You hear the thunder rolling in and immediately think about your basement. That’s not how you should live in your own home.
A working sump pump means you don’t rush downstairs during storms to check for water. You don’t smell that musty odor every time you open the basement door. You don’t worry about ruined boxes, damaged drywall, or mold growing behind your walls.
FEMA says just one inch of water in your home can cause $25,000 in damage. That’s not a scare tactic. That’s what happens when water sits in your basement long enough to soak into everything it touches.
Your sump pump is the only thing standing between normal rainfall and a flooded basement. When it stops working, you find out fast. Usually at the worst possible time.
Clean Air LLC started in Clemmons over 30 years ago. We know what the clay soil does to foundations here. We know how the humidity sits in basements all summer. We know which neighborhoods flood first when we get those 10-inch rainfalls.
You’re not getting someone who just moved here and learned about sump pumps from YouTube. You’re getting a crew that’s seen what happens to Clemmons homes when water management fails.
We expanded from air duct cleaning into water issues because our customers kept asking. They trusted us in their homes already. They knew we’d show up, do the work right, and charge what we quoted.
First, we come look at what’s actually going on. Not every sump pump problem means you need a full replacement. Sometimes it’s a stuck float switch. Sometimes it’s a clogged discharge line. Sometimes the pump is undersized for how much water your property deals with.
We’ll check your sump pit, test the pump, look at your drainage setup, and tell you exactly what needs to happen. You get a clear estimate before any work starts. No surprises, no upselling, no pressure.
If you need a new pump, we’ll talk through your options. Battery backup systems make sense for some homes. Others need a more powerful pump. Some need better pit drainage. We install what actually solves your problem, not what makes us the most money.
After installation, we test everything while we’re still there. We make sure the float activates correctly, the pump cycles properly, and water flows where it should. Then we clean up and walk you through what we did.
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Sump pump repair or installation isn’t just about the equipment. It’s about understanding how water moves around your specific property in Clemmons.
The clay soil here swells when it gets wet. That pushes water toward your foundation. When we get those summer thunderstorms that dump inches of rain in an hour, that water has to go somewhere. If your sump pump isn’t working, it goes into your basement.
We look at the whole picture. Your sump pit might need cleaning. Your discharge line might be dumping water too close to your foundation. Your pump might be running constantly because it’s fighting a losing battle against poor drainage.
You’ll get a system that actually handles the water your property deals with. That means the right pump size, proper pit depth, clean discharge lines, and realistic expectations about maintenance. We also handle French drain installation if your property needs better water diversion before it even reaches your foundation.
Clemmons gets an average of 42 inches of rain per year. Your sump pump isn’t optional equipment. It’s the difference between a dry basement and a $10,000 insurance claim.
Listen to your pump during the next rain. If it’s making grinding noises, rattling, or running constantly without shutting off, something’s wrong.
Check your basement for that musty smell or visible moisture on the walls. If you’re seeing water pooling near the sump pit or the pump isn’t kicking on when it should, that’s a clear sign of failure. Most pumps last 7-10 years depending on how hard they work, but Clemmons properties with high water tables wear them out faster.
A repair makes sense if it’s a simple fix like a stuck float switch or clogged intake screen. Replacement makes sense if the motor is failing, the pump is undersized, or you’re dealing with frequent breakdowns. We’ll tell you honestly which one you need after we look at it.
Your basement floods. That’s the short answer.
Water starts pooling wherever your floor is lowest. It seeps into drywall, soaks into carpet and boxes, and creates the perfect environment for mold growth. If you catch it within a few hours, you might avoid major damage. If you’re away from home or don’t notice until the next day, you’re looking at serious water damage.
This is why battery backup systems exist. When the power goes out during a storm (which happens in Clemmons), your primary pump stops working right when you need it most. A battery backup keeps pumping water out even when the power’s down. It’s not cheap, but it’s a lot cheaper than replacing a flooded basement. We can add backup systems to most existing setups.
You should check it yourself every few months, especially before storm season. Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit and make sure the pump activates and drains it properly.
Professional maintenance makes sense once a year. We’ll clean the pit, check the float switch, test the pump under load, inspect discharge lines for clogs or freezing damage, and make sure everything’s working before you actually need it. Most people forget about their sump pump until it fails, which is usually during the heaviest rain of the year.
Sump pit cleaning is part of good maintenance. Debris, sediment, and small rocks accumulate over time and can jam the pump or clog the intake. A clean pit means your pump works when you need it. Think of it like changing your oil—skip it long enough and you’ll pay for it later.
You can try, but most DIY installations we’ve seen have problems. The pump might be the wrong size for the water volume. The pit might be too shallow. The discharge line might drain too close to the foundation and just recycle the same water back into the pit.
Sump pump installation isn’t just dropping equipment into a hole. You need to understand local soil conditions, proper pit depth and liner installation, correct pump sizing for your property’s water table, discharge line routing that actually moves water away from your home, and electrical work that meets code requirements.
Clemmons properties deal with specific drainage challenges because of the clay soil and varying groundwater levels. What works in one neighborhood might not work in yours. We’ve fixed plenty of DIY installations that seemed fine until the first major storm. If you’re handy and want to save money, we get it. Just know that a failed installation during a flood is going to cost you a lot more than hiring someone who does this every day.
If you lose power during storms, yes. Heavy rain and power outages happen at the same time in Clemmons more often than you’d think.
Your sump pump runs on electricity. When a storm knocks out power, your pump stops working right when your basement is taking on the most water. A battery backup system keeps a secondary pump running even when the power’s out. It won’t run forever, but it’ll keep pumping long enough to get you through most outages.
Battery backups cost more upfront, but they’re worth it if you’ve got a finished basement, expensive equipment downstairs, or you travel frequently and can’t respond to problems immediately. They’re also smart if your property sits in a low-lying area or deals with high water tables. We install them as standalone systems or integrate them with your existing pump setup. Not everyone needs one, but the people who do really need one.
Simple repairs like replacing a float switch or clearing a clog usually run a few hundred dollars. Full pump replacement with installation typically costs more, depending on the pump type and any additional work your system needs.
The real cost is what you avoid by fixing it before it fails. Water damage claims in North Carolina average around $11,000 according to insurance data. A new sump pump costs a fraction of that. Emergency repairs during a storm cost more than scheduled maintenance, and they’re a lot more stressful.
We give you a clear estimate before we start any work. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying and why. Some homes need just a repair. Others need a full replacement because the existing pump is undersized or worn out. Some need drainage improvements to reduce the load on the pump. We’ll tell you what your property actually needs, not what makes us the most money on the job.
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