Charleston County · Charleston–North Charleston metro

Plumbing help in Charleston, SC

Freeze RiskStorms

Charleston's historic peninsula sits alongside fast-growing newer neighborhoods, so local plumbing ranges from centuries-old buildings to new slab homes. Low elevation, tidal flooding and hurricanes put drains and sewers under constant stress.

Call (833) 878-1592Plumbing help in Charleston and Charleston County

Flooded residential street with road-closed barriers

Median home built: 1996
Built before 1980: 34%
Owner-occupied: 54%
Water hardness: Soft; ≈ 3.4 grains/gal
Winter: Occasional hard freezes
Plumbing code: IPC

The plumbing calls that come up most in Charleston

Sewer Backup
King tides, heavy rain and hurricanes overwhelm low-lying drainage.
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.

Emergency plumbing in Charleston

Call (833) 878-1592

Shut off your main water supply if it's safe to do so. The emergencies below are listed most likely first for Charleston homes, based on local conditions.

Plumbing code and permits in Charleston

Plumbing in Charleston follows the 2021 International Plumbing Code with South Carolina modifications, mandatory statewide since January 1, 2023. [2]

Licensing:Check a plumber's license in South Carolina How to check a license

When Charleston gets a hard freeze

Occasional hard freezes · median home built 1996

Before winter:Winterizing checklist Outdoor faucets Find your shutoff

If a pipe freezes:Frozen pipe repair Burst pipe repair No water

Charleston's soft water

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]

≈ 3.4 gpg

SoftModerately hardHardVery hard

Grains per gallon, from the utility's published figures. Scale per USGS hardness classes.

Water treatment:Filtration systems Hard water explained

Plumbing in Charleston's newer homes

The median home in Charleston was built in 1996, and 34% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with PEX or CPVC supply and PVC or ABS drains.

Median home: 1996

1900195020002025

Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
Copper supply (1950–2000)
Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
PEX / CPVC (1995–today)

Typical supply-pipe materials by construction year. Many older homes have been partly repiped since.

Common projects in homes like these:Water heater replacement Toilet repair Leak detection

Heavy rain and storms

After storms:Sewer backup Basement flooding Sump pumps

Plumbing services for Charleston homes

Or start from:Plumbing problems Emergencies

Charleston plumbing questions

Is Charleston water hard?

Moderately soft: about 58 ppm, or 3.4 grains per gallon.

Where does Charleston's water come from?

Mostly the Bushy Park Reservoir, plus the Edisto River, treated at the Hanahan plant.

How do I check a Charleston plumber?

For home plumbing, check the SC Residential Builders Commission (LLR) license lookup.

What plumbing prep helps before a Charleston hurricane?

Know where your main shutoff is, clear outdoor drains, and after the storm watch for sewer backups before running lots of water.

Why are sewer backups common in Charleston?

Much of the city sits near sea level, and heavy rain combined with high tides can overwhelm drainage and push water back into low drains. A backwater valve helps.

Sources (3)

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
Charleston Water System, FAQs · checked 2026-10-01
SC LLR, Building Codes in Effect for South Carolina · checked 2026-10-01