Emergency Plumber

Emergency Plumber in Charleston, SC

If water is flooding your home, sewage is backing up, or a pipe has burst, stop reading and call us: 843 (739-7438) We’ll pick up, walk you through shutting off the water, and get a plumber headed your way.

If you have a moment to read, this page will help you understand what counts as a true plumbing emergency, what to do in the first five minutes, and what to expect when we arrive.

What to Do in the First Five Minutes

The actions you take right after a plumbing emergency starts can be the difference between a repair bill and a water damage restoration project. Here’s what to do, in order:

1. Shut off the water. If the problem is at a single fixture (a toilet overflowing, a sink supply line burst), close the shut-off valve at that fixture. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If you can’t find the fixture valve, or if the problem is bigger than one fixture, shut off the main water supply to your house. In most Charleston homes, the main shut-off is near the front of the house where the water line enters from the street, or inside the crawl space. If you have a meter box near the curb, you can also shut off water there using a meter key.

2. Turn off the water heater. If you’ve shut off the main water supply, turn off your water heater to prevent it from running dry and damaging the heating elements or tank. For gas units, turn the gas valve to “off.” For electric units, flip the breaker.

3. Open a faucet to relieve pressure. After shutting off the main supply, open a faucet at the lowest point in the house (usually a laundry tub or first-floor sink) to drain remaining water from the lines and reduce pressure on the break.

4. Move belongings away from standing water. Get furniture, rugs, electronics, and anything stored at floor level away from the affected area. Water damage to personal belongings accelerates fast, especially on hardwood floors and carpet padding.

5. Take photos before cleanup. If there’s significant water damage, take photos of the standing water, the source of the leak, and any damaged property before you start cleaning up. Your homeowner’s insurance may require documentation of the damage at the time it occurred, and photos taken after cleanup are less useful for claims.

6. Call us. (843) 739-7438. Tell us what’s happening, whether you’ve been able to shut off the water, and what type of home you’re in (house, condo, historic home, slab foundation, crawl space). That information helps us arrive prepared with the right equipment.

What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency

Not every plumbing problem needs a same-day response. Here’s how to tell the difference:

Call immediately: A burst or broken pipe with active water flow. Sewage backing up into your home through drains or toilets. A water heater that’s leaking heavily or making popping/hissing sounds with visible water pooling. No water at all throughout the house. A strong smell of natural gas near any plumbing appliance (leave the house first, then call your gas utility or 911 before calling a plumber). Standing water rising in the crawl space. Any plumbing failure causing active water damage to walls, ceilings, or floors.

Can typically wait until the next business day: A single slow drain. A dripping faucet. A toilet that runs intermittently. Low water pressure at one fixture. A small, contained leak under a sink that you can catch in a bucket.

If you’re not sure which category your problem falls into, call us anyway. We’ll help you assess it over the phone and tell you honestly whether it needs immediate attention or can safely wait. We’d rather take a two-minute phone call than have you spend the night worrying about whether the problem is getting worse.

Why Quick Response Matters More Than You Think

Water damage doesn’t wait. Here’s what happens on a timeline most homeowners don’t realize:

Within the first hour, water soaks into carpet padding, begins warping hardwood floors, and saturates drywall. Within 24 hours, moisture wicks up walls, warps door frames, and creates conditions for mold to start developing. Within 48 to 72 hours, mold growth can begin in earnest, especially in Charleston’s humidity, where damp materials rarely dry on their own without intervention. After 72 hours, water damage often becomes a restoration project requiring drywall removal, subfloor replacement, and mold remediation, turning a plumbing repair into a $5,000 to $15,000 insurance claim.

That’s why we respond to emergencies as quickly as possible and why we walk you through damage-limiting steps over the phone before we even arrive. Every minute of water flow you prevent is money and stress you save.

Common Emergencies We Handle

Burst pipes. Temperature swings, pipe corrosion, and water pressure spikes can all cause pipes to fail. In Charleston, we see burst pipes most often during the cold snaps in January and February, when exposed pipes in crawl spaces, exterior walls, and attic spaces freeze overnight. We locate the break, make the repair, and assess whether surrounding pipe is at risk for the same failure.

Sewer backups. When waste water comes back up through floor drains, tubs, or toilets, the blockage is usually in the main sewer lateral. Tree root intrusion, collapsed pipe sections, and heavy grease buildup are the most common causes in Charleston. We clear the blockage and can camera-inspect the line to determine whether cleaning is enough or the pipe needs structural repair.

Overflowing fixtures. A toilet that won’t stop filling, a washing machine drain that can’t keep up, or a sink whose drain has completely failed. We stop the overflow, clear the underlying blockage, and make sure the fixture is operating correctly before we leave.

Water heater failures. A tank that’s actively leaking from the body, a pressure relief valve that’s discharging continuously, or a gas water heater making unusual sounds. We can typically get to water heater emergencies the same day and either repair the unit or replace it depending on the situation.

