If you live on James Island you already know the roads flood. What is less obvious is how often that same water ends up underneath the house.
Tidal water, not just rain
This is what makes James Island different. A heavy rain is one thing, but a king tide pushes water up through the ground from below, and when the two arrive together there is simply nowhere for it to drain. Streets near the creeks flood on a clear sunny day at the right tide, and the ground under nearby homes stays wet long after.
Under the house is where it matters
Very few homes here have basements, so this is about keeping standing water away from floor framing, ductwork and insulation in the crawl space. If there is a musty smell you have been blaming on the air conditioning, damp underneath is very often the real source.
A pump with no backup is no pump
Storms bring heavy rain and power cuts at the same time. Without a battery backup, your pump switches off at exactly the moment the water is rising. On James Island we fit backup as part of the job rather than offering it as an extra.
Test yours before hurricane season
Pour a bucket of water into the pit and check the pump starts, clears it and stops cleanly. If it hums without moving water or runs constantly, it needs looking at now rather than in September.