Emergency plumber in Greenville and the Upstate
Need an emergency plumber for a burst pipe, sewer backup or leaking water heater? Shut off the water first, then call. Urgent calls go first in line.
A licensed Master Plumber on every job
4.8from 593 Google reviews
What should I do in a plumbing emergency?
Shut off the main water valve, turn off the water heater if it is leaking, and move valuables away from the water. Then call Ethical Plumbing at 864-438-0525. Active leaks, sewer backups and no-water calls go to the front of the schedule.
- Burst and broken pipes
- Sewer backups
- Leaking water heaters
- No water to the house
Looking for a 24-hour plumber?
Here is exactly how it works when you need an emergency plumber from us. Our phone line answers around the clock. During business hours and into the evening, you reach our office. After hours, our answering service takes your details so we can get you on the schedule.
We do not send plumbers out in the middle of the night, so the most important thing you can do is stop the water. These steps keep the damage small until we arrive:
- Shut off the main water valve (often where the line enters the house, or at the meter)
- For a leaking water heater, close the cold supply valve on top and turn off the gas or breaker
- For a toilet, close the valve behind it
- Turn off power to any area where water is near outlets
- Move valuables and take photos for insurance
- Call 864-438-0525 and tell us what you see
The first five minutes matter most
In a plumbing emergency, the damage comes from water that keeps running while you wait. The single most useful thing you can do is shut off the main water valve. Then turn off the water heater if it is involved, unplug anything electrical near the water, and move valuables, rugs and electronics out of the way.
Once the water is off, call us at 864-438-0525 and tell us what happened. Active leaks, sewer backups and homes with no water at all go to the front of the schedule. Take a few photos of the damage for your insurance company before you start cleaning up.
If you smell gas, do not use switches or phones inside. Leave the house and call your gas company or 911 from outside first.
Find your main water shutoff now
The fastest way to limit water damage is knowing where your main shutoff is before you need it. Take two minutes to find yours today.
- Crawl space homes: where the water line enters, near the front wall
- Slab homes: often in the garage or a utility closet
- Basement homes: on the front wall, near the floor
- At the street: the meter box, which needs a meter key
- Turn the handle clockwise until it stops
- Lever valves: turn it across the pipe
What counts as a plumbing emergency
-
Water you cannot stop
A burst pipe, broken fitting or failed supply line that is actively leaking.
-
Sewage coming back up
Water or sewage backing up into tubs, showers or floor drains.
-
A leaking water heater
Water pooling under the heater, or a relief valve that keeps discharging.
-
No water at all
No water anywhere in the house, often a main line break or frozen line.
-
Gas smell
Leave the house and call your gas company or 911 from outside first. We repair gas lines once it is safe.
-
Frozen pipes
No water from some taps in freezing weather. Open the tap and keep the area warm while you call.
Plumbing emergencies in the Upstate
Our winters are mild most of the time, which is exactly why hard freezes catch people off guard. A few nights in the teens is enough to freeze and split pipes in crawl spaces, garages and exterior walls, especially in homes that rarely see it. After a hard freeze, frozen pipe repair calls spike. Disconnect garden hoses, cover outdoor spigots, and open cabinet doors on exterior walls when a hard freeze is in the forecast.
Summer storms bring a different emergency: heavy rain that overwhelms older sewer lines and pushes water back up through floor drains and tubs. Homes with roots in the sewer line are the most likely to back up during a storm.
Why homeowners call Ethical Plumbing for plumbing emergencies
Every job starts with a diagnosis from a licensed Master Plumber, not a sales pitch. We explain what we found in plain terms, show you the options side by side, and put the prices in writing before anything starts. If a repair makes more sense than a replacement, we say so.
We treat your home like a job site that people live in: shoe covers on, work area protected, cleaned up before we leave, and a walkthrough of what we did. Ethical Plumbing has served the Upstate for 16+ years, and our team brings 100+ years of combined plumbing experience. You can meet our plumbers or read what customers say.
What customers say
Every review here is from a real customer. Names are shortened for privacy.
Best company around. From the 24 hour lady that answers the phone that just makes things happen somehow to the guys that come out to take care of the problem. This is third time having somethings done at my home by Ethical Plumbing. Each time was for a different situation, home inspection, emergency plumbing, and replacing some pipes. Each time the team that came out was timely, polite, and professional. We will be…
Great service and professional work. Easy to deal with on all aspects. Somewhat pricey but worth it for the emergency repair I needed
Ivan and his team did a great job for us. They came out within an hour of our plumbing emergency, and they explained the issue and our options thoroughly. Very friendly, knowledgeable staff. Would highly recommend them!
An emergency plumber for Greenville and the Upstate
Urgent calls from homes and businesses in 7 counties go first in line. Towns with a local page are linked.
-
Greenville County, SC
-
Spartanburg County, SC
-
Pickens County, SC
-
Anderson County, SC
-
Henderson County, NC
-
Polk County, NC
- Tryon
-
Transylvania County, NC
-
Also serving
- Seneca, SC
- Gray Court, SC
Emergency plumber FAQs
Are you a 24-hour plumber?
Our phone line answers 24 hours a day, but our plumbers do not work through the night. After hours, our answering service takes your details so you are on the schedule, and the steps on this page help you limit the damage until we arrive.
How fast can an emergency plumber get to me?
During business hours, urgent calls go first in line, and we tell you a realistic arrival time when you call. After hours, our answering service takes your details so an emergency plumber is on the schedule first thing.
Do you answer 24 hours a day?
Our phone line answers around the clock. Plumbers are dispatched during business hours, and urgent calls are put first in line. After hours, shut off the main and call; our answering service takes your details and the office follows up as soon as it opens.
Is a sewer backup an emergency?
Yes. Stop using water in the house so you do not add to the backup, keep people away from the sewage, and call 864-438-0525.
What if my water heater is leaking?
Close the cold water valve on top of the heater and turn off its gas valve or breaker. Then call us. A leaking tank cannot be patched and usually needs replacement.
How can I prevent plumbing emergencies?
Know where your main shutoff is, insulate exposed pipes before freezing nights, replace rubber washing machine hoses with braided ones, and have your plumbing inspected once a year.
I cannot find my main shutoff. What now?
Shut the water off at the meter box near the street. It usually needs a meter key or a wrench. If you cannot turn it, call your water utility (Greenville Water, Spartanburg Water or your local provider); they can shut it off at the meter.
Should I call a plumber or the water company?
If the leak is between the street and your meter, call the water company. If it is anywhere between the meter and your house, or inside, call us.
My toilet is about to overflow. What do I do?
Lift the tank lid and push the flapper down to stop the water, then turn the valve behind the toilet clockwise. Do not flush again until the clog is cleared.
What should I do about frozen pipes?
Open the faucet the pipe feeds and warm the pipe with a hair dryer or space heater, starting near the faucet. Never use an open flame. If a pipe has split, shut off the main before it thaws.
Water where it should not be?
Shut off the main,
then call us.
Tell us what is happening. Urgent calls go first in line, and you get your options in writing before any work starts.
- A licensed Master Plumber on every job
- Serving the Upstate for 16+ years
- Written prices, every job