
Common causes: a clogged or missing drain at the bottom of the well, no cover so rain and debris fill the well, downspouts discharging into or near the well, or grading that slopes toward the well. Check the drain and cover first.
Can I fix a flooding window well myself?
Yes, for wells with an accessible drain. Clear debris from the drain grate. Flush with a hose. Add or replace the cover. Redirect downspouts away from the well. If the drain is missing or buried, call a drainage professional.
When should I call a drainage professional?
Call a drainage professional if: the well has no drain and needs one installed, the drain is buried or inaccessible, clearing and covering did not stop flooding, or you need to regrade or install a new drain line.

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