Sissonville at a glance
Kanawha Restoration serves Sissonville, Pocatalico, Kanawha Two Mile, Legg, Millertown and White Chapel (25320) with flood cleanup, water extraction and drying, fire and smoke cleanup, and mold removal. This is the most rural part of the service area, and the risks reflect that: creek flooding, crawl spaces, well and septic systems, and pipes exposed to winter cold.
Rural Kanawha County
Sissonville stretches north from Charleston along WV 21 and Interstate 77, following the Pocatalico River and the creeks that feed it. Homes are spread out: some on the river bottoms, some up narrow hollows, some on ridgetops with long driveways. Housing ranges from older farmhouses to mid-century homes, newer subdivisions and many manufactured homes. Many homes rely on wells and septic systems rather than city water and sewer.
That setting changes what water damage looks like. Flooding comes from small creeks as much as from the river. Crawl spaces are more common than basements. A pipe that freezes in an outbuilding or well house can go unnoticed for days. And a septic backup is a different problem from a city sewer backup.
Flooding along the Pocatalico and local creeks
The Pocatalico River and creeks such as Kanawha Two Mile Creek can rise quickly in heavy rain, especially when storms stall over the hills. Homes on low ground near the water take on mud and floodwater in crawl spaces, basements and first floors. The water is contaminated, so wet insulation, drywall and flooring are removed, everything is cleaned and disinfected, and the structure is dried. Storm and flood damage explains the work, and preparing for heavy rain and storms in Kanawha County covers getting ready.
Crawl spaces, wells and frozen pipes
Frozen pipes are a winter risk in crawl spaces, well pump houses and exterior walls. A split line under the house can soak the subfloor and insulation long before anyone notices. Burst pipe water damage covers the cleanup.
Well systems add their own failure points: a pressure tank or line that bursts can run until the pump is shut off at the breaker. Know where that breaker is.
Septic backups push wastewater up through floor drains and toilets after heavy rain saturates the drain field. That water is treated like sewage, with removal of porous materials and disinfection.
What we check in a Sissonville home
- Crawl space floors, joists and insulation for standing water and moisture
- The well pump, pressure tank and supply lines
- Floor drains and lower toilets for signs of septic backup
- Tide lines and silt after creek flooding
- Under-floor ductwork, which can fill with water in a flooded crawl space
Fire and smoke damage
Wood stoves, fireplaces, kerosene and electric space heaters keep many Sissonville homes warm in winter, and they account for a share of the fire calls along with kitchen and electrical fires. Chimney fires can push smoke and soot through the whole house. In manufactured homes, smoke spreads quickly. Board-up comes first, then soot removal, drying and odor treatment; what to do after a house fire covers the first days.
Mold after floods and in crawl spaces
Dirt-floor crawl spaces near creeks stay damp all summer, and that dampness rises into the house. After a flood, wet insulation hanging under the floor holds water against the joists. A vapor barrier, drainage and, where needed, a dehumidifier keep crawl spaces dry; removing wet insulation and drying quickly after a flood prevents growth. Crawl space mold explains the work.
Winter checklist for crawl space homes
- Insulate pipes in the crawl space and well house.
- Close crawl space vents in winter and open them again in spring if your home relies on them.
- Keep a little heat in the well house during hard freezes.
- Let a faucet drip on the coldest nights.
- Know where the main shutoff and the well pump breaker are.
Nearby areas
Sissonville borders North Charleston and the West Side to the south and Cross Lanes to the west. All are part of the property damage restoration in Kanawha County covered on this site.
Call now and our team works in 25320.
Sissonville restoration FAQs
My well line burst under the house. What do I do?
Turn off the well pump at its breaker to stop the water, then the main shutoff if you have one. Move what you can, and call to get the crawl space and subfloor dried.
Is a septic backup treated like a sewer backup?
Yes. Wastewater from a septic system is contaminated, so porous materials it touched are removed and the area is disinfected and dried.
Is Pocatalico covered?
Yes. Pocatalico, Kanawha Two Mile, Legg, Millertown, White Chapel and the rest of 25320 are covered.
Should my crawl space have a vapor barrier?
In most cases, yes. A sealed plastic barrier over a dirt floor stops ground moisture from rising into the house.