What counts as a plumbing emergency
- A burst pipe or any leak you cannot stop.
- A slab leak with water coming up through the floor or a warm spot that is spreading.
- Sewage backing up into tubs, showers or floor drains.
- A broken main water line flooding the yard or driveway.
- No water to the house.
- A water heater leaking from the tank, or a relief valve discharging continuously.
- A toilet that keeps overflowing.
- Any leak near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel.
If you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 or your gas provider from outside. For everything else, our contact page explains what to have ready when you call.
What to do before the plumber arrives
- Close the main water shutoff valve, or the curb valve at the meter.
- Turn off the water heater at its breaker or gas control.
- Switch off power to wet areas at the panel if you can do so without standing in water.
- For a sewage backup, stop using all water in the house and keep children and pets away.
- Open windows to ventilate, and move valuables out of the water.
- Photograph the damage for your insurance claim.
How an emergency call works
Call and triage
We ask what is happening and help you stop the water or the backup by phone.
Dispatch
The nearest available plumber is sent, and you are given an arrival window.
Make it safe
On arrival we confirm the water or sewer flow is stopped and the area is safe to work in.
Find the cause
We locate the failure, including leaks hidden under slabs or in walls.
Repair or stabilize
Most failures are repaired on the first visit. Where a permanent repair needs a permit or materials, we restore service safely until it can be completed.
Document
You receive photographs and notes of the cause and the repair for your insurer.
Plumbing emergencies after storms
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. High winds uproot trees and pull apart underground water and sewer lines. Power outages can take sewer lift stations offline, which leads to backups in some areas. Flooding saturates the ground around foundations and can reveal leaks that were already there. After a storm, check your meter for movement with everything off and watch the lowest drains for slow draining or odor.
Emergency Plumbing Services questions
How quickly can a plumber get to me?
We dispatch the nearest available plumber as soon as you call and give you an arrival window at that time.
Can a leak wait until morning?
If you have closed the main valve, the water has stopped, and you can manage without water overnight, a visit the next morning is often reasonable. If you cannot stop the water, sewage is backing up, or water is near electrical equipment, call now.
Do you handle emergencies in condominiums?
Yes. We stop the water, trace the leak to the unit where it started, and document the findings for owners and the association.
What if the leak is under my floor?
We can locate slab leaks at any hour. If the water can be shut off safely, the repair method is chosen with you once the leak is located.