Plumbing FAQs: what to do first, who to call and who pulls the permit in Lexington, SC

What should I do first in a plumbing emergency in Lexington?

Stop the water first, then call. Turn the main shutoff valve to closed, which stops a burst pipe or a failed supply line from running while you wait for help.

1. Find the main shutoff, usually where the water line enters the house or at the meter box, and turn it fully closed. Find it today, before you need it.
2. Open the lowest faucet in the house to let the pipes drain, and leave the others alone.
3. If water is near outlets, switches or the panel, stay out of the room and call 911 or the power company instead of wading in.
4. Photograph the water and the damage before you move things.
5. Call (833) 571-0120 and tell us what is leaking, where, and what you have already shut off.

A gas smell is not a plumbing call. Leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. If the water is already in walls or floors, our water damage removal and drying page explains what happens next.

What should I do if heavy rain makes my drains back up?

Stop using water, document what is backing up, and call the sewer provider before paying for private work. Heavy rain can coincide with a backup, but the cause still has to be found: it may be your own line, or the main that serves your street.

• Do not run the dishwasher, washer or showers while the drains are slow or gurgling.
• Note which fixtures back up and in what order. The lowest drain in the house usually shows it first.
• If several fixtures back up at once, call the Town of Lexington at (803) 358-1581, or the entity on your sewer bill, to ask whether its main is involved.
• Photograph the water and keep children and pets away from standing sewage.

If the main is clear, the blockage is on your side of the connection. That is the work described on our sewer line repair page, and a single slow drain is covered under drain clearing. We cannot tell you over the phone whose pipe it is, so we do not guess.

How do I find out which utility serves my address?

Start with your bill, which names the water and sewer provider, and then call that provider with your street address. A Lexington mailing address does not mean you are inside the Town limits.

The ZIP codes 29072 and 29073 hold far more people than the Town of Lexington does, so many homes with a Lexington address sit in unincorporated Lexington County, with a different permit office and possibly a different sewer or water provider. The Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission of Lexington County also exists, and we have not confirmed which streets it serves.

• Check the bill for the name of the water and sewer provider.
• Call the Town of Lexington customer service line at (803) 358-1581 if the bill is from the Town.
• Ask the Town if your parcel is inside the Town limits before asking about permits.

Our service areas page shows the towns and neighborhoods we work in and the counties involved.

How do I check a plumber's license in South Carolina?

Ask for the name of the license holder, then look that name up on the state license lookup run by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The state licenses the individual plumber, not the company.

South Carolina requires a residential plumbing license once the work passes a small dollar threshold, so a quote for a water heater or a sewer repair should come from someone who holds one. The Residential Builders Commission can answer questions at (803) 896-4696.

• Ask for the license holder's full name before the work begins.
• Search the name on the state lookup and check that the status is current.
• Ask whether the license holder, or someone working under them, will do the job.
• Keep the written description of the work with your records.

We do not publish license numbers on this site. Ask us for license details when you call, and check them yourself on the lookup.

Who pulls the permit for plumbing work?

The contractor normally pulls the permit, and you should ask for that in writing. Lexington County advises that when a contractor does the work, the contractor pulls the permit.

Lexington County requires a permit to install, enlarge, renovate, convert or replace a plumbing, gas or mechanical system, and exempts ordinary repairs and maintenance. A homeowner may pull a permit for their own home if it is not offered for sale or rent for two years, but a permit in the homeowner's name makes the homeowner responsible for deficient work.

• Confirm if your address is in the Town or in unincorporated Lexington County, because the permit office differs.
• Saint Andrews addresses are in Richland County, which has its own building inspections office at 803-576-2140.
• We could not confirm the Town of Lexington's own plumbing permit rules. Call the Town before assuming the County's rules apply.

For a tank replacement, our water heater replacement page lists what to ask before the work starts.

Do I need to repipe my whole house, or can I repair one section?

Repair one section when the leak is isolated and the pipe on either side is sound, and price a whole-house repipe when leaks keep returning or the pipe material is known to fail. A plumber should show you the pipe before recommending either.

• Repeated pinhole leaks, or a leak that returns after a repair, point toward replacing the lines.
• Rusty water from both the cold and hot taps points toward corroded pipe, not only a tired water heater.
• Gray or blue flexible plastic pipe marked PB, found in homes built from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, is generally replaced rather than repaired.
• A single leak with healthy pipe on both sides is a repair.

Ask for the removed section, or a photo of it, and for a written note of where each leak was. Our repiping and pipe replacement page explains the decision and what the job involves.

How long does a repipe take, and is the water off the whole time?

A small home can take a few days and a large multistory house can take several weeks, according to published repipe guides. Ask the plumber for a written schedule that says when the water will be off each day.

• Ask who patches and paints the walls that are opened.
• Ask whether the permit and the inspection are in the price, and who is present for the inspection.
• Plan for showers, laundry and cooking on the days the water is off.
• Keep the written scope, the permit record and any inspection sign-off.

Lexington County requires a permit to replace a plumbing system, so ask who pulls it. Our repipe cost factors shows a wide range and what moves it.

What happens when I call?

Someone answers, asks what is happening and where, and tells you what to do first. You do not need to know the cause to call.

• Tell us the address and ZIP code so we can place the house.
• Describe what you see: where the water is, whether it is clear or dirty, and what you have already shut off.
• Tell us if there is a gas smell, electrical contact with water or sewage inside the house, because those change what you do first.
• We tell you what to do before anyone arrives and what the next step is.

We do not promise an arrival time on a first call, and a conversation does not commit you to a visit. The number is (833) 571-0120 for every service on this site except water damage, which has its own line on that page.

What are the most common signs of a hidden slab leak in Lexington homes?

A warm spot on the floor, the sound of running water when every fixture is off, a water bill that climbs with no change in how you live, and damp flooring or a musty smell with no visible source are the usual signs.

Any one of these can have another cause, so the first step is a test, not opening the floor. Shut off the fixtures, check whether the meter keeps moving, then call us. Our slab leak detection and repair page explains how a leak under concrete is confirmed and located before anyone cuts.

How long do standard water heaters last in Lexington, SC?

No single number fits every house. How long a tank lasts depends on the water, the maintenance and the installation, so age is only one clue.

Signs that a tank is near the end are rust-colored hot water, rumbling or popping from sediment, moisture or rust at the base, and a leak from the tank itself. A leak from the tank cannot be patched, so plan the replacement before it floods. If the problem is only missing or lukewarm water, a repair may still make sense. Our water heater replacement and water heater repair pages explain how to tell which.

When is trenchless pipe lining (CIPP) recommended over traditional sewer excavation?

Lining is an option when the pipe has cracks, roots or corrosion but is still in one piece and a camera can pass through it. A resin liner is pulled through the old pipe and cured in place, so most of the yard stays undisturbed.

A pipe that has collapsed or has failed joints a liner cannot bridge usually has to be dug. A camera inspection decides which one you have. Our trenchless pipe repair page covers the steps, and our sewer line repair page covers digging.

How often should residential drains be professionally cleaned or hydro jetter cleared?

No schedule fits every house. A home with no history of clogs may never need routine cleaning, while a line with mature tree roots or a kitchen that sends grease down the drain may need it more often.

Base it on what a camera shows, not on the calendar. A cable suits a simple clog, and hydro jetting suits heavy buildup or grease. See our hydro jetting and drain cleaning pages for how to choose.

Why does my toilet periodically run on its own without being flushed?

Usually a worn flapper is letting water leak from the tank into the bowl, or the fill valve is out of adjustment. Both sit inside the tank.

To check the flapper, add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and wait without flushing. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking. Our toilet repair page covers the tank parts and what to try first.