I'm dealing with a lot of water pooling in my large egress window well. I'm considering improving the cover, but I really want to find a way to prevent water from getting in and accumulating. I've already dug deeper and removed gravel, but I'm unsure if I should do more before adding gravel back in. Currently, the highest point is about a foot below the window, not including this odd concrete lip, and the lowest part is around 16 inches down. I've seen suggestions to dig a hole beneath and away from the window well, filling it with gravel or installing a drain tile, or possibly connecting it to a larger dry well. The brick side of the well ends where I dug, so I could do it, but the angle looks tricky. Some people even put a small dry well basin inside the window well. I'd really appreciate any advice!
2 Answers
If you're in a freezing area, a sump pump might be the easiest fix for now. Given that your home might not have footing drains—especially since it was built in 1940—you might want to dig down deep and connect to any available drains if possible. But honestly, improving that cover might be one of your better bets if options are limited.
Totally get your struggle! You're on the right track with digging and adding gravel. After ensuring you have proper drainage underneath, a cover can help a lot. Have you considered installing a pump as a temporary fix until you get the drainage sorted out? That way you can manage water issues without it freezing in the colder months.