Why Maintenance Matters More Here
A sticky bedroom window upstairs is an annoyance. A stuck egress window in a basement bedroom is a failed escape route. The maintenance is simple — the point is that someone actually does it, once a year, before an emergency tests it.
The Annual Checklist
Open the window fully. Crank or slide it all the way open and back. If it sticks, clean the tracks and check the hardware. A window that has not been opened in three years may not open when it counts.
Clear the well. Scoop out leaves, mulch, and debris every fall. Debris holds moisture against the window and clogs the drain — and a well full of wet leaves is not a well you can climb out of quickly.
Check the drain. Pour a bucket of water into the well and watch it drain. If it ponds, the drain is clogged or was never connected right — call us before the next big storm, not after.
Test the cover. Lift the cover from inside the well, the way a person escaping would. It should lift easily. If it is heavy, warped, or buried under mulch, fix it now.
Check the ladder. If your well has a ladder, grab it and pull. It should be solid with no loose rungs. Tighten or replace as needed.
Look at the seal. Check the caulking where the window meets the wall, inside and out. Re-caulk any gaps before water finds them.
After Big Storms
Fairfax County gets its share of heavy summer downpours. After a big one, glance at the well: it should be drained within hours, not days. Standing water a day later means the drainage needs attention — our drainage service handles exactly that.
When to Call Us
Call if the window will not open fully, the well holds water, the cover will not lift, or the window is fogged between the panes (a failed seal). Small problems now are cheap; emergency problems later are not.
Call (301) 679-9193 or send the form for a free written estimate.