window wells

[Carly]

I am hoping someone can help with a problem I need to fix. I have a window well leaking into my basement . I removed about 3 inches of mud. Its down to mud covered rocks. Do I need to remove all the mud? Any other suggestions?

[Andrea Elise]

A window well cover? They are made of plastic to keep out water and still allow light. Are the rain gutters clean, free of debris? The best way is to try to keep the water away from the point of entry and /or find its source.

Hope I was some help!

Andrea

[DonnaT]

I am hoping someone can help with a problem I need to fix. I have a window well leaking into my basement . I removed about 3 inches of mud. Its down to mud covered rocks. Do I need to remove all the mud? Any other suggestions?

Yes, you need to remove all the mud. There should be nothing in the bottom of the well but drainage aggregate (gravel, etc.).

My question is, how did the mud get there?

The lip of the well should be above grade, and the ground should slope away from the lip. Mud should not be able to get into the well. When mud gets wet, it swells, putting pressure on the wall.

Plastic flexible lawn edging can be used to raise the lip profile. http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/prod ... ont200.jpg

There should be a drainage pipe at the bottom of the well leading vertically down to weeping (drainage) tile at the base of the basement wall. This pipe should not be clogged with mud. Accordingly, you need to remove all the mud and gravel to reach the drainage pipe to check its condition. Line the bottom of the well and cover the drainage pipe with a weed barrier cloth to prevent the pipe from clogging, before putting new aggregate in the bottom of the well. The cloth is water porous.

Also, what is the condition of the window well form (metal or plastic; rusted, broke, etc).

Before investing in a well cover, can the window be used to escape the basement. If so, the cover needs to be movable.

[Carly]

Andrea ans Donna,
The house is 90 yrs old so I think the mud has been building up for years. I have already moved the drainage exit points of the downspouts. The edges of the well are concrete block (same as the house) and are in good shape. I will double check that the top edge is above the ground. I think that the driveway repair a few years ago may have been the origin of some of the mud. Thanks for the help. I try you suggestions.

[Carly]

Well (no pun intended) I finally got all the mud and rock out (ten 5 gallon pails full). But a came to a drain cover. I had to drill out the screw in the middle. The cover hinged open and revealed a hollow metal ball (this is the where the cover was screwed into). I have not been able to get the mud and gravel from the bottom of the ball as it takes up 60% of the space under the drain cover. I probably will still buy a cover but any suggestions on getting the drain working. I have not checked if the water will drain out of the ball.

[DonnaT]

Never heard of a ball in the drain, so I have no idea what it looks like.

If there's a big enough opening, a strong wet/dry vacuum may help, or a power washer to break down the mud in the ball? Once the mud's gone, then I would imagine it will drain ok.

[Lana]

When was the well and drain pipe installed? If it is even half as old as the house, it might be more benificial to look at replacing it now that you have gone this fat with it, rather than go thru this all again in another 5 yrs.
If you are really set on fixing it or are not financially able to at this time to replace it, if you know where the drain comes out and it is not too great a distance, try working from the discharge end with a long handle hoe if it will fit and a water hose in the well end to help wash things out as you drag the debris/gravel/mud out. Another out would be to call a sewer drain cleaning service.
Lana

[Carly]

Thanks Lana and Donna,
I finally got the drain working and the gravel back in. Just need to cover it now to stop leaves from entering.

[Lana]

Great, hope it wasn't too expensive or physically demanding of you.
I'm sure others would love to know what your final remedy was.(as well as myself)
Lana

[Carly]

Lana,
I followed the suggestions. I moved dirt away from the edges. Then I took out all the mud and rock from inside the well. When I was down to the drain I had to drill out the screw holding down the drain cover (all sides and bottom of the well were cement and in good shape). I cleaned the mud out of the drain as much as possible. The water then started to drain. I replaced the cover and put on a filter screen over the bottom of the well bed. Finally I put in clean gravel. Now I need to move to the next window. At this rate i will finish in 2 years or so.

[DonnaT]

Well done, Carly.

[Lana]

This is becoming like DIY homecare. With the multitude of crafts and experiences you will find here, ready and willing to shanre their knowledge, how can you not expect to get a 1st class job every time.
You did a great job with the info that was passed on to you, sifting out what you didn't need and utilizing what was pertinent. I think your team gets an "E" rating on this one with the leader of that team getting an "E+"