When the sky turns dark over Botkins, the phone calls start. A sump pump that stops mid-storm or a floor drain that bubbles in a downpour is an emergency plumber's kind of job. Do not touch plugged-in equipment standing in water, keep clear of the basement, and call (855) 575-2890. The line is staffed around the clock.
Botkins is a village of 1,155 people on the Shelby County map, reached from the I-75 SR 219 interchange. We work from Sidney and travel up to the village for sump pumps, sewer backups, water heater trouble and burst pipes. The seasons shape the calls, so this page is organized around them.
Spring and summer bring rain and flooded basements. Winter brings frozen lines. Fall is when a quiet pump tells you whether it will survive the next storm.
Storm season: what a downpour does to a Botkins basement
On 17 May 2019, the National Weather Service recorded flash flooding in the Botkins area, and several homes flooded. That is not an annual event, but it shows how quickly storm runoff can overwhelm yards and basements in the village.
A sump pump sits idle most of the year, and then it has to start perfectly when the pit fills. A stuck float, a dead switch or a missing check valve are the usual reasons it does not. Our sump pump repair visits test the whole path, from the pit to where the discharge line ends outside.
If sewage rises in a floor drain, the problem is a different one. Stay out of the water and call, because a sewer backup carries contamination that a pump cannot fix.
Before We Arrive: storm water and burst pipes
Power is the danger
If water is rising near outlets, a furnace or a panel, do not step into it. Call 911 if you are unsure, then call us.
Stop the supply if a pipe is the source
A burst pipe is not a storm problem. Close the main shutoff and open a faucet low in the house to drain the line.
Lift what you can
Raise boxes and electronics onto shelves, and move a washer or dryer cord out of the water if you can do it dry.
Then ring the dispatcher
Call (855) 575-2890 and describe where the water is coming from. We will tell you what else to do.
What we handle across the seasons
Sump pumps that quit in a storm
We replace pumps, floats and check valves, and we install a new pump when the old one is done. Emergency dispatch is available around the clock.
Sewer lines that back up
A line choked with roots or grease backs up when the ground is saturated. Sewer line cleaning clears the blockage and shows what caused it.
Frozen and split pipes
Sidney's January average low is about 17.9 F, and pipes in outside walls can freeze. We handle burst pipe repair and help you find the shutoff.
Water heaters through the heating season
Cold-weather demand exposes weak tanks. Our water heater repair visit checks elements, valves and the tank itself.
Basement dampness that returns
If water keeps coming back after each rain, ask about basement waterproofing after the emergency is handled.
Stay dry, shut off the source and call. A plumber answers at any hour.
Bucket and mop, or a plumber
Some steps are safe to take yourself while you wait. Others are risky or only make the problem worse.
What you can do alone
- Close the main shutoff valve and drain the lines.
- Move belongings out of a wet basement if the floor is dry.
- Check whether the sump pump is plugged in and the float moves freely.
What the plumber handles
- Replacing a failed pump and testing the discharge line.
- Clearing and scoping a sewer line that backs up.
- Repairing a split pipe, then pressure testing the repair.
Quarterly bills, a stormwater fee and where it goes
Botkins bills water, sewer, stormwater and refuse every quarter, in January, April, July and October. The stormwater fee funds storm drains, tiles and detention basins, which is the public side of keeping water away from your lot.
That system stops at the street. Water that gets into your basement through the floor or the foundation is your private plumbing question, so ask the village office at 210 S. Mill St., 937-693-4368, about public drainage issues, and call us about what happens inside the house.
Water from the Hickory Street wells
Four wells supply the village, two at 220 Hickory Street and two about three quarters of a mile northwest of the treatment plant. The state rates the aquifer moderate in susceptibility. Total chlorine was about 1.11 ppm and fluoride 1.52 ppm in the report.
No hardness figure is printed, so test your tap if scale is a concern. For larger towns nearby, Wapakoneta in Auglaize County is the closest, and Jackson Center and Anna are also on our route.
Finding you in the village
Many callers describe their location by the Botkins Community Park, the Memorial Pool, Botkins Local School or the branch library. We can dispatch to a street address using those as reference points.
The village office files exterior building permits, and plumbing permits are a separate matter handled by the Sidney-Shelby County Health Department at 937-498-7249.
Common questions
Do you cover every ZIP code in Botkins?
Botkins has one ZIP, 45306, and nearly all of it lies in Shelby County. Neighboring villages have their own, including Jackson Center 45334 and Fort Loramie 45845, and we serve those on separate pages.
Is emergency service available in Botkins?
Yes. We answer around the clock, so a flooded basement on a stormy Saturday night gets dispatched like any weekday call. The route from Sidney to Botkins runs north, and we tell you what to do while the plumber is traveling.
My sump pump runs but the basement still floods. Why?
The discharge line may be frozen, clogged or draining back into the pit. A missing check valve lets pumped water return. We test the full path and the float before replacing anything.
Does the stormwater fee on my bill cover basement flooding?
The fee funds storm drains, tiles and detention basins in the village system. It does not cover the plumbing inside your house, so ask the village office about public drainage and call a plumber for private pipes.
Where do I ask about plumbing permits in Botkins?
Call the Sidney-Shelby County Health Department at 937-498-7249. The village administration building files exterior project permits, but plumbing is a separate office, so ask each about your job.
Can I fix a frozen pipe myself?
You can shut the main and open a faucet, but do not use an open flame. If the pipe has split, the thaw will release water. Call us once the supply is stopped.