How to stop a window well from filling with water

probably seepage of ground water.try a waterproof coating painted on well

probably through the dirt, along the foundation. Use a hose to duplicate the rain and watch where is goes. Window well metal may be too low. Take it out and replace it with new ones, raising the lips up where water will not go over top. Compact the soil around them tightly so water won't run down the outside edge and fill the well that way. Add grass around the edge to keep the rain from washing the dirt away. Window well metal should be about 3 inches above the dirt level and covers should be over the edge of the metal.

Thanks for the feed back. update. There is no dirt around the wells it is all covered by a concrete drive

I agree, it sounds like its coming from the ground. This is not a good situation as sitting water can damage the foundation. Maybe you can make a plan to move the water away but you need to see if it is a problem with how the property is graded next to the house or if the soil is holding water all over the property. Check this site and see if it can help you: http://www.housetopia.com/seasonal/standing-water-in-your-yard-solve-your-drainage-problems-in-three-steps,21664 ; Good luck!

Is the top attached properly? Is the grounds around Your home properly graded? These wells have drains,are yours clean? Is the well old and need replacing?

Just a guess but is that window well located under where the roof water is maybe overflowing the gutters and pouring in at such a pressure and volume that it leaks around the cover? There may be no gutters, or gutters full of debris.

window wells have drains. They have a grate cover about 4 or 5 inches in diameter and are usually centered on the bottom of the well. Check to make sure the drains are not covered by any debris. The water needs to drain out.

Rusted window wells cannot be repaired - only replaced. The reason for this is the window well is grounded. If the well installation bolts connect to the metal window frame, and if the window frame is connected to the rebar, it has become grounded. If the window well is connected to the concrete wall, and if the attaching bolts touch the rebar, it is grounded. The only proper way to mount a window well is to be 100% sure the well is NOT grounded.

What happens if the well is grounded? There becomes a very low electrical charge between the well and earth (ground). This creates electrolysis and the well becomes the anode. The well, over time, will begin to eat itself up as the sacrificial metal. There is NOTHING you can do except break the connection at the point the attachment bolt(s) make connection to ground. Sometimes this can be done but it's very difficult to do and only verifiable if you have a electrolysis tester. It's better just to replace the well; usually with a wider well to assure you don't reconnect to ground. I suggest hiring a contractor who knows what they are doing and has the proper test equipment to confirm the new well is isolated from ground.

Hi John,

I have the same issue as one fills up and other one is empty, I have a awning or covers on both the windows and there concrete drive way next to it

What was your problem did you figure it out ?