When rain fills a Chesterfield basement or a frozen line splits in January, our 24/7 dispatch line sends a licensed plumber from Maryland Heights. Same-day appointments are offered when available for homes in Chesterfield Valley, the neighborhoods off Olive Boulevard and the subdivisions to the south.
Before help arrives, shut off power to any outlet or appliance near standing water and close the main water valve if a pipe has failed. If water is coming up through floor drains, stop using the washer and dishwasher. Never enter a flooded basement while the panel or outlets are underwater.
Chesterfield's plumbing calls follow the calendar. Spring rain, summer storms and winter freezes each bring their own type of failure, so this page is organized by season before it covers the city's sewer lateral program.
Chesterfield emergencies by season
Dispatch runs around the clock because storms and freezes do not keep office hours. Each season brings a different pattern.
Spring rain
Sump pumps work hardest and fail most often when the ground is saturated. A pump that runs constantly or not at all needs attention.
Summer storms
A heavy downpour can overwhelm sewer lines and push water through floor drains.
Fall leaf season
Roots and debris collect in older laterals. Slow drains in October often turn into backups by December.
Winter freezes
Supply lines in exterior walls, garages and crawl spaces split when temperatures drop and thaw.
Basement water starts with sump pump repair, burst lines with burst pipe repair, and floor drain backups with drain cleaning. If the sewer line itself has failed, sewer line repair is the next step.
Chesterfield Valley, the 1993 flood and your basement
On July 30, 1993, around 10:15 p.m., the Monarch levee failed with the Missouri River more than 19 feet above flood stage. Floodwater stood 6 to 15 feet deep across about 4,000 acres of Chesterfield Valley, which had not flooded since 1935. If your home or business is in the Valley, a working sump pump and a backwater valve on the sewer line are the two checks worth making before the next wet season.
The levee has since been rebuilt as the Monarch-Chesterfield Levee, designed for a 500-year event, and Chesterfield Commons was built afterward. A rebuilt levee protects against river flooding, but it does nothing for a pump that has failed or a drain that backs up from the street. Test the pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit, and call us if it does not start.
The city's sewer lateral program at a glance
Chesterfield offers a lateral repair program funded by a fee on the St. Louis County tax bill. Here are the details we can confirm from the city.
| Item | What the city says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $28 on the property tax bill for buildings with six or fewer units | Check your bill to confirm you are paying it |
| Coverage | Up to $15,000 per repair | Larger jobs may exceed the cap |
| Application fee | $200, non-refundable | Budget for it before you apply |
| Cabling first | A licensed plumber or drainlayer must cable the line first, and the cost is not reimbursed | Call us for the cabling and keep the invoice |
| Paperwork | Application, notarized hold harmless agreement, prior-year tax receipt, plumbing invoice showing the cabling | Gather these before you submit |
Public Works at (636) 537-4762 can confirm whether your address qualifies. A plumber's invoice and a camera recording from a sewer inspection make the application easier to support.
Before we arrive: protect the basement and the pump
A flooded basement is a race against damage. These four steps matter most.
Kill power safely
If water is near outlets, switch off breakers from a dry spot only. If you cannot reach the panel safely, call and wait.
Check the pump
Look at the sump pit from a dry spot. A pump that hums but does not move water, or sits idle while the pit overflows, tells us what to bring.
Lift valuables
Move boxes, electronics and furniture onto blocks or upstairs. Wet drywall and insulation spread damage fast.
Find your bill
Keep your water and tax bills handy. They help confirm your provider and your lateral program status.
Where we cover in Chesterfield
Chesterfield has two ZIP codes, 63017 and 63005, and sits in the southwest of the St. Louis County area along the Missouri River valley. Town and Country borders it on the east along Route 141, and we serve both from the same dispatch zone.
The same zone reaches 63011, 63021 and 63141 for sump pump and drain calls. Faust Park and the Spirit of St. Louis Airport are landmarks for finding your location when you call.
Sewer and water providers: confirm on your bill
Which utility serves your address can vary, so confirm the water provider on your bill before you call about a main problem. If the problem is on the street side, the utility handles it. If it is on your property, we do.
Neighboring Creve Coeur and St. Charles are within our zone as well, so owners with more than one property can use a single number.
Codes and rules to check in Chesterfield
Chesterfield runs its own sewer lateral program and its own permit office, so the rules on this page are the city's and not Maryland Heights's. The International Plumbing Code (IPC) is the usual model, and the city decides which edition applies, so confirm before work beyond a repair.
The Chesterfield lateral program lists its own repair cost figures, so check them on the city page before you sign a contract. A camera report that follows the NASSCO PACP coding standard gives the city and the contractor the same description of the defect.
Chesterfield plumbing questions answered
Yes. Our dispatch line is answered 24/7, and we send a licensed plumber for flooded basements, failed sump pumps, burst pipes and sewer backups. Same-day appointments are offered when available.
Yes. Chesterfield is served by two ZIP codes, 63017 and 63005, which together take in Chesterfield Valley along the Missouri River and the neighborhoods around Faust Park. If you are unsure which applies, give the dispatcher your street.
It might. The city covers up to $15,000 after you pay a $200 application fee and have a licensed plumber cable the line first. Confirm eligibility with Public Works before you start.
Often yes when we have the pump in stock. Pit size and discharge routing decide whether it fits one visit.
Yes. Town and Country borders Chesterfield on the east and is inside our dispatch zone.
Maryland Heights Pro Plumbing is based in Maryland Heights, MO 63043. We do not claim a shop in Chesterfield.