Emergency plumber in Louisiana
Louisiana plumbing deals with flat, low land, very high groundwater, subsidence, hurricanes and some of the oldest homes in the South around New Orleans.
Coverage in Louisiana
Covered ZIP codes
274
Cities and towns
196
Most-covered
New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport
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 Louisiana
Louisiana is hot and humid much of the year, with frequent heavy rain, hurricanes from June through November and occasional hard freezes in the north. Much of the south sits near or below sea level.
- Hurricane season
- Storm surge, flooding and long power outages affect sewer lift stations, septic systems and homes on slabs.
- Winter
- Rare hard freezes catch exposed pipes on raised homes, which have plumbing underneath the floor.
Emergency risks specific to Louisiana
Sewer line damage from subsidence
When: Soft, settling soils. What fails: Sewer lines sag and break as ground settles. What to do: Camera-inspect lines that back up repeatedly; a sag can trap waste.
Frozen pipes under raised homes
When: Occasional hard freezes. What fails: Exposed supply lines under the floor split. What to do: Insulate exposed pipes and drip faucets during hard freezes.
New Orleans and Baton Rouge have many raised homes with plumbing exposed under the floor, and older homes often have cast-iron drains and galvanized supply lines. Newer suburban homes are typically on slabs.
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 274 ZIP codes in Louisiana. If no participating plumber serves your ZIP, you're told so. The plumber sets the price and arrival time; no arrival time is guaranteed.
Louisiana licenses plumbers through the State Plumbing Board under Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1368 and related sections. A master plumber license is issued, renewed or revived only after the board receives proof of insurance for the employing business.
Emergency plumbing in Louisiana: questions
Why does my New Orleans sewer line keep backing up?
Soft soils settle and can create sags or breaks in sewer lines. A camera inspection shows where the line has dropped.
Do I need to protect pipes under a raised house?
Yes. During hard freezes, pipes under raised floors are exposed to cold air and should be insulated.
How do I check an emergency plumber's license in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses plumbers through the State Plumbing Board under Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1368 and related sections. A master plumber license is issued, renewed or revived only after the board receives proof of insurance for the employing business.
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.