Water Damage Restoration
South Carolina
IICRC-certified water damage pros across all of South Carolina — serving 13 cities and 0 counties.
13
Cities Covered
0
Counties
$13,954
Avg US Claim
Yes ✓
NFIP Participant
- IICRC Standards
- Answered 24/7
- Ask for the License
- Independent Pros
- No Obligation
Quick answer
Water damage restoration in South Carolina typically runs $1,500–$8,500 for a residential job, against a national average homeowners claim of $13,954. The most common cause here is hurricane storm surge (coast) and inland flooding. Insurance splits the same way everywhere: a sudden burst or appliance failure is covered, water that rose from outside is not, and the difference is decided on what you photograph before anything is moved. Whatever the source, the clock is the same everywhere: mold starts on wet drywall, framing and carpet pad within 24–48 hours, so extraction and measured drying on day one is what keeps a drying job from becoming a rebuild. To hear what a certified company would charge for your address in South Carolina, call (888) 840-6512, answered 24/7.
Press 1 for water damage or 2 for mold, then your 5-digit ZIP. The line goes quiet for about half a minute while it connects — that is normal, stay on. Have ready: the address with ZIP, when the water started, what is wet now, and whether you have opened an insurance claim.
Flood Risk Profile
Why South Carolina Has High Water Damage Risk
South Carolina's unique risk is that hurricanes making landfall further north (like Florence in NC) cause catastrophic flooding inland in SC's river systems. The Pee Dee, Santee, Wateree, and Congaree Rivers can rise 20+ feet, flooding communities 100+ miles from the coast. Charleston is one of the fastest-sinking cities on the East Coast, with chronic tidal flooding.
- Hurricane storm surge (coast) and inland flooding
- Santee-Cooper and Pee Dee River flooding
- Flash flooding from tropical rainfall
- Coastal erosion and barrier island flooding
Notable Events
Major South Carolina Disaster Events
Hurricane Matthew 2016 (inland flooding, 500+ homes destroyed in Lumberton area)
Hurricane Florence 2018 (Pee Dee River record flooding, $22B total)
October 2015 '1,000-year flood' (Congaree River, $1B+ SC damage)
Hurricane Hugo 1989 (Category 4 landfall, $7B in today's dollars)
Insurance Info — South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Insurance regulates. SC has a 15-day acknowledgment and 30-day payment requirement. Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Florence (2018) caused catastrophic inland flooding far from the coast — standard HO policies cover wind-driven rain but NOT flood from rising rivers. NFIP coverage is necessary in Low Country and coastal counties.
Licensing: South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board — General Contractor License required
Service Areas
Cities We Serve in South Carolina
Click any city for local flood risk data, cost estimates, and IICRC-certified pros.
Charleston
Charleston County
Columbia
Richland County
North Charleston
Charleston County
Mount Pleasant
Charleston County
Greenville
Greenville County
Summerville
Berkeley County
Florence
Florence County
Spartanburg
Spartanburg County
Myrtle Beach
Horry County
Rock Hill
York County
Goose Creek
Berkeley County
Anderson
Anderson County
Hilton Head Island
Beaufort County
Official FEMA Records
South Carolina Flood History — Charleston County
Local Pricing
Water Damage Costs in South Carolina
The average US homeowners water damage claim is $13,954 (Insurance Information Institute / ISO, homeowners losses by cause, 2018–2022). Final cost depends on water category, affected area, delay time, and structural damage.
Use our cost calculatorAvg insurance claim
$13,954
US average, III / ISO 2018–2022
Claim frequency
1.61 per 100
Insured homes a year, III / ISO
Minor damage (Cat 1)
$1,500–$4,000
Clean water, small area
Severe damage (Cat 3)
$8,000–$25,000+
Sewage or structural
Water Emergency in South Carolina?
The line is answered 24/7, and the company that takes the job gives you an arrival window for your address
Educational Resources
Guides for South Carolina Homeowners
Who to Call for Water Damage: The Right Order of Calls
Who to call for water damage in your house: stop the water, call a restoration company, open the claim the same day. The order for every situation.
Water Damage: What to Do in the First 60 Minutes
The decisions you make in the first 60 minutes after water damage determine how much you pay, how fast you recover, and whether your insurance claim succeeds. Here's the exact sequence of actions.
Water Damage Insurance Claim: The Complete Guide
Most water damage insurance claim denials happen because homeowners make one of seven preventable mistakes. This guide shows you exactly what to do — and what to avoid — from the moment water appears.
Water Damage Restoration Cost 2026: What You'll Actually Pay
The average water damage restoration costs $3,900 nationally — but ranges from $1,200 to $25,000+ depending on factors most homeowners don't know about before they call.
South Carolina Water Damage — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest water damage risks in South Carolina?
The two that drive most South Carolina claims are hurricane storm surge (coast) and inland flooding and santee-cooper and pee dee river flooding.
Both are seasonal rather than constant, so the useful move is to check the vulnerable points — supply lines, the water heater, the sump pump and the grade around the foundation — before the season that threatens them, not during it. The full risk profile and the state's notable events are further down this page.
How much does water damage restoration cost in South Carolina?
The national average homeowners water damage claim is $13,954 (Insurance Information Institute / ISO, homeowners losses by cause, 2018–2022). What a job in South Carolina costs depends on the water category and how long it sat.
Minor water damage (Category 1, small area) typically costs $1,500–$4,000. Severe damage involving sewage, flooding, or structural issues runs $8,000–$25,000+.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage in South Carolina?
Standard homeowners insurance covers sudden and accidental water damage — a burst pipe, an appliance overflow, a roof that lets rain in — and does not cover flooding from outside water, which needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
Gradual leaks and deferred maintenance are excluded everywhere. South Carolina has its own rules on top of that, set out in the insurance note on this page, and the exclusions worth reading are the ones in your own declarations page before a loss rather than after.
How quickly can I get a water damage restoration team in South Carolina?
As fast as a crew is free — the line is answered 24/7 and the pro gives you a real arrival window for your address on the call. That window depends on where you are in South Carolina, what time it is, and how many jobs are already running, which is why nobody can promise you a number before they know your address.
Calling early still matters: mold begins growing within 24–48 hours of water exposure, and every hour of standing water widens the damage.
Who do I call right now for water damage?
Call (888) 840-6512. The line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects you with an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company that serves your area. Describe what you can see — where the water is coming from, how long it has been there, and whether it smells — the more specific you are, the faster the right company is on the line.
If the source is a pipe or an appliance, shut the main water valve first. Have four things ready and the call goes quickly: the address, when the water started, what is wet now, and whether you have filed an insurance claim.
Still not sure which of these is your situation? (888) 840-6512 · toll-free · answered 24/7
Reviewed by Marcus Reed, IICRC WRT · Last updated: 2026-07-10
HearthDry is an independent educational resource for South Carolina homeowners. Cost estimates reflect statewide averages. FEMA data is approximate — verify at fema.gov. Always confirm contractor licensing with South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board — General Contractor License required.