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Emergency guidance

Is this a plumbing emergency?

If there is an immediate risk to life, a suspected gas leak, or an electrical hazard, leave the building and call your local emergency number first. Plumbing comes second.

Situations that are treated as emergencies

If any of these describe your situation, act on safety now rather than waiting to diagnose the cause.

  • Water you can't stop

    Water actively running or spraying from a pipe, fitting, or fixture that you cannot shut off, or water pouring through a ceiling or wall.

  • Sewage backing into the home

    Waste water coming up through a floor drain, tub, shower, or toilet. This is a contamination hazard, not just a plumbing inconvenience.

  • Suspected gas leak

    A rotten-egg or sulfur smell near a gas appliance or gas line, a hissing sound at a gas connection, or a gas detector alarm.

  • Water near electrical equipment

    Water reaching outlets, the electrical panel, a furnace, or any appliance's electrical connections.

  • Major water heater failure

    Heavy leaking from the tank, a relief valve discharging steam or hot water, or rumbling combined with hot water at the base of the unit.

  • Loss of essential plumbing in serious circumstances

    No usable water or no working toilet in a home with a medical need, a very young child, an elderly resident, or in extreme weather.

What to do right now

These steps are about safety and limiting damage — not about repairing anything.

  • Suspected gas: don't switch anything on or off, don't use a phone indoors, get everyone outside, then call your local emergency number and your gas utility from a safe distance.
  • Uncontrolled water: close the main water shut-off valve if you can reach it safely. For a water heater leak, also close the cold-water valve feeding the tank.
  • Water near electrical equipment or standing water in a basement with a panel or furnace: stay out of the water and have the power shut off by someone qualified before anyone re-enters.
  • Sewage indoors: keep people and pets away, don't run more water anywhere in the house, and don't try to clean it with household equipment.
  • Scalding risk: if hot water or steam is discharging, keep clear of the area rather than trying to close a hot valve by hand.
  • Then call a licensed plumber who offers emergency service, and tell them exactly what you observed and what you already shut off.

Urgent, but usually not an emergency

These still need attention — often within days — but they normally don't justify an after-hours call-out.

  • A single slow or blocked drain while other fixtures still drain normally.
  • A dripping faucet or a toilet that keeps running.
  • Low water pressure at one fixture.
  • No hot water in a household with no medical or weather-related risk.
  • A small, contained drip you have caught in a bucket and can monitor.

Not sure where yours falls? Find the matching problem guide — each one gives an urgency rating.

Common questions

What counts as a plumbing emergency?
Anything causing uncontrolled water, sewage inside the home, a gas hazard, or an electrical hazard. A dripping faucet or one slow drain is not an emergency, even though it needs attention.
Should I shut off my water main?
If water is escaping and you can reach the main shut-off safely, closing it stops the damage from getting worse. Never wade through standing water near electrical equipment to reach a valve.
Who do I call first?
For a suspected gas leak or any life-safety risk, leave the building and call your local emergency number and your gas utility from outside. For water or sewage without a life-safety risk, call a licensed plumber who offers emergency service.
Will emergency plumbing cost more?
Usually yes. After-hours, weekend, and holiday visits are commonly billed at a higher rate, and urgent work leaves less room to compare quotes. That trade-off is often still cheaper than hours of water damage.

Emergency-related guides

This page is general safety information, not a substitute for emergency services or evaluation by a qualified professional. Local codes, regulations, and utility procedures vary.