Water in window well flooding basement

Question

The windows in my basement are close to 12 inches tall, not going below ground level. There is a shallow window well made from old 2x4s framing a depression adjacent to the window. We have been getting heavy rain and I noticed that this window well is pooling with water. I am also experiencing regular flooding in the basement close to the same window well which seems it must be connected.

Do I need the window well if the window does not go below ground level? How do I avoid the water pooling in the window well?

I saw a video on YouTube where they put a drain in the bottom of the window well which drained into the sump pump. This is not an option as the sump pump and window well are on opposite sides of the house.

Answer 1

Your window well should already have a drain that ties into the drain tiles around your foundation. This is likely already tied into your sump. Often over time the drains get clogged up and filled with debris.

The solution is to dig out the window well and unclog the drain. You should have about a foot of crushed gravel that stops 6" below the window level so that water does not pool on the surface.

It's also possible the drain has collapsed or been clogged with roots. You would need to first find the drain (dig it out) and then do a video inspection of it to confirm or deny this.