No water. If every fixture in the house has lost water, the issue could be a failed main shut-off valve, a break in the supply line between the meter and the house, or a municipal supply issue. We diagnose which one it is and fix what’s on your side of the meter.

Storm-related plumbing problems. Charleston’s hurricane season brings heavy rain, flooding, and storm surge that stress plumbing systems across the Lowcountry. Groundwater infiltrates cracked sewer laterals, drains back up from saturated soil, and crawl-space plumbing takes a beating. We handle storm-related emergencies and post-storm inspections to catch damage that may not be immediately visible.

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Explore our trusted plumbing services for reliable solutions across Charleston and the Lowcountry.

Customer Support

Have a plumbing question or need service? Our friendly team is ready to help with honest advice and reliable solutions.

Call Center

+1 843-739-7438

Email Support

info@pineappleplumbingchs.com

Office Hours

Monday – Friday

07:30 AM – 08:30 PM

Saturday - Sunday

09:00 AM – 04:00 PM

Emergency Service - Available 24/7

Common Questions

Common Questions Charleston Homeowners Ask Us

Does emergency plumbing cost more than a regular service call?

It depends on the company. At Pineapple Plumbing, we provide a clear price before we begin work, whether it's 2 PM on a Tuesday or 2 AM on a Saturday. We don't believe in charging you more just because your pipe chose an inconvenient time to break. You'll know what the repair costs before we start, and the price you approve is the price you pay.

How fast can you get to my house for an emergency?

Response time depends on your location and our current call volume, but we prioritize active emergencies (flowing water, sewage backup, no water) over everything else on the schedule. When you call, we'll give you an honest time estimate and walk you through steps to limit the damage while you wait.

Should I shut off my water before calling a plumber?

Yes, if you safely can. Shutting off the water is the single most important thing you can do during a plumbing emergency. If the leak is at a single fixture, close the shut-off valve at that fixture. If you can't find it, or if the leak is in a wall or ceiling, shut off the main water supply to the house. If you're not sure where your main shut-off is, we'll help you find it over the phone.

Will my homeowner's insurance cover a plumbing emergency?

Most homeowner's insurance policies cover sudden, accidental water damage from events like burst pipes. They typically do not cover damage from gradual leaks, lack of maintenance, or sewer backups unless you have a separate sewer backup rider. Before you file a claim, take photos and video of the damage, the water source, and any affected property. Your insurer will want documentation from the time of the event. We can also provide a written description of the repair and what caused the failure, which many insurance adjusters request.

What if my plumbing emergency happens during a hurricane or major storm?

Call us as soon as it's safe to do so. During active storms, emergency services may be delayed depending on road conditions and safety, but we respond to storm-related plumbing emergencies as quickly as conditions allow. If your drains are backing up during heavy rain, it likely means your sewer lateral has a crack or break that's allowing groundwater infiltration. Shut off water usage in the home until the backup subsides, and schedule a camera inspection once the storm passes to assess the line's condition.

How can I prevent plumbing emergencies?

Most plumbing emergencies we respond to could have been prevented or caught early with annual maintenance. An inspection checks your supply lines for corrosion, tests shut-off valves, evaluates your water heater, and identifies deterioration in crawl-space and underground piping before it reaches the failure point. Knowing where your main shut-off valve is and testing it once a year is the single best thing you can do to minimize damage when something does go wrong.

What should I do if a pipe bursts while I'm away from home?

If you discover a burst pipe after returning home, the first priority is to shut off the main water supply if water is still flowing. Avoid turning on electrical switches in areas with standing water until it's safe to do so. If possible, take photos of the damage before moving belongings or starting cleanup, especially if you plan to file an insurance claim. Once the water is off, call a professional plumber as soon as possible. We'll help identify the cause of the failure, repair the damaged pipe, and inspect nearby plumbing to ensure there aren't additional weak spots that could lead to another emergency.

Can small plumbing leaks turn into emergencies?

Yes. Many plumbing emergencies start as small problems that are easy to overlook. A slow drip from a pipe, a tiny leak around a water heater, or moisture under a sink can gradually weaken materials, damage cabinets and flooring, encourage mold growth, and eventually lead to a burst pipe or major water damage. If you notice unexplained increases in your water bill, damp spots, musty odors, or visible corrosion around plumbing connections, it's best to have the issue inspected before it becomes an emergency. Addressing small plumbing problems early is almost always less expensive and less disruptive than dealing with a major plumbing failure later.

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We Pick Up When You Call

A plumbing emergency is stressful enough without wondering whether anyone is going to answer the phone. At Pineapple Plumbing, we pick up, we listen, and we help you start solving the problem before we even arrive. Call (843) 739-7438 any time for honest help from a local plumbing team that treats your emergency like it’s happening in our own home.

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