Leaking Basement Windows
What Causes Basement Windows To Leak -- And How To Solve The Problem
Basement windows are also notorious weak points in your home. They represent the weakest point in your basement's energy efficiency, and they're a common entryway for groundwater.
A properly designed basement window, complete with window well, should not leak, nor should it be a drafty, ugly part of your home. The purpose of windows in a basement is to allow in beauty and natural light, and to make your basement feel less like a dungeon and more like a part of the rest of the house.
Get a Free EstimateIf your basement windows are not making your home a brighter, more beautiful place, then they're not doing their job. We can replace your old windows and window wells, or tie our waterproofing system in to your existing windows.
Call us today for a free, no-obligation basement window replacement or repair estimate!
What Causes Basement Windows To Leak?
Old Basement Windows (top) are ugly, energy efficient, and lose their ability to open and close. They also allow water to leak into your home.
Clogged Window Wells (bottom) fill with dirt, leaves, and other debris. When it rains or snows, they will become unable to properly drain.
Old-fashioned basement windows are typically designed with a steel or wooden frame, which is mounted in an opening in your foundation wall.
While the low costs of these frames may seem attractive at first, there is a clear downside. Within five years or less, the window frames will begin to rust, rot, or corrode, become ugly and drafty. eventually, the windows themselves will become difficult, if not impossible, to open.
As the damage worsens to the basement windows, they will become more and more prone to leaks when water reaches the other side. Unconditioned outside air will begin to literally pour into your home, leading to big costs in your home's energy efficiency.
Basement Window Well Woes
So your basement windows can leak if water's on the other side. Fine, but where does that water come from? More often than not, the answer lies in the window wells.
Basement window wells are designed with gravel at the bottom to allow water collecting in them to drain away. However, over time, dirt, leaves, and other debris will collect in the wells every year.
Over time, this will compromise a window well's ability to drain water away, and the window wells will begin to fill with rain and ice. This creates puddles of water against your basement windows, and water leaks in to your home.
When basement windows leak, they not only flood the home but leave large, unsightly stains on the walls and floors. The stains can be from mud, or from rust from the metal frames. Either way, it's not attractive!
Why Replace Your Basement Windows?
Single-paned basement windows (especially ones with metal frames) are very energy efficient, allowing heat to move through them easily. As your basement grows colder, everything in the space will grow colder as well.
As your furnace, water heater, heating ducts, hot water pipes, and other appliances are exposed to cold, the air and water you've paid to heat will cool as well. Your utilities will be forced to work harder than ever to compromise.
Additionally, old basement windows are leaky, ugly, and will reduce the value of your home. Replacing these windows can be done in a day. Your new windows will look great, they'll make your home more energy efficient, and they'll open and close with ease.
How ugly can old basement windows get? Here's just a few examples we've seen over the years:
(Click each photo to enlarge.)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Solving Issues With Basement Windows
At Basement Systems, we've spent more than 20 years researching developing our line of basement products. As part of our complete basement system, we offer homeowners the following three options for basement windows:
The WellDuct®™ Window Drain System
The WellDuct®™ window drainage system is designed to collect water that's pooling around your basement windows before it can flood into your basement. A small hole drilled underneath the window is fitted with a section of pipe, taking pooling water and directing it to a drainage channel attached to the basement wall.
If you have a perimeter waterproofing system installed, our WellDuct®™ system can be tied into the drain, directing the water to a sump pump system.
If you have no perimeter drain, we can also create a small drywell in your basement floor, directing the water to that. Fresh concrete would restore your basement floor afterwards, making it look good as new.
EverLast™ Basement Windows
EverLast™ Basement Windows are a long-lasting, energy efficient option when replacement your basement windows. Made with a durable vinyl frame and two panes of Low-E glass, these are a fantastic option for your basement project.
Designed with Low-E double thermopaned glass, EverLast™ Windows maximizes your basement's energy efficiency, protecting your utilities and living space.
EverLast™ Windows can be customized to any size, including availability for egress windows. They will never rust, rot, or need paint. A removable frame design allows for easy cleaning and maintenance.
SunHouse™™ Window Wells
SunHouse™ Window Wells are a covered basement window well that is designed for lasting durability and beauty in your home.
While old-fashioned metal windows will rust and corrode over time, our system is made with a plastic design that will never rot or need paint.
The bright color and sloped sides of the SunHouse™ are designed to maximize the amount of sunlight collected and reflected into your home for greater beauty and comfort.
A clear plastic window well cover protects the SunHouse™ from water, snow, and debris, while also protecting the window from being buffeted by cold winter winds.
RockWell™™ Egress Window Wells
In response to the growing popularity of basement finishing in recent decades, building codes are beginning to require that "egress windows" -- that is, windows that are large enough to climb out of in case of an emergency -- be installed.
The RockWell™ window well system includes an attractive plastic design that is UV sable, rust- and rot-proof, and will stand up to the effects of extreme environmental temperatures.
This system also includes a step for easier access. A clear plastic cover keeps out dirt, moisture, and debris. And while it's not meant for continual foot traffic, it is designed to hold up to 500 pounds of weight, preventing family members from accidentally falling in the well.
We Can Upgrade Your Basement Windows -- And Keep Them Beautiful!
You'll love what we can do for your basement windows! And once we've installed our system in your home, you can expect light, beauty, and enhanced energy efficiency in your home for a long time to come.
Our staff of basement experts is standing by to give you a free, no-obligation replacement basement window estimate, today! If you live in Canada or the United States, we have a trained, authorized Basement Systems dealer nearby. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.