Emergency plumber in Idaho
Idaho plumbing calls follow cold winters, irrigation and well water, and rapid growth in the Treasure Valley around Boise, Meridian and Nampa.
Coverage in Idaho
Covered ZIP codes
132
Cities and towns
110
Most-covered
Boise, Pocatello, Idaho Falls
What to do before the plumber arrives
- Close the main water shutoff, or the fixture's own valve if the leak is at one fixture.
- Keep away from water near outlets or panels; switch off power at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry floor.
- If sewage is backing up, stop using every sink, toilet and appliance.
- Smell gas? Leave the building first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
Step by step: what to do when a pipe bursts and finding your main water shutoff.
When plumbing emergencies happen in Idaho
Idaho winters are cold, with deeper and longer freezes in the mountains and the eastern part of the state. Summers are hot and dry in the Treasure Valley and Snake River Plain. Spring snowmelt raises groundwater in some valleys.
- Winter
- Exposed lines in crawl spaces, unheated garages and outdoor spigots freeze, and well houses need heat to keep pumps working.
- Irrigation season
- Pressurized irrigation and sprinkler systems run hard all summer, and backflow devices and outdoor lines need attention.
Emergency risks specific to Idaho
Frozen well and pump lines
When: Long subfreezing stretches. What fails: Lines to the pressure tank or well freeze and the house loses water. What to do: Keep the well house heated and insulate exposed lines.
Hard water scale
When: Calcium-heavy aquifer water in the Snake River Plain. What fails: Scale builds up in water heaters and fixtures. What to do: Flush the water heater annually and consider treatment if scale is heavy.
Much of the Boise area's housing was built in the last few decades, so newer PEX and PVC systems are common. Older homes in Boise's North End and in smaller towns have galvanized supply lines and cast-iron drains, and acreage properties around Kuna, Star and Emmett generally pump from a domestic well.
How an emergency call works
SteadWell is a free referral service, not a plumbing company. Calls to (833) 753-0180 are routed to independent, licensed plumbers who serve the caller's ZIP code; our coverage list includes 132 ZIP codes in Idaho. If no participating plumber serves your ZIP, you're told so. The plumber sets the price and arrival time; no arrival time is guaranteed.
Idaho licenses plumbers through the Idaho Plumbing Board within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL, formerly the Division of Building Safety). A plumbing contractor license requires an active Idaho journeyman license, a passed exam and a surety bond.
Emergency plumbing in Idaho: questions
Do I need to winterize my outdoor faucets in Boise?
Yes. Disconnect hoses and, if your spigots are not frost-free, shut off and drain them before the first hard freeze.
Who licenses plumbing contractors in Idaho?
The Idaho Plumbing Board under DOPL. A contractor must hold an Idaho journeyman license, pass the contractor exam and file a bond.
How do I check an emergency plumber's license in Idaho?
Idaho licenses plumbers through the Idaho Plumbing Board within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL, formerly the Division of Building Safety). A plumbing contractor license requires an active Idaho journeyman license, a passed exam and a surety bond.
What does an emergency plumber cost?
National cost guides put emergency labor around $125 an hour on average, with trip fees commonly $100 to $350 and night, weekend or holiday rates 1.5 to 3 times normal. Ask for the price before work starts.