We don’t just get “rain” in Edmonton. We get downpours. Now, with winter moving in, early snowfalls can lead to slow melting water accumulations in low lying areas of your home. 10 cm of snow in your window wells might not seem important, but here’s why that might not be a safe assumption.

Look at the first photo above. See anything? Do you see the horizontal water mark lines on the window?

We marked the next photo with arrows to bring your attention to high water mark lines on the window. This window well filled with water during heavy storms.

The third photo shows how water found its way around the window and over the foundation wall. This is due to either no vertical drains or plugged vertical drains in the window well.

If you see lines like this, call Shield Foundation Repair. The amount of water that can enter your basement in minutes is remarkable. Melting snow is even more sneaky because water might seep in slowly, but it’s every bit as worrisome. A leakage problem can be invisible because water can run down your foundation, inside your walls. If you see mysterious puddles on your basement floors around windows, or it smells damp after every rain or snow event, this is probably the culprit.

Window well maintenance tips

• Keep your window wells free and clear of debris.
• Always maintain 100% rock topping in window wells for drainage.
• Regularly inspect window wells for signs that point to standing water.
• Look for signs of mold or mildew around window well areas.
• Be suspicious of musky odours in your basement.
• Inspect basement walls and floors around window wells for staining or dampness.

For more details about the symptoms of a window well leak, see our information about Mold Removal.

Bonus Pro-tip: When looking at buying a house, this is a dead way giveaway there might be window well issues and water ingress.

For any manner of leakage, moisture or mold issues, new or old, call us today to talk to one of our friendly staff.