Emergencies
When to Call an Emergency Plumber (and When It Can Wait)
Updated · By the Keystream Plumbing editorial team · How we research
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These get worse by the hour or make the home unsafe.
- A burst or leaking pipe you cannot isolate with a shutoff valve
- Sewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets
- No water to the whole house (after checking with your utility)
- A water heater leaking from the tank or relief valve discharging continuously
- Water coming through a ceiling or near electrical panels
- Frozen pipes with no water, especially if the heat is also out
It can usually wait until morning
If you can stop the water and live around the problem, a scheduled visit is cheaper and gives you time to choose.
- A leak that stops when you close the fixture's shutoff valve
- One clogged drain or toilet when you have another to use
- A dripping faucet or a running toilet
- No hot water in mild weather
- A slow drain with no backup
Call someone else first
A plumber is not the first call for every emergency.
- Gas smell: leave the building, then call your gas utility or 911
- Water contacting live electricity, or a carbon monoxide alarm sounding: get out and call 911
- Water in the street or at the meter: call the water utility
- After the plumber stops the source, a water damage restoration company handles drying
What to do before the plumber arrives
Shut off water at the fixture or the main, turn off the water heater if it is leaking, keep people away from wet electrical areas and take photos. When you call, ask what the trip charge is and how after-hours labor is billed. See emergency plumbing for what the visit involves.
Why the distinction matters
After-hours, weekend and holiday calls usually carry higher rates than weekday appointments. Knowing where your shutoff valves are turns many emergencies into ordinary repairs: a leak you can isolate at 11 p.m. can become a standard appointment the next morning.
Frequently asked questions
Is a clogged toilet a plumbing emergency?
Only if it is your only toilet, it is overflowing and won't stop, or other drains are backing up too, which suggests a main sewer line clog. Otherwise shut off the valve behind the toilet and book a regular visit.
Is no hot water an emergency?
Usually not, though it can be in freezing weather or for households with infants, elderly or ill members. A leaking water heater is more urgent than a cold one.
Do emergency plumbers charge more?
Typically yes. Nights, weekends and holidays usually carry a higher trip or labor rate. Ask for the rates before the plumber heads out.
Editorial note: This guide is general information for homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site assessment. Local codes and conditions vary; a licensed pro can confirm what applies to your home. See our editorial policy.
