Updated October 2026
Window well cover installation in Salt Lake City means fitting a sturdy cover sized to the well, after clearing the drain at the bottom so any water that does get in can leave. Covers keep snow, leaves and rain out of the well, which is where a lot of spring basement water starts.
Why window wells let water in
Window wells collect snow, leaves and runoff. When the drain at the bottom clogs, or the snow in the well melts faster than the ground below can take it, water rises against the window until it leaks in at the frame.
A cover keeps most of that out. A clear drain handles the rest. Together they stop one of the most common ways spring water reaches a finished basement.
What drives the cost of window well covers
Covers are priced by size, type and the condition of the well.
- Number of wellsOne bedroom window or every well on the house.
- Cover typeClear panels, domes or steel grates.
- Egress needsHinged covers on exit windows.
- Drain conditionClearing a clogged drain first.
- Custom sizesWells that are not a standard shape.
Which cover fits your well
| Cover type | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Clear polycarbonate dome or flat cover | Keeping light in while shedding snow and rain | Needs a correct fit to stay put in wind |
| Steel grate with a clear insert | Wells that need to hold weight or meet egress needs | Heavier and costs more |
| Hinged egress cover | Bedroom windows that must open as an exit | Must open easily from inside |
Covers for basement window wells
Covers come in clear domes, flat clear panels and steel grates with clear inserts. Clear covers keep the basement bright while shedding snow, rain and leaves. We measure each well, because wells vary in width and projection and a loose cover blows off in the first spring storm. Covers on bedroom windows that serve as an emergency exit have to open easily from inside, so those get hinged covers that do not lock the window shut and can be pushed open from below.
Clearing and draining existing wells
Most wells have a drain at the bottom, a pipe or a gravel bed that should carry water away. Over the years it fills with soil and leaves and stops working. We clear the well, check that water actually drains, and look at the window frame and the wall behind it for signs of past leaks. If the basement wall below is already damp or the drywall stained, that is a basement mold question to deal with before the cover goes on.
What an installation includes
- Measuring each well for a correct fit
- Clearing leaves, soil and debris out of the well
- Checking that the well drain actually drains
- Looking at the window frame and wall for past leaks
- Fitting and securing the cover
- Making sure egress windows can still open as an exit
- Checking the basement wall below for moisture
Creek country and spring basements
During the 2023 runoff Salt Lake County named Red Butte, Emigration, City Creek, Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood and Millcreek as the creeks at highest risk of spring flooding. Groundwater around creeks like those rises for weeks during a melt, and window wells are often the first place it shows. A covered well with a clear drain will not stop a flood, but it keeps everyday snowmelt from pouring in at the window.
How the job runs, step by step
- 1
Look at each well
Size, drain and window condition.
- 2
Clear it out
Leaves, soil and debris removed.
- 3
Test the drain
Water should leave the well.
- 4
Check the wall behind
Readings inside the basement.
- 5
Measure and fit
Each cover sized to its well.
- 6
Secure it
So wind and snow do not move it.
- 7
Check egress
Exit windows still open freely.
Questions about window well cover installation
It keeps most snow and rain out. A clear drain handles groundwater that rises from below.
Yes. Exit windows get hinged covers that open from inside.
Clear covers let most of the light through.
Possibly. We check the wall below and can handle basement mold removal.
Brush off heavy snow and check the drain once a year.
Answered around the clock
Window wells filling up every spring? Call us.
Tell us how many wells and what happened. We will explain the fix.