Plumbing emergency · Charleston, SC
Emergency Plumbing in Charleston, SC
For a burst pipe, major leak or sewage backup in Charleston, shut off the water first, then call. Problems on the street side of the meter go to Charleston Water System; anything on your side goes to a licensed plumber, and we connect you with one.
By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent plumbing contractor serving your area. Calls may be recorded for quality and training. The call and referral are free, and you are never obligated to hire.- Licensed local plumbers
- Free call and referral
- You approve the quote first
Call now for
- Burst pipes
- Major leaks
- Sewage backups
- Overflowing toilets
- Leaking water heaters
Emergency plumbing services in Charleston
- Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes.
- Sewer BackupSewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets.
- Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature.
- Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps.
- Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage.
- Sump Pump Repair and InstallationSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
Emergencies we connect you with help for
- Burst or split pipes
- Water leaking through a ceiling
- Sewage backing up into drains
- An overflowing toilet that won't stop
- A water heater leaking from the tank
- No water in the house
Emergencies most likely in Charleston homes
- Freezes are occasional in Charleston, which is exactly why they cause damage: pipes in attics, exterior walls and outdoor spigots often aren't protected. In a cold snap, know where your main shutoff is before you need it.
- King tides, heavy rain and hurricanes overwhelm low-lying drainage.
- Typical home built
- 1996
- Homes before 1980
- 34%
- Water hardness
- 3.4 gpg
- soft
- Winter freezes
- Occasional hard freezes
The first five minutes
- 1Shut off the waterMain shutoff, or the fixture's own valve.
- 2Cut power near waterOnly from a dry spot.
- 3Gas smell: leave firstCall the gas utility or 911 from outside.
- 4Call and describe itSay what failed and when.
What affects the price
The plumbing company sets the price after seeing the job; ask for it in writing before work starts.
- Time of day, weekends and holidays
- What failed and how much water got out
- Access to the pipe or fixture
- Whether a temporary fix or a full repair is done first
- Parts the plumber has to source
Plumbing work we connect Charleston homeowners with
Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes. Sewer BackupSewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets. Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature. Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps. Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage. Sump Pump Repair and InstallationSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
Emergency Plumbing in Charleston: questions
What number reports a sewage overflow on a Charleston street?
Call Charleston Water System at (843) 727-6800 as soon as possible and keep away from the area. Because overflows often follow heavy rain, CWS also advises avoiding contact with stormwater.
Where can Charleston residents check what to do during a water outage or boil advisory?
Charleston Water System's Water Emergencies page links to guidance on service interruptions, boil water advisories and frozen pipes, including how to tell if pipes are frozen and what to do next.
Who fixes a water main break on my street in Charleston?
Charleston Water System handles mains and the service line up to the meter. A plumber handles the line from the meter to the house and everything inside.
What should I do if a pipe bursts during a Charleston freeze?
Close the main shutoff, open the faucets to drain the lines, and keep heat on. Because freezes are occasional in Charleston, many homes have pipes in attics or exterior walls; those are the usual breaks.
Are older Charleston homes more likely to have plumbing emergencies?
Age matters: the median Charleston home was built in 1996 and 34% predate 1980. Homes of that era typically have PEX or CPVC supply and PVC or ABS drains.
Is sewer backup a common emergency in Charleston?
King tides, heavy rain and hurricanes overwhelm low-lying drainage.
Emergency Plumbing near Charleston
More plumbing services in Charleston
- Sewer Line Repair in Charleston, SCSewer Line Repair in Charleston, SC: old laterals in historic neighborhoods crack and settle.
- Sewer Backup Cleanup in Charleston, SCSewer Backup Cleanup in Charleston, SC: king tides, heavy rain and hurricanes overwhelm low-lying drainage.
- Water Heater Replacement in Charleston, SCWater Heater Replacement in Charleston, SC: newer suburban homes from the 1990s–2000s are replacing original heaters.
- All plumbing services in CharlestonEvery plumbing service available to Charleston homes.
Local rules and details for Charleston
Who to call in Charleston
Leaks on the street side of the water meter, a broken main or no water on the whole street are for the water utility: in Charleston that is Charleston Water System. Check its website or your water bill for its emergency line.
Leaks, backups and failures on your side of the meter, inside the house or in your sewer lateral, are a plumber's job. Call us and we connect you with an independent, licensed plumbing company that handles emergency calls in Charleston; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.
Reporting a water emergency in Charleston
- Charleston Water System asks anyone who sees a sanitary sewer overflow, where wastewater spills from a manhole, to call (843) 727-6800 as soon as possible and avoid contact with the area. CWS says overflows are rare and most likely after heavy rain floods the sewer system, but a sewer line blockage or a pump station problem can also cause one. [3]
- Charleston Water System's Water Emergencies page groups its emergency guidance for customers into three topics: service interruptions, boil water advisories, and frozen pipes. The frozen pipes guidance explains how to tell if a home's water pipes are frozen and what to do, and the boil advisory page explains when and why boil water advisories are issued and what customers should do. [4]
Other common plumbing calls in Charleston
- Sewer Line Repair: old laterals in historic neighborhoods crack and settle.
- Water Heater Replacement: newer suburban homes from the 1990s–2000s are replacing original heaters.
Charleston facts behind this page
- Charleston Water System treats water from the Bushy Park Reservoir (about 90%) and the Edisto River (about 10%) at the Hanahan plant; average hardness is about 58 ppm (3.4 grains per gallon), moderately soft. [1]
- The median home in Charleston was built in 1996. [2]
- About 34% of Charleston's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
- Charleston Water System asks anyone who sees a sanitary sewer overflow, where wastewater spills from a manhole, to call (843) 727-6800 as soon as possible and avoid contact with the area. CWS says overflows are rare and most likely after heavy rain floods the sewer system, but a sewer line blockage or a pump station problem can also cause one. [3]
- Charleston Water System's Water Emergencies page groups its emergency guidance for customers into three topics: service interruptions, boil water advisories, and frozen pipes. The frozen pipes guidance explains how to tell if a home's water pipes are frozen and what to do, and the boil advisory page explains when and why boil water advisories are issued and what customers should do. [4]
Sources (4)
- Charleston Water System, FAQs · checked 2026-10-01
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- Charleston Water System, Sewer Emergencies · checked 2026-10-20
- Charleston Water System, Water Emergencies · checked 2026-10-20