A city that doubled down on growth, and what that means for your pipes
Simpsonville became a post office in 1886 and was incorporated in 1901. Growth was slow until the 1950s, then fast. It ranked as the state's fastest-growing city from 1990 to 1992, and the Census counted 23,354 residents in 2020 and an estimated 28,459 in July 2025.
That history matters under your sink. A house from the 1950s, one from 1995 and one from 2022 are three different plumbing systems, even if they share a street name and a ZIP code. We dispatch all of them around the clock from Mauldin, and the first question on the phone is usually the age of the house.
If you live in 29681, the larger of the two ZIPs, your mailing address may even say Simpsonville while the house sits beside Mauldin. Either way, tell the dispatcher the house age and the ZIP, and the call goes faster.
Which era is your house, and what tends to fail
Plumbing materials changed with each building wave. This table is general, so your own house may differ. A plumber confirms the pipe type on arrival.
| Build period | Pipe often found | What a plumber checks first |
|---|---|---|
| Before about 1960 | Galvanized steel supply, cast iron or clay drains | Low pressure, rusty water, root-choked drains |
| 1960s to 1970s | Copper supply, cast iron drains | Pinhole leaks at elbows, slow main drain |
| Late 1970s to mid 1990s | Copper, with some polybutylene supply in the period | Brittle gray or blue supply lines, fittings that weep |
| Late 1990s to 2000s | Copper or CPVC supply, PVC drains | Water heaters near end of life, failed supply stops |
| 2010s to now | PEX supply, PVC drains | Fixture leaks, pressure regulator faults, tank flush needs |
Polybutylene was sold roughly from 1978 to 1995, so houses built in that window deserve a closer look.
What Simpsonville has published about its sewer pipes
The city says its sewer infrastructure has exceeded its useful life, and it describes clay sewer pipes and brick manholes installed more than half a century ago. A $10 million infrastructure grant was announced in 2023.
For you, that means older streets have older mains, and roots and ground movement hit clay joints first. If a drain backs up in several fixtures at once, a camera run shows whether the blockage is on your side of the property line. A sewer camera inspection answers that before anyone digs.
Permits go through the Planning and Economic Development Department at (864) 967-9526, and the city has an online permit portal. Ask them whether your repair needs a permit.
Source type: City of Simpsonville published sewer rehabilitation information and permit pages.
Calls from the older streets near the mill history
The Simpsonville Cotton Mill dates to 1907, and houses from that era often have cast iron drains and galvanized supply pipe. Steel supply pipe corrodes from the inside, so pressure falls long before a leak appears. If a faucet that ran fine five years ago now trickles, a repipe of the supply lines is worth pricing.
Repiping is a big job and not always the right first step. If only one run is bad, replacing that section costs far less. A plumber should show you where the pipe is bad before suggesting more.
Leak, flood or backup in Simpsonville: do this before the plumber arrives
The 24/7 line answers day and night. While you wait, these four moves limit the damage.
Find the main shutoff
Most houses have a valve near the meter or where the supply enters the house. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
Kill power to wet areas
If water reaches outlets, appliances or a garage freezer, switch off that breaker. Do not stand in water to reach the panel.
Clear the floor
Move rugs, boxes and electronics out of the spill path. Towels at doorways slow the spread.
Smell gas? Leave first
Go outside and call the gas utility or 911. Plumbing can wait until the house is safe.
Then call (855) 575-2890 and say your ZIP and the room affected.
Services most Simpsonville callers need
Given the growth pattern, requests cluster around a few jobs.
- A tank water heater past ten years that leaks at the base needs a replacement tank, not a patch.
- Newer subdivisions often call about slow drains from construction debris or grease, which drain cleaning clears with a cable or jet.
- Backups in two or more fixtures point to the main line, so a camera run comes before a repair quote.
- Low pressure in older homes may mean a failing supply line or a stuck pressure regulator.
Neighbors in Mauldin and Fountain Inn call with much the same list.
Reaching Simpsonville from Mauldin
SC-417 connects the two city centers at about 4.5 miles, and I-385 runs between them. The BridgeWay Station development at 810 Bridgeway Blvd sits at the I-385 Bridges Road exit, next to Mauldin, in ZIP 29681. A call from that area is a short hop.
We make no promise about arrival time. Traffic, weather and call volume all change it. What we do is give you a clear price before work starts. For a larger town to the north, see our Greenville page.
Questions from Simpsonville homeowners
Yes. Simpsonville has two ZIP codes, 29681 and 29680. 29681 is the larger one and includes the BridgeWay Station address at the I-385 Bridges Road exit, and it also carries some mailing addresses in the Mauldin school area. 29680 is the second Simpsonville ZIP. Both are served by the same 24/7 line.
Yes. The line at (855) 575-2890 is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. Dispatch runs from Mauldin. We cannot promise a set arrival time, but we will tell you honestly what to expect when you call.
Ownership depends on the utility and the property. The city publishes its sewer rehabilitation plans but does not spell out lateral ownership in what we reviewed. Ask the city before assuming the repair is yours or theirs. A camera inspection shows where the problem sits.
Permit rules vary, so ask the Planning and Economic Development Department at (864) 967-9526. The city has an online permit portal. A licensed plumber pulls permits when they are required.
Most tank heaters last roughly 8 to 12 years. A leak from the tank itself means replacement, since a failed tank cannot be repaired. Rusty hot water or rumbling noises are earlier warnings.
Only if testing shows the supply lines are failing. Check pressure at several fixtures first. Replace a single bad run if the rest is sound. A full repipe makes sense when rust, low flow and repeat leaks all show up.