Home plumbing is two systems: supply pipes push clean water in, and drains let used water flow out. The plumbing basics are simple: know your main shutoff, catch leaks and clogs early, and know when to call a plumber. Quality Service Company, LLC wrote this guide for homeowners in Florence, SC and the Pee Dee.
How does the plumbing in your house work?
Clean water comes in through one main line, under pressure. It branches to every faucet, toilet and appliance. One branch feeds the water heater, which sends hot water out on its own lines.
Drains use gravity instead of pressure. Under each sink and tub is a curved pipe called a trap. It holds a little water that keeps sewer gas out of the room.
Vent pipes run up through the roof. They let air into the drains so water flows and traps stay full. Then everything leaves through one main drain to the sewer or a septic tank.
On City of Florence water? The city’s 2024 water quality report says about 60 percent comes from wells and 40 percent from its Pee Dee River plant.
What kind of pipes are in your home?
Most homes have a mix. Here’s what you may find:
- Copper: rigid, reddish-brown supply pipe.
- PEX: flexible plastic supply tubing, often red and blue.
- CPVC: cream-colored plastic supply pipe.
- PVC: white plastic drain pipe.
- Galvanized steel: gray supply pipe with threaded joints.
- Cast iron: heavy black drain pipe.
Home age is a good clue. Census estimates show 46.7 percent of homes in the City of Florence were built before 1980. In Darlington it’s 68.7 percent, and in Timmonsville 56.9 percent.
Older homes may still have galvanized supply lines or cast-iron drains. If you aren’t sure what you have, ask your plumber to show you.
Where is your main water shutoff?
Find it now, before you need it. When a pipe bursts, this valve is what stops the water.
- Look where the main line enters the house: a garage, utility room, crawlspace or near the water heater.
- Turn the valve slowly to make sure it moves. Don’t force a stuck one.
- Tag it so everyone in the house can find it.
- Learn the small shutoffs under each sink, behind each toilet and on the water heater’s cold line.
If there’s no main valve inside, a plumber can add one. It matters here. In December 2022, the City of Florence lost at least 20 million gallons of water after a main broke on Christmas Day and homes, businesses and sprinkler systems leaked.
What are the early signs of a plumbing leak?
Most leaks start small and out of sight. Watch for these signs:
- A water bill that jumps when your use hasn’t changed
- The water meter moving while every tap is off
- Stains, bubbling paint or soft spots on walls and ceilings
- Warped floors or a musty smell
- The sound of running water when nothing is on
- A warm spot on a floor built on a slab
A plumber can trace where the water is going and explain your options. Read more about leak detection and repair.
How do you keep drains from clogging?
A few habits do most of the work:
- Pour grease into a can, not the sink. It hardens inside the pipe.
- Flush only toilet paper. Wipes marked “flushable” still snag in lines.
- Use strainers in tubs and showers to catch hair.
- Keep coffee grounds, eggshells and rice out of the disposal.
- Skip repeated chemical drain cleaners. They can be hard on older pipes.
Some clogs are past what a plunger can fix. If several drains slow at once, or the tub gurgles when the toilet flushes, the main line may be blocked. Learn more about drain cleaning.
How do you protect pipes from freezing in the Pee Dee?
Our winters are short but real. NOAA normals for Florence show about 40 nights a year at 32 degrees or colder, and 3.2 at 20 or colder. The winter of 2025–26 had seven nights at 20 or below, with a low of 8 degrees on February 2, 2026.
Before a hard freeze:
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets.
- Let faucets on outside walls drip overnight.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Keep the heat on, even if you’re away.
- Close foundation or crawlspace vents if your home has them.
- Wrap exposed pipes in the crawlspace, attic or garage.
In the December 2022 freeze, the City of Florence told residents to drip faucets and close vents.
What should you watch for on your water heater?
Your water heater works every day. Call a plumber if you notice:
- Rusty water from the hot side only
- Rumbling or popping while it heats
- Water pooling around the base
- Hot water that runs out sooner than it used to
- Water dripping from the relief valve pipe
Keep the space around it clear. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company from outside. When it’s time for a new one, read about water heater installation and replacement.
Which plumbing jobs need a plumber?
Plunging a toilet or cleaning a faucet aerator is fine to do yourself. Call a plumber for these:
- A frozen or burst pipe
- Leaks inside a wall, ceiling or slab
- Sewage backing up into a tub or floor drain
- Replacing a water heater
- Any work on a gas line
- Moving or adding fixtures
Some of this work needs a permit. Florence County requires one to alter or repair a building. The City of Florence’s trade permit form includes plumbing, and water heaters fall under it.
Your plumber will explain what’s wrong and why, and quote the repair before work starts. Our plumbing dispatch runs 24/7.
Common questions
How can I tell if my main sewer line is clogged?
When several drains back up at once, the main line is the likely cause. Watch for gurgling sounds, slow drains on more than one fixture, or water rising in a tub or shower when you flush. Stop using water and call a plumber, since more water has nowhere to go.
Should I let my faucets drip when it freezes?
Letting faucets on outside walls drip on the coldest nights helps keep pipes from freezing. Moving water is less likely to freeze, and an open tap relieves pressure if ice forms. The City of Florence told residents to drip faucets during the December 2022 freeze. Open the cabinet doors under those sinks too.
What should I do first if a pipe bursts?
Shut off the main water valve first, then call a plumber. If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, stay clear of it. Open a faucet at the lowest point in the house to drain the lines. Move what you can out of the water while you wait.
Have a question about your home’s plumbing? We serve Florence, Darlington, Hartsville, Manning, Timmonsville, Effingham and Sumter. Call (843) 920-2004 or book online.