The simple test
Ask one question. If I wait until morning, will the damage be bigger, or will someone be unsafe? If the answer is yes, call now. If the answer is no, make the situation safe and call in the morning.
Most plumbing problems are not emergencies if the water can be stopped. Closing a valve turns many emergencies into appointments. That is why knowing where your shutoffs are matters so much.
Call right now
- Sewage rising through a drain, tub or toilet.
- A burst pipe or a leak you cannot stop with a valve.
- A gas smell. Leave the building and call 911 and the utility first.
- A water heater leaking heavily or smelling of gas.
- No water at all, with a household that includes infants or people who need it for medical reasons.
- Water near the electrical panel or outlets.
For a gas smell, follow the Pennsylvania PUC steps. Leave the building, avoid anything that could spark and call from a safe distance. See gas line repair for what follows.
Call now if the first step does not work
| Situation | First step | Call if |
|---|---|---|
| Overflowing toilet | Close the valve behind it | It keeps rising or other drains are slow |
| Leaking faucet or supply line | Close the valve under the sink | The valve will not close |
| Sink backing up | Stop running water | Sewage appears elsewhere. See drain cleaning |
| Frozen pipe | Open the tap and warm slowly | The pipe is cracked or leaking |
| Sump pump failure | Check power and the float | Water is rising. See sump pump service |
Can usually wait for morning
- A dripping faucet that stops when the valve is closed.
- A single slow drain with no backup.
- A toilet that runs but does not overflow.
- A water heater that is cold but not leaking.
- Low pressure at one fixture.
These are annoying but contained. Turn off the valve that serves the problem, note what you see and call when the office or the plumber is available. Ask whether a daytime appointment costs less.
Know your shutoffs before you need them
Main shutoff
Find it, label it and turn it all the way off and on to make sure it works.
Fixture shutoffs
Find the small valves under sinks and behind toilets. Make sure each turns.
Water heater
Know where the cold supply valve and the power or gas control are.
Outdoor spigots
Find the indoor shutoff for each, if it has one.
These five minutes turn an emergency into an inconvenience. Do it once and write the locations down.
What an after-hours call involves
An emergency line connects you to an independent plumber who asks what is happening. Say what you see, whether water is still running and what you have shut off. The plumber explains the likely fix and what to do next.
After-hours work may be priced differently from daytime work. Ask before work starts. Reading Plumbing Co. is a referral service, and the plumber sets their own prices.
Why waiting can cost more than calling
Water spreads fast and does most of its damage in the first hours. It soaks drywall from the bottom, travels along joists and seeps into floors below. The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold in most cases.
A plumber call that stops a leak at midnight can prevent a restoration job that takes days. The reverse is also true. A call for a problem that valve closure has already contained may not need an after-hours visit. That is the judgment this checklist tries to help with.
Special situations
| Situation | Why it can be more urgent |
|---|---|
| A home with a baby, an older adult or someone medically dependent on water | Loss of water or heat has bigger consequences |
| A vacant or rental property | No one is there to notice the damage |
| Freezing weather | A small leak can become a burst quickly |
| A leak above a finished ceiling | Water travels and damage multiplies |
| A leak near wiring | Electrical risk adds to water risk |
If any of these apply, lean toward calling now. A plumber can tell you quickly whether the problem can wait.
Common mistakes in an emergency
- Waiting to see if a leak stops by itself.
- Not closing the main because the valve is hard to find.
- Using chemical drain cleaners on a sewer backup.
- Running water to see whether a drain has cleared.
- Moving things before taking photographs.
A short script for the call
Say where you are
Give your address and the nearest cross street.
Say what is happening
Describe the water, the smell or the sound.
Say what you have done
Name each valve or breaker you have closed.
Ask what comes next
Ask what to do before help arrives and what the price will be before work starts.
Steps that buy time while you decide
If you are unsure, take the steps that limit damage. Close the main shutoff or the valve for the affected fixture, move valuables away from water and put towels or a bucket where water is falling.
Photograph the damage before cleanup begins, since an insurer may ask for it later. Then decide whether the problem can wait for morning or needs a call now. Closing a valve often turns an emergency into a scheduled visit.
What to have ready
- Your address and a cross street.
- What you have already shut off.
- Whether water is clean or from a drain.
- Whether a finished room is below the problem.
- A phone that stays charged and a flashlight.
A calm, specific description saves time. If water is already spreading into walls and floors, see water damage restoration for the next call to make.