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Guide
Plumbing emergency: what to do first
Which problems cannot wait, where to shut the water off, and what to tell the plumber – in plain English.
The short answer
Stop the water at the nearest shut-off valve – or the main – then call. If you smell gas, leave the building before anything else and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
What can wait, and what cannot
Stop the water, then call
- A burst or spraying pipe, or water coming through a ceiling
- Sewage backing up into a tub, shower or floor drain
- Water near outlets, a panel or appliances
First: shut off the main water valve. Stop using sinks and toilets if sewage is backing up. Do not touch anything electrical standing in water. Then call a plumber who says it takes emergency calls.
You smell gas
- A rotten-egg smell near a water heater, stove or gas line
- A hissing sound from a gas pipe
First: get everyone out. Do not switch lights or appliances on or off. From outside, call 911 or your gas utility’s emergency number. A plumber comes after the gas company says it is safe.
Fix it soon
- No hot water
- A toilet that will not stop running or overflows
- The only drain in the house is blocked
- A leak you can contain with a bucket or by closing one valve
First: close the shut-off valve under the fixture or on the water heater’s cold supply if you can, and call during business hours.
It can wait for a quote
- A dripping faucet or a slow drain
- Low water pressure in one fixture
- Replacing a fixture or an old water heater that still works
- Planning a bathroom or kitchen remodel
Do: get two or three written quotes. How to compare them.
Where the shut-off valves are
The main water shut-off
Usually where the water line enters the house: in a basement or crawl space on the wall facing the street, in a utility room or garage, or near the water heater. In warm climates it is often outside, near the foundation or by the hose bib. Many homes also have a shut-off at the meter box near the street, which may need a meter key. Find yours before you need it, and check that it turns.
Fixture shut-offs
Most toilets and sinks have a small valve on the supply line underneath or behind them. Turn it clockwise to close. Washing machines have two valves behind the machine, and a water heater has a valve on its cold-water inlet.
Common emergencies
Burst or leaking pipe
Shut off the main. Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the pressure. Move valuables and anything electrical away from the water, and take photos for your insurer.
Sewage backing up
Stop using every sink, toilet, shower and appliance that drains – each one adds to the backup. Keep away from the water; it can carry bacteria. Call a plumber who lists drain or sewer-line service.
Frozen pipes
If a faucet gives only a trickle in freezing weather, a pipe may be frozen. Leave the faucet open, keep heat on, and warm the pipe gently – never with an open flame. If the pipe has split, shut off the main.
Water heater leaking
Close the cold-water valve on top of the heater and turn off its power or gas. A leak from the tank itself usually means replacement; a leak from a fitting may be a repair.
Before the plumber arrives
- Ask on the phone about trip fees and after-hours rates.
- Clear a path to the problem and to the main shut-off.
- Ask for the license number where your state requires one – your state page links to the lookup.
- Ask for a written price before work beyond the emergency repair starts.
Find a plumber who takes emergency calls
Every city page has a filter for plumbers whose own website says they offer 24/7 emergency service. Call to confirm before you rely on it.
Questions
Should I turn off the water heater if I shut off the main?
If you will be without water for a while or the heater is leaking, turn the heater off too: set a gas heater to “pilot” or “vacation”, or switch off the breaker for an electric one. The manufacturer’s label on the heater gives the exact steps.
Is a running toilet an emergency?
Usually not. Close the shut-off valve behind the toilet to stop the water and book a repair. If it is overflowing, close that valve first.
What should I tell the plumber on the phone?
What is happening, where, when it started, whether you have shut off the water, and whether anything electrical is wet. Ask whether there is a trip fee or an after-hours rate before they set out.
Can a plumber fix a gas leak?
Many plumbers work on gas lines, but if you smell gas, leave first and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. The utility makes the area safe; a plumber or the utility repairs the line afterwards.
General guidance for homeowners, not professional or safety advice. When in doubt about gas, electricity or anyone’s safety, call 911.
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