“They closed the valve on the sewer line before the water came up and showed me how the lid opens. The invoice listed what failed.”
Pauline F.Homeowner, Lady's Island
Storm plumbing, Beaufort SC
Before the storm, and the first calls after it
Backflow valves, raised lines and repairs once the water has gone down, for Beaufort, the Sea Islands and the towns up to Bluffton.
Two lists, one storm
What to do before, and who to call after
Print this and tape it inside a cabinet door. The full guide has the detail.
- 01The checklist
Before the storm
Do these while the power is on and the roads are open.
Find the main water shutoff and tie a tag to it. Turn it once to be sure it moves.
Find the sewer cleanout and make sure its cap is on tight.
Photograph every room, the water heater's label and the outside walls while the house is dry.
Write down your insurer's claim number and our number on paper, not only on a phone.
If you are leaving: shut off the main water, and the water heater's breaker if it is electric.
- 02First calls
After the storm
In this order, once everyone is safe.
Gas smell, downed lines or water near outlets: leave and call 911 and the utility.
Main water: shut it off if pipes are broken, from dry ground.
Your insurance company: report the damage and ask what they need to see.
Us: stop the leak, check the sewer line and the water heater, write down what failed.
A restoration company, if drywall is wet. We repair pipes; we don't dry houses.
Services
Plumbing for water that comes with the coast
Six kinds of work, all of it about keeping the water where it belongs. Pricing is explained, not guessed, on its own page.
- 01
Backflow and backwater valves
Keep the sewer and the irrigation line from flowing back into the house.
About backflow - 02
Raised lines and platforms
Water heaters, shutoffs and supply lines lifted above where the water has reached.
What we raise - 03
Repairs after the water goes down
Broken supply lines, ruined heaters and valves, with an invoice that says what failed.
What we repair - 04
Sewer cleanouts and check valves
Cleanouts you can reach, caps that seal, valves that close.
Sewer work - 06
Rental and second-home checks
Before the season and after a storm, with photographs sent to you.
Checks for owners
One valve, one storm
What a backwater valve changes when the line surges
High water and heavy rain can push a sewer line backward. This is the difference on the lowest drain in the house.
| Without one | With a backwater valve | |
|---|---|---|
| The surge | Without oneIt can rise through the lowest drain. | With a backwater valveA flap closes and holds it in the pipe. |
| Your own drains | Without oneThey empty into the same line that is backing up. | With a backwater valveThey can't empty while it is closed, so go light on water. |
| Upkeep | Without oneNothing to check; you find out when it fails. | With a backwater valveA lid to keep clear and a flap to check once a year and after a storm. |
| The rule | Without oneCheck the same rule before you buy or rebuild. | With a backwater valveSome towns require one on new work. Ask the building department. |
For the adjuster
Insurance-claim photos, in plain words
Take these before anything is moved, in this order. Your policy decides what is covered; this only makes sure you have the pictures.
A wide shot of each wet room, from the doorway.
The waterline on the wall, with a tape measure beside it for size.
The failed pipe, valve or heater, and keep the broken part in a bag.
The label on the water heater and the tag on any backflow device.
Service area
Where the crews go
Beaufort, the Sea Islands and the mainland towns up to Bluffton. If your address is not listed, call before you assume.
Beaufort and the Sea Islands
- Beaufort
- Port Royal
- Lady's Island
- Burton
- Shell Point
- Dataw Island
- Harbor Island
- Fripp Island
- St. Helena Island
Mainland Beaufort County
- Habersham
- Okatie
- Bluffton
We don't go to Hilton Head Island, Charleston County or past Yemassee. Call a plumber who is close to you.
ZIP codes: 29902, 29906, 29907, 29909, 29910, 29920, 29935
From homeowners and rental owners
After the water went down
“Three rentals, one afternoon. Each text had a picture of the shutoff and the water heater, and a note on what was loose.”
Otis B.Rental owner, Port Royal
“The crew moved the heater onto a platform above the old line and told me which of my photos the adjuster would want.”
Brigid M.Homeowner, Dataw Island
Sample reviews.
Questions
Short answers, before you call
A pipe has burst. What do I do first?
Shut off the main water valve if you can reach it without standing in water. Switch off power to any room that is wet. Then call us. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 first.
What does a visit cost?
The visit has a fee, which we state on the phone. If you approve the repair at that visit, the fee comes off the repair price. The page on how pricing works has the rest.
Do nights, weekends and storm nights cost more?
Yes. Calls outside weekday hours cost more than the same job by day. We say the charge on the phone before we drive over, and you decide then.
My water heater was under water. Can it be dried out?
No. A heater whose burner, controls or element went underwater is replaced, not dried out. Turn off its power or gas supply if you can do so safely, and photograph it before anyone moves it.
Will my insurance pay for the repair?
We can't say. Your policy decides what is covered. We write an invoice that says what failed, what we replaced and why, and you give that to your adjuster.
Not running right now?
Send the details
A form is for a slow drip, a planning visit or a job that can wait. Water running now: call.
Phone(843) 555-0100
Hours
- Emergency line
- Open 24 hours
- Monday – FridayToday
- 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- SaturdayToday
- 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.