Irmo began in 1890 as a stop on the Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad and stayed small until the late 1960s, when subdivisions started spreading across the area near Lake Murray. The town's own history notes a second wave of rapid growth in the late 1970s. That timeline means many local homes are now around 45 to 55 years old, an age when original plumbing, roofs and water heaters start to fail.
For help with an active leak or flooding, call (888) 317-9980. The Restoration Job is a free referral line that connects Irmo residents and business owners with independent restoration providers in the area. It does not employ crews; the provider sets the price and timing, and many answer emergency calls.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Irmo. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
One Town, Two Counties
Irmo sits on the line between Lexington and Richland counties, with roughly 7,500 residents on the Richland side and about 4,000 in Lexington County. For a homeowner dealing with water damage, the county matters. Floodplain questions, emergency alerts and some stormwater issues are handled by whichever county your property is in, so check your tax bill or property record if you are not sure. Lexington County uses CodeRED for warnings and posts a road closure map during storms; Richland County runs the Citizen Alert System. Signing up for the right one before hurricane season saves confusion when roads start closing.
Rawls Creek, the Saluda and Lake Murray
Rawls Creek starts in Irmo and flows to the Saluda River at Saluda Shoals Park, and the town opened a new park along it in 2024. Lake Murray, held back by an earthen dam completed in 1930, lies just upstream on the Saluda. During the October 2015 storm the National Weather Service reported that the lake's floodgates, unused since 1969, were operated to keep the reservoir below 360 feet. Gauges nearby recorded 11.60 inches at the Lake Murray dam and 17.21 inches in Chapin over that event.
The town's reference elevation is about 358 feet, well above the river. For most households, the likelier flood pattern is heavy rain overloading yards, ditches and small branches like Rawls Creek, or water running toward a house because of grading and clogged gutters. FEMA's flood map will show whether your lot has a mapped risk, but it will not show every low spot.
Aging Plumbing in 1970s Subdivisions
Houses built in the late 1960s and 1970s often still have some original components, and those are the usual sources of sudden water damage:
- Water heaters that have been replaced several times but sit in the same closet or garage spot, with old pans or none at all.
- Supply lines and valves under sinks and toilets that have not been changed in decades.
- Drain lines that crack or clog, sending water back into tubs and showers.
- Roof coverings and flashing on a second or third replacement cycle, where a missed repair lets rain into the attic.
Homes that were replumbed during the late 1970s through mid-1990s are also worth having a plumber check for polybutylene piping, a gray plastic material known for failing at fittings.
From Wet Floors to a Dry House
A provider will usually start by tracing the water to its source and stopping it, then removing standing water and taking moisture readings with meters and thermal cameras. In houses with crawl spaces, someone needs to go underneath, because sagging insulation and wet floor joists are often where the real damage sits. Wet carpet pad, baseboards and the lower part of soaked drywall typically come out, and dehumidifiers and air movers run until materials test dry. The structural drying page explains the equipment, and water damage repair covers putting rooms back together.
Storm Winds and Midlands Mold
Hurricane Helene in September 2024 brought gusts of 60 to 80 mph to Lexington and Richland counties, according to the National Weather Service, and fallen trees damaged more than 270 homes across the two. A tree on the roof turns into a water problem with the next rain. Combined with the Midlands' long humid summers, wet attic insulation and ceiling drywall can grow mold within days. Pull out soaked insulation quickly, keep the air conditioning running, and have hidden moisture checked if a musty smell lingers. For growth that has spread, professional mold remediation is the safer course.
Neighborhoods and Nearby Communities
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Seven Oaks
- St. Andrews
- Chapin
- Lake Murray of Richland
- Lexington
- Columbia
Common Questions
Which county do I contact about flooding in Irmo?
It depends on which side of the county line your home is on. Most residents live in the Richland County part of town, and the rest are in Lexington County. Check your property tax bill to be sure, then use that county's emergency management and floodplain resources. The town itself handles some local services, so its office can help point you in the right direction.
Does living near Lake Murray mean I need flood insurance?
Not automatically. Much of Irmo sits well above the Saluda, so your answer depends on your specific lot. Keep in mind that standard homeowners policies do not cover flooding from rising surface water, and heavy rain can push water into homes far from any mapped floodplain. Look up your address on the FEMA flood map and discuss the cost of a flood policy with your agent.
My water heater is in a hall closet and it just failed. What should I do first?
Turn off the cold-water supply to the heater and shut off its power or gas. Then turn off the house's main valve if water is still flowing. Move belongings out of the wet area, photograph the damage, and call (888) 317-9980 to reach an independent provider. Water from a closet heater often spreads under flooring and into adjacent walls, so moisture readings matter.