What To Do in the First 10 Minutes of a Plumbing Emergency

Burst pipe, sewage backup, water heater leak, no water: the exact steps to take before the plumber arrives.

Most plumbing damage happens in the first few minutes, before anyone knows what to do. These are the steps we walk callers through at 2 a.m. Save this page, and go find your main shutoff today so you are not hunting for it with water pouring through the ceiling.

Step one, always: stop the water

•  City water: the main shutoff is usually where the line enters the house: in the crawl space near the front wall, in the garage, or in a basement. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If you cannot find it, the meter box at the street has a valve too (a meter key or pliers helps).

•  Well water: flip the well pump breaker in your electrical panel, then open a faucet to bleed pressure off the tank.

•  One fixture only: every toilet and sink has a small shutoff valve on the supply line. Turn it clockwise.

Then, by emergency

Burst or leaking pipe

Shut the main, open the lowest faucet in the house to drain the lines, and turn off the water heater (breaker for electric, gas valve to "pilot" for gas) so it does not run dry. Move belongings and get towels or a wet-vac on standing water. Our freeze guide covers winter bursts in detail.

Sewage backing up

Stop using water everywhere in the house: no flushing, no showers, no laundry. If you are on septic, the tank or drain field is likely full or blocked; if you are on sewer, there is a main-line clog, often roots. Keep people and pets away from the water; it is a health hazard. Call us; this is a same-day situation.

Water heater leaking

Turn off power or gas to the heater first, then shut the cold supply valve on top of the tank. Attach a hose to the drain valve at the bottom and run it to a floor drain or outside if the tank is draining onto the floor. A tank that is leaking from the body cannot be repaired; a leak at a fitting or the relief valve often can.

No hot water

Not an emergency, but miserable. Check the breaker (electric) or that the pilot is lit (gas). If a breaker trips again after reset, leave it off and call; an element or thermostat is likely shorted.

No water at all (well homes)

Check the pump breaker and pressure switch as described in Well Water 101. If the pump hums but no water comes, shut it off so you do not burn it out.

Gas smell

Do not flip switches. Leave the house, then call your gas provider's emergency line and 911 from outside. We can handle the gas-line repair once it is made safe.

What to have ready when you call

•  Whether the water is shut off and where the problem is.

•  City water or well; sewer or septic.

•  Approximate age of the house and the water heater.

•  Your address and a gate code if you have one.

Gainesville Plumbing answers 24/7 and dispatches across Hall County and Northeast Georgia. We will tell you honestly whether it can wait until morning.

Emergency right now? Call 770-718-1063 or book online.

See emergency plumbing services, or return to the North Georgia Plumbing Guide.