If you're installing a new egress window well, you will need to consider drainage. Window well drains help to keep water from leaking into your basement and causing damage to your property. They also reduce maintenance costs down the road and prevent mold growth and rot.

Window well drainage is either passive or active. As the cross section diagram shows below, 8-12” of gravel in the bottom of the well is enough to allow water to passively permeate through to the subsoil below. This is the easiest DIY window well drainage system.

Jan 29, 2025 · Proper drainage in your egress window well is crucial for several reasons: It prevents water accumulation that could lead to basement flooding. It reduces the risk of foundation damage and structural issues.

Aug 11, 2023 · Installing an egress window well can be the perfect solution for adding both additional light and a usable outdoor area to your home. By creating a space beneath the ground level, an egress window well provides better drainage and ventilation while also giving homeowners something to landscape around.

Aug 21, 2024 · Proper drainage is essential when installing an egress window system in your basement. By following these steps and ensuring that all components are correctly installed, you can prevent water infiltration and protect your home from potential damage.

How to measure to get the correct size egress window well. The egress window well should be approximately 2-3″ wider on each side of the existing (or planned) window rough opening for a mount-to-foundation installation and 8-12″ deeper than the bottom of the rough opening for adequate drainage.

A drainage system is an easy way to redirect excess water and maintain the quality of your egress window. Drainage can also ward off water from building up hydrostatic pressure that can seriously damage the egress windows.

Mar 18, 2024 · Waterproofing your window wells is essential to protect your home and maintain the integrity of your egress windows. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to waterproof an egress window well — plus what to do if these measures don’t hold up.

Sep 26, 2017 · The best drain for the egress window involves excavating the ground down to the level of the drainpipe system around the footings or foundation of the building. Connect a vertical pipe from the drain tile system extending up to the base level of the egress window.

All underground basements can benefit from windows with window drainage for effective egress. The window drainage, on the other hand, must have at least 36″ in width, a depth of 44″ if it has no ladder and a projection of 36″ from the wall.