East Bench Spring Runoff
Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026
Clear window wells and downspouts before the snowpack melts — that's what protects an older foundation each spring.
Where the water actually goes
Older homes on the east bench were mostly built before modern grading standards, which means the ground right next to the foundation often slopes toward the house instead of away from it. Snowmelt finds that low point every spring whether the house is ready for it or not.
Downspouts that dump water within a few feet of the foundation are doing the opposite of their job; an extension that carries water five or six feet further out is one of the cheapest fixes available.
Window wells and window wells only
A window well that fills with leaves and dirt over winter has nowhere for meltwater to go except through the window frame. Clearing it out before the melt starts is a five-minute job that prevents a wet basement.
If a well doesn't have a drain at the bottom connected to daylighting or a sump system, that's worth flagging for a longer-term fix rather than something to solve every spring by hand.
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