Window Well fills up, I dug it out...now what?

[Larson15]

My house is only a few years old and every year about this time the one window well fills up and I have to pump it out or it will leak in the window. This week I completely dug out the well down to the footing and am unsure on what to do next. The well was filled with 75% sand and 25% gravel on the top. I originally thought that the sand might be the problem and am hoping it could be. Any help on this one is appreciated.

[soldoncass]

A couple questions....#1 where is the water coming from that ends up in the windowwell? If it is coming off the roof, a cover will help. If it comes from the surface water(ie: ground slopes toward the windowwell)the slope needs to be fixed.

#2 Do you have draintile around the inside of the foundation, going to a sump pail/pit? Is there a pump in the pail? does it work? We started putting a vertical draintile in the windowwell, from the top down to under the footings. Basically it directed the water into the sump pail, where it was pumped out, before it could damage the basement area. Have to get the water into the gravel around the draintile. Since you are almost down there already, you might as well do that too. After that chore is done, then fill the windowwell back in....then work on #1 above.

When water gets in there, it has nowhere to go....gotta give it a way to get out. Correct whatever is letting water in there,#2 should be a good back-up.

[Larson15]

Thanks for the help!

#1 I cant determine exactly where the water is coming from. It seems like it is coming from the bottom and rising up. I already have a cover so that is not an issue. There is also a descent amount of slope already as well..

#2 I have a draintile on the inside part of the footer going to a sump pump. The sump directs water out on the other side of the house. It has been kickin on a lot lately and has been shooting water.

Since I dont have anything in the well right now I am going to leave it be for a few days and see how much it will fill up and if it will drain. If i put in a vertical drain to the drain tile do I have to actually "T" it in or just get it close to it?

Also, what is your reccomendation for what to use to fill the well back up? I was thinking of using 1/2-1" gravel.

Thanks.

[soldoncass]

#1 If you have away slope and a cover, it almost has to be a water pocket there, but why is it NOT going into the well now?

#2 With your sump running a lot, the water table must be high there. The drain tile "should" be set in gravel inside footing(that is how water gets to the pail). You need to get drainage from the outside w.well into your inside gravel/drain tile, under the footing(no tee needed). Tunnel under, however you can, put draintile in and up to w.well to top of dirt........or: tunnel under and put rock in the hole, and fill w.well with rocks also. Either way will work, if you have access to rocks. As long as your tunnel stays open to drain tile/inside rocks, and the water that previously stayed in w.well, now has an easy route to the sump pump, it can't back up anymore. Make sure your pump is always working though. Good luck.