Who to Call When Your Basement Floods

Who to Call, by Situation

1. Water is still coming in from a pipe

Shut off the main water valve, then call us. We extract the water, dry the structure, and repair the damage — see burst pipe repair. If the source needs a plumber, we'll tell you on site.

2. Sewage or a floor drain backed up

Call a restoration company, not a plumber alone. A plumber can clear the line, but sewage is Category 3 black water — a biohazard that needs protective gear, removal of everything porous it touched, and disinfection. Keep people out, don't flush or run water, and see sewage cleanup.

3. Standing water after rain, a failed sump pump, or groundwater

Call a restoration company. The water needs pumping and dehumidifiers before mold starts in 24 to 48 hours. Once it's dry, basement waterproofing deals with how it got in.

4. Water near the electrical panel, or you smell gas

Don't go down the stairs. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas company from outside. If water is near the panel or outlets and you can't cut power without standing in it, call your power company. Once it's safe, call us.

5. When to call your insurance company

After the water is stopped and documented, not before you act — waiting on a claim number while water sits makes the loss bigger. We photograph everything as found, log daily moisture readings, write the estimate in Xactimate, and bill your carrier directly.

What to Do in the First Hour

• Cut power to the basement at the breaker — only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
• Stop the source if it's safe to reach: the main shutoff for a supply line, or the breaker for a failed sump pump.
• Stay out of water that is discolored, smells, or could be sewage.
• Lift what you can off the floor — cardboard wicks water up within minutes.
• Photograph the damage before moving much — your adjuster wants to see it as found.
• Call us at (980) 277-3700. We answer 24 hours a day, and our rates are the same at 2am, on a Sunday, or on a holiday.

We serve Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill, and Indian Land. If your home sits on a crawl space rather than a basement, see crawl space water damage instead.

Common Causes of Basement Flooding in York County

Basements are less common around Fort Mill than crawl spaces and slab foundations, so the ones we see are often finished lower levels — which is why a flood here tends to mean a rebuild, not just a dry-out. The causes come down to four things.

Clay soil that holds water against the walls

York County's red clay drains slowly. After heavy rain it stays saturated for days and pushes water through foundation cracks and the seam where wall meets slab — often a damp corner and a musty smell before it's standing water.

Sump pumps that fail when the storm hits

Summer thunderstorms and the tropical systems that reach the Carolinas in late summer and fall bring the heaviest rain — and the power outages that stop a sump pump right when it's needed. A battery backup is the fix.

Water heaters and supply lines

A failed water heater or a split washer hose can dump hundreds of gallons before anyone goes downstairs. Fort Mill homes built in the early 2000s with Dura-PEX plumbing are now in their fitting-failure years.

Sewer and drain backups

Heavy rain can overload sewer lines and push water back up through a basement floor drain, and roots or a clog in the main line do the same in dry weather. Either way it's Category 3 water — call before you clean.