Leaves accumulating in window wells might sound like a small issue, but can become a large one if you neglect it. Leaves covering up the drain in your window well can promote flooding after rain, which is certainly something you'll want to avoid. Below, we'll take you through some effective ways to keep leaves out of your window wells so you can keep them functioning, beautiful, and low maintenance.
Consistent Landscaping
If you're not consistently cleaning up your yard, leaves (as well as rocks, twigs, garbage, etc.) can find their way into your window well. To prevent flooding, you'll need to clean the debris out of your window well as soon as possible. Luckily, if you regularly clean your yard instead of allowing leaves to accumulate, you can keep them away from the window well and minimize the maintenance you need to complete throughout the year. Another good preventative step is to keep plants away from the window well to prevent their foliage from falling inside.
Some homeowners like to design the exterior of their window wells with some beautiful flowers and other plant life, which isn't necessarily a problem. However, if you do this, just know you'll have to be mindful of foliage winding up inside the well. If you use a polycarbonate window well cover, you won't have to worry about dirt, leaves, or other debris falling inside.
Window Well Covers
Out of all the ways to keep leaves out of your window wells, custom basement window well covers are the most effective solution. Custom fitting a durable window well cover will prevent leaves, rocks, twigs, and a bevy of other debris from entering and wreaking havoc. Aside from keeping debris out of the window well, a high-quality cover will also keep other common hazards like rain and snow from piling up down there.
Covers will even prevent animals, such as mice, from falling into the window well and getting hurt. Best of all, a good cover provides protection while still allowing natural light to flow through to your basement. Suffice it to say, both of these options are beneficial on their own, but using good landscaping and protective covers in tandem will help your window wells remain free of debris throughout the year.