Why Are My Window Wells Rusting?

Window wells rust because of electrolysis (decomposition produced by an electric current.) This means that a window well is rusting because it is touching other metal in your home (either the window buck or rebar inside your foundation via attachment bolts.) The window well is the least noble metal and is sitting in moist earth, so it is the first metal the electric current breaks down. From our experience, the more moisture in the ground the faster the decomposition. Please note that just because a window well is touching the window buck does not mean it will rust – the rebar inside the foundation must be also be touching the buck to produce the electric current.

This video produced by Boman Kemp explains the electrolysis process: