A plumbing emergency is a leak, backup or loss of water that will damage your home if it waits. Burst pipes, sewage in a drain and a leaking water heater all count. Quality Service Company, LLC runs 24/7 dispatch for emergency plumbing in Florence, SC and across the Pee Dee.
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
Call right away if you see any of these:
- A burst or split pipe spraying or pouring water.
- Sewage coming up through a tub, shower or floor drain.
- Water leaking from the water heater tank or pooling around it.
- A toilet that keeps overflowing.
- Water dripping through a ceiling or soaking a wall or floor.
- No water anywhere in the house while your neighbors have water.
If you smell gas near a gas water heater, leave the house first. Call 911 or your gas company once you’re outside. Don’t flip light switches on the way out.
What should I do first while I wait for a plumber?
A few steps in the first minutes can save floors, walls and cabinets.
- Shut off the water. Close the valve behind the toilet or under the sink. For a burst pipe, close the main.
- Turn off the water heater if the main is off or the tank is leaking. Switch off the breaker for an electric heater. Set a gas heater’s control to off.
- Stay away from water near outlets and cords. Turn off power at the panel only if you can reach it from a dry floor.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point in the house to drain the pipes.
- Move rugs, electronics and boxes out of the wet area.
- Take photos before you clean up. Your insurance company may ask for them.
- For sewage, stop running water anywhere in the house. Keep kids and pets away from it.
Where is my main water shutoff?
Find it now, before you need it. On city water, there’s usually a valve at the meter near the street. Many homes also have a shutoff where the line enters the house.
Check the garage, utility room or crawlspace, and near the water heater. Turn the handle clockwise to close it. If it won’t move, don’t force it. Old valves can snap.
Is it my house or the city’s water?
If no faucet works, ask a neighbor before you call a plumber. A citywide outage isn’t a repair inside your home.
In August 2024, the City of Florence shut its water plant because of river flooding. Low pressure and a boil advisory followed across the whole system.
If your neighbors have water and you don’t, call us. Your plumber will look for where the water stops.
Why do pipes burst in Florence winters?
Our winters are short, but the freezes are real. Florence averages about 40 nights a year at 32 degrees or lower.
In December 2022, lows hit 15 degrees on Christmas Eve and 14 two days later. The City of Florence lost at least 20 million gallons of water. It came from a main break on Christmas Day and leaks in homes, businesses and sprinkler systems. Residents were told to drip faucets and close vents.
Winter 2025–26 brought seven nights at 20 degrees or lower, including 8 degrees on February 2, 2026.
Before a hard freeze:
- Let faucets on outside walls drip overnight.
- Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bath sinks.
- Keep the heat on, even if you’re away.
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor spigots.
- Close crawlspace vents.
If a pipe has frozen, close the main before it thaws. A split pipe may not leak until the ice melts.
Can heavy rain cause a sewage backup?
Yes. Heavy rain can push water back up through a low drain. During Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, the Florence airport got 11.74 inches of rain in one day.
SC Emergency Management lists sewer check valves for flood-prone homes. A check valve lets water leave your drain line and helps stop it from flowing back in.
Several slow drains at once often point to the main sewer line, not one sink. A sewer smell inside the house is worth a call too. Learn more about sewer line inspection and repair.
What can wait for a regular visit?
These need a plumber soon, but they can wait for regular hours:
- One slow drain.
- A dripping faucet.
- A toilet that runs but doesn’t overflow.
- A water heater that runs out of hot water sooner than it used to.
- Low pressure at a single faucet.
One sign is easy to miss: a water bill that jumps with no leak in sight. Water may be escaping under a floor or inside a wall. Leak detection and repair starts by finding where it goes.
Nearly half the homes in the City of Florence were built before 1980. Know where your shutoff valves are and whether they still turn.
What happens when you call Quality Service Company?
Our 24/7 dispatch takes plumbing calls day and night. Tell us what you see and where the water is.
Your plumber will find what’s causing the problem and explain why. There’s a fee for the visit. You’ll hear your options and the price of any repair before work starts.
We’re locally owned, and our people live where we work. Read more about emergency plumbing in Florence. Call (843) 920-2004 or book online.
Common questions
Do you take emergency plumbing calls at night?
Yes, Quality Service Company runs 24/7 dispatch for plumbing calls. You can call (843) 920-2004 at night, on weekends or on a holiday. Before you call, shut off the water at the fixture or the main if you can. That keeps the damage smaller while you wait.
Is a running toilet a plumbing emergency?
A toilet that runs but stays in the bowl is not an emergency. Close the valve behind it to stop the flow and save water. Then book a regular visit. If the toilet overflows and won’t stop, close that same valve right away and call us.
Should I turn off the water heater when the main is off?
Yes, it’s safer to turn off the water heater while the main water is shut off. Without water coming in, a tank that drains can be damaged by heating while empty. Switch off the breaker for an electric heater. Turn a gas heater’s control to off or pilot